OBJECTIVES: To evaluate primary physiotherapist assessment and management of patients with musculoskeletal disorders in primary care, and to compare patient satisfaction with primary assessment by a physiotherapist or a general practitioner (GP). DESIGN: An observational, retrospective cohort study reviewing medical records, and a separate consecutive non-randomised study of patient satisfaction. SETTING: Primary healthcare centre. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred and thirty-two patients with musculoskeletal disorders, primarily assessed by a physiotherapist. Fifty-one of these patients primarily assessed by a physiotherapist and 42 patients assessed by a GP answered a patient satisfaction questionnaire. INTERVENTIONS: Primary assessment and management of patients with musculoskeletal disorders. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data from medical records within 3-month after the visit, and patient satisfaction questionnaire. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent (367/432) of patients did not need to see a GP. Serious pathologies were found among the 6% (26/432) of patients who were referred to a GP by a physiotherapist, but no serious pathologies were found among the 9% (39/432) of patients who subsequently returned for a GP appointment for the same disorder. Patients assessed by a physiotherapist were more satisfied with the information received about their disorder and self-care than patients assessed by a GP. Patients also had higher confidence in the ability of physiotherapists to assess their disorder (P<0.002). CONCLUSION: Physiotherapists can be considered primary assessors of patients with musculoskeletal disorders in primary care as few patients needed additional assessment by a GP, patients with confirmed serious pathologies were identified by the physiotherapists, and patients were satisfied with assessment by a physiotherapist.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate primary physiotherapist assessment and management of patients with musculoskeletal disorders in primary care, and to compare patient satisfaction with primary assessment by a physiotherapist or a general practitioner (GP). DESIGN: An observational, retrospective cohort study reviewing medical records, and a separate consecutive non-randomised study of patient satisfaction. SETTING: Primary healthcare centre. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred and thirty-two patients with musculoskeletal disorders, primarily assessed by a physiotherapist. Fifty-one of these patients primarily assessed by a physiotherapist and 42 patients assessed by a GP answered a patient satisfaction questionnaire. INTERVENTIONS: Primary assessment and management of patients with musculoskeletal disorders. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data from medical records within 3-month after the visit, and patient satisfaction questionnaire. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent (367/432) of patients did not need to see a GP. Serious pathologies were found among the 6% (26/432) of patients who were referred to a GP by a physiotherapist, but no serious pathologies were found among the 9% (39/432) of patients who subsequently returned for a GP appointment for the same disorder. Patients assessed by a physiotherapist were more satisfied with the information received about their disorder and self-care than patients assessed by a GP. Patients also had higher confidence in the ability of physiotherapists to assess their disorder (P<0.002). CONCLUSION: Physiotherapists can be considered primary assessors of patients with musculoskeletal disorders in primary care as few patients needed additional assessment by a GP, patients with confirmed serious pathologies were identified by the physiotherapists, and patients were satisfied with assessment by a physiotherapist.
Authors: Ryan Rundle; Jared Roberts; Gabe Whitney; Steve Mankins; Caleb Dille; Megan Donaldson; Amy Hassen Journal: Int J Sports Phys Ther Date: 2016-02
Authors: Kyle Vader; Rachelle Ashcroft; Brenna Bath; Simon Décary; Simon Deslauriers; François Desmeules; Catherine Donnelly; Kadija Perreault; Julie Richardson; Sarah Wojkowski; Jordan Miller Journal: Physiother Can Date: 2021-02-23 Impact factor: 1.037