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Can experienced physiotherapists identify which patients are likely to succeed with physical therapy treatment?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Cook, CE; Moore, TJ; Learman, K; Showalter, C; Snodgrass, SJ
Published in: Arch Physiother
2015

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to determine if clinician predicted prognosis is associated with patient outcomes. METHODS: The study was a secondary analysis of data that were collected in 8 physiotherapy outpatient clinics. Nine physiotherapists with post-graduate training in manual therapy (mean 20.3 years of experience) were asked at baseline to project the outcome of the patients evaluated. In total, 112 patients with low back (74 %) or neck (26 %) pain were treated pragmatically with interventions consisting of manual therapy, strengthening, and patient-specific education. Outcomes measures consisted of percent change in disability (Oswestry or Neck Disability Index), self-reported rate of recovery (0-100 %), and percent change in pain (numerical pain rating scale). Hierarchical logistic regression determined potential factors (clinician predicted prognosis score (1-10) at baseline, dichotomised as poor (1-6) and good (7-10); symptom duration categorised as acute, subacute or chronic; same previous injury (yes/no); baseline pain and disability scores; within-session improvement at initial visit (yes/no); and presence of ≥ one psychological factor) associated with meaningful changes in each of the three outcomes at discharge (disability and pain > 50 % improvement, rate of recovery ≥82.5 % improvement). RESULTS: Clinician predicted prognosis (OR 4.15, 95%CI = 1.31, 13.19, p = 0.02) and duration of symptoms (OR subacute 0.24, 95%CI = 0.07, 0.89, p = 0.03; chronic 0.21, 95%CI = 0.05, 0.90, p = 0.04) were associated with rate of recovery, whereas only clinician predicted prognosis was associated with disability improvement (OR 4.28, 95 % CI 1.37, 13.37, p = 0.01). No variables were associated with pain improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Clinician predicted prognosis is potentially valuable for patients, as a good predicted prognosis is associated with improvements in disability and rate of recovery.

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Published In

Arch Physiother

DOI

ISSN

2057-0082

Publication Date

2015

Volume

5

Start / End Page

3

Location

Italy

Related Subject Headings

  • 4201 Allied health and rehabilitation science
 

Citation

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Cook, C. E., Moore, T. J., Learman, K., Showalter, C., & Snodgrass, S. J. (2015). Can experienced physiotherapists identify which patients are likely to succeed with physical therapy treatment? Arch Physiother, 5, 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40945-015-0003-z
Cook, Chad E., Thomas J. Moore, Kenneth Learman, Christopher Showalter, and Suzanne J. Snodgrass. “Can experienced physiotherapists identify which patients are likely to succeed with physical therapy treatment?Arch Physiother 5 (2015): 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40945-015-0003-z.
Cook CE, Moore TJ, Learman K, Showalter C, Snodgrass SJ. Can experienced physiotherapists identify which patients are likely to succeed with physical therapy treatment? Arch Physiother. 2015;5:3.
Cook, Chad E., et al. “Can experienced physiotherapists identify which patients are likely to succeed with physical therapy treatment?Arch Physiother, vol. 5, 2015, p. 3. Pubmed, doi:10.1186/s40945-015-0003-z.
Cook CE, Moore TJ, Learman K, Showalter C, Snodgrass SJ. Can experienced physiotherapists identify which patients are likely to succeed with physical therapy treatment? Arch Physiother. 2015;5:3.
Journal cover image

Published In

Arch Physiother

DOI

ISSN

2057-0082

Publication Date

2015

Volume

5

Start / End Page

3

Location

Italy

Related Subject Headings

  • 4201 Allied health and rehabilitation science