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Clinical Outcomes, Utilization, and Charges in Persons With Neck Pain Receiving Guideline Adherent Physical Therapy.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Horn, ME; Brennan, GP; George, SZ; Harman, JS; Bishop, MD
Published in: Eval Health Prof
December 2016

In efforts to decrease practice variation, clinical practice guidelines for neck pain have been published. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of receiving guideline adherent physical therapy (PT) on clinical outcomes, health care utilization, and charges for health care services in patients with neck pain. A retrospective review of 298 patients with neck pain receiving PT from 2008 to 2011 was performed. Clinical outcomes, utilization, and charges were compared between patients who received guideline adherent care and nonadherent care. Patients in the adherent care group experienced a lower percentage improvement in pain score compared to nonadherent care group (p = .01), but groups did not significantly differ on percentage improvement in disability (p = .32). However, patients receiving adherent care had an average 3.6 fewer PT visits (p < .001) and less charges for PT (p < .001). Additionally, patients receiving adherent care had 7.3 fewer visits to other health care providers (p < .001), one less prescription medication (p = .02) and 43% fewer diagnostic images (p = .02) but did not differ in their charges to other health care providers (p = .68) during the calendar year of undergoing PT. Although receiving guideline adherent care demonstrated positive effects on health care utilization and financial outcomes, there appears to be a trade-off with clinical outcomes.

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Published In

Eval Health Prof

DOI

EISSN

1552-3918

Publication Date

December 2016

Volume

39

Issue

4

Start / End Page

421 / 434

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Retrospective Studies
  • Public Health
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Physical Therapy Modalities
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Neck Pain
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Services
  • Health Expenditures
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
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Horn, M. E., Brennan, G. P., George, S. Z., Harman, J. S., & Bishop, M. D. (2016). Clinical Outcomes, Utilization, and Charges in Persons With Neck Pain Receiving Guideline Adherent Physical Therapy. Eval Health Prof, 39(4), 421–434. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163278715583510
Horn, Maggie E., Gerard P. Brennan, Steven Z. George, Jeffrey S. Harman, and Mark D. Bishop. “Clinical Outcomes, Utilization, and Charges in Persons With Neck Pain Receiving Guideline Adherent Physical Therapy.Eval Health Prof 39, no. 4 (December 2016): 421–34. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163278715583510.
Horn ME, Brennan GP, George SZ, Harman JS, Bishop MD. Clinical Outcomes, Utilization, and Charges in Persons With Neck Pain Receiving Guideline Adherent Physical Therapy. Eval Health Prof. 2016 Dec;39(4):421–34.
Horn, Maggie E., et al. “Clinical Outcomes, Utilization, and Charges in Persons With Neck Pain Receiving Guideline Adherent Physical Therapy.Eval Health Prof, vol. 39, no. 4, Dec. 2016, pp. 421–34. Pubmed, doi:10.1177/0163278715583510.
Horn ME, Brennan GP, George SZ, Harman JS, Bishop MD. Clinical Outcomes, Utilization, and Charges in Persons With Neck Pain Receiving Guideline Adherent Physical Therapy. Eval Health Prof. 2016 Dec;39(4):421–434.
Journal cover image

Published In

Eval Health Prof

DOI

EISSN

1552-3918

Publication Date

December 2016

Volume

39

Issue

4

Start / End Page

421 / 434

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Retrospective Studies
  • Public Health
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Physical Therapy Modalities
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Neck Pain
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Services
  • Health Expenditures