Workshop, Assessment, and Validity Evidence for Tools Measuring Performance of Knee and Shoulder Arthrocentesis.

Introduction: Musculoskeletal concerns are common, yet residents at our institution lacked arthrocentesis training. We created a workshop to teach residents knee and shoulder arthrocentesis, developed simulated assessment scenarios (SASs) with tools to measure procedural proficiency, and collected validity evidence. Methods: A multidisciplinary group conducted a modified Delphi to define content for the workshop, SASs, and assessment tools. We defined minimum thresholds for competence in knee and shoulder arthrocentesis using the modified borderline-group method. We implemented the workshop and SASs in 2020 and 2021 and analyzed assessment tool scoring for statistical reliability and validity. Our program evaluation included SAS performance, participants' survey responses, and change in the number of arthrocenteses performed in the internal medicine (IM) resident primary care clinic. Results: Sixty-one residents (53 IM, eight physical medicine and rehabilitation [PM&R]) participated. Fifty-two (85%; 46 IM, six PM&R) completed the evaluation survey. We procured data from 48 knee and 65 shoulder SASs for validity evidence. All arthrocentesis SAS performances met the proficiency standard except one resident's shoulder SAS. Validity evidence revealed strong interrater reliability (α = .82 and .77 for knee and shoulder, respectively) and strong relational validity (p < .001 for both procedures). All participants rated workshop quality and usefulness as good or very good. The number of arthrocenteses performed at our institution's primary care clinic increased. Discussion: We created a workshop to teach residents arthrocentesis and assessment tools with strong validity and reliability evidence. The workshop was well regarded by residents, who applied their arthrocentesis skills during patient care.

Unique characteristics of patients who choose an intensive lifestyle medicine program to address chronic musculoskeletal pain.

INTRODUCTION: Factors that motivate musculoskeletal patients to pursue an intensive, lifestyle medicine-based approach to care are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether, compared to patients seeking musculoskeletal care through traditional pathways, patients who choose an intensive lifestyle medicine program for musculoskeletal pain endorse greater physical dysfunction, worse psychological health, and/or more biopsychosocial comorbidities. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of existing medical records from 2018 to 2021. SETTING: Orthopedic department of one academic medical center. PATIENTS: Fifty consecutive patients who enrolled in an intensive lifestyle medicine program to address a musculoskeletal condition. Comparison groups were the following: (1) 100 patients who presented for standard nonoperative musculoskeletal care, and (2) 100 patients who presented for operative evaluation by an orthopedic surgeon and qualified for joint arthroplasty. INTERVENTION: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were age-adjusted, between-group differences in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) physical and psychological health measures. Secondary outcomes were between-group differences in sociodemographic and medical history characteristics. RESULTS: Patients who enrolled in the intensive lifestyle medicine program were more racially diverse (non-White race: lifestyle cohort 34% vs. comparison cohorts 16%-18%, p ≤ .029) and had a higher prevalence of obesity and diabetes than both comparison groups (mean body mass index: lifestyle cohort 37.6 kg/m2 vs. comparison cohorts 29.3-32.0, p < .001; diabetes prevalence: lifestyle cohort 32% vs. comparison cohorts 12%-16%, p ≤ .024). Compared to standard nonoperative patients, there were no clear between-group differences in PROMIS physical or psychological health scores. Compared to standard operative evaluation patients, patients in the lifestyle program reported worse anxiety but less pain interference (PROMIS Anxiety: B = 3.8 points [95% confidence interval, 0.1 to 7.4], p = .041; Pain interference: B = -3.6 [-6.0 to -1.2], p = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to musculoskeletal patients who sought care through traditional pathways, patients who chose an intensive lifestyle medicine pathway had a higher prevalence of metabolic comorbidities, but there was substantial overlap in patients' physical, psychological, and sociodemographic characteristics.

A Digital Mental Health Intervention in an Orthopedic Setting for Patients With Symptoms of Depression and/or Anxiety: Feasibility Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Symptoms of depression and anxiety commonly coexist with chronic musculoskeletal pain, and when this occurs, standard orthopedic treatment is less effective. However, mental health intervention is not yet a routine part of standard orthopedic treatment, in part because of access-related barriers. Digital mental health intervention is a potential scalable resource that could be feasibly incorporated into orthopedic care. OBJECTIVE: This study's primary purpose was to assess the feasibility of introducing a digital mental health intervention (Wysa) in an outpatient orthopedic setting to patients with coexisting symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. The secondary purpose was to perform a preliminary effectiveness analysis of the intervention. METHODS: In this single-arm, prospective cohort study, participants included adult patients (18 years and older) who presented to a nonsurgical orthopedic specialist at a single tertiary care academic center for evaluation of a musculoskeletal condition and who self-reported symptoms of depression and/or anxiety (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System [PROMIS] Depression and/or Anxiety score ≥55). Face-to-face enrollment was performed by a research coordinator immediately after the participant's encounter with an orthopedic clinician. Participants were provided 2 months of access to a mobile app called Wysa, which is an established, multicomponent digital mental health intervention that uses chatbot technology and text-based access to human counselors to deliver cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness training, and sleep tools, among other features. For this study, Wysa access also included novel, behavioral activation-based features specifically developed for users with chronic pain. Primary feasibility outcomes included the study recruitment rate, retention rate, and engagement rate with Wysa (defined as engagement with a therapeutic Wysa tool at least once during the study period). Secondary effectiveness outcomes were between-group differences in mean longitudinal PROMIS mental and physical health score changes at 2-month follow-up between high and low Wysa users, defined by a median split. RESULTS: The recruitment rate was 29.3% (61/208), retention rate was 84% (51/61), and engagement rate was 72% (44/61). Compared to low users, high users reported greater improvement in PROMIS Anxiety scores (between-group difference -4.2 points, 95% CI -8.1 to -0.2; P=.04) at the 2-month follow-up. Between-group differences in PROMIS Depression (-3.2 points, 95% CI -7.5 to 1.2; P=.15) and Pain Interference scores (-2.3 points, 95% CI -6.3 to 1.7; P=.26) favored high users but did not meet statistical significance. Improvements in PROMIS Physical Function scores were comparable between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Delivery of a digital mental health intervention within the context of orthopedic care is feasible and has the potential to improve mental health and pain-related impairment to a clinically meaningful degree. Participants' engagement rates exceeded industry standards, and additional opportunities to improve recruitment and retention were identified. Further pilot study followed by a definitive, randomized controlled trial is warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04640090; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04640090.

Prospective measurement of function and pain in patients with non-neoplastic compression fractures treated with vertebroplasty.

BACKGROUND: There has been an increasing number of reports regarding the benefits of vertebroplasty for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures. In this investigation, validated outcome tools were utilized to document the impact of vertebroplasty on pain and function. METHODS: Fifty patients were recruited at a tertiary university hospital. Patients had been treated for intractable pain due to osteoporotic compression fracture(s) for at least four weeks. The vertebroplasty procedures were performed by a radiologist. The subjects were followed prospectively for one year and received conservative treatment in conjunction with the vertebroplasty. Validated outcome tools, including a visual analog scale, the Oswestry scale, and the Roland-Morris functional activity questionnaire, were used to evaluate changes in pain and functional capabilities. RESULTS: Fifty patients, thirty-one women and nineteen men (mean age, 68.6 years), were followed prospectively for one year. One hundred and three fractures (fifty-nine thoracic and forty-four lumbar) were treated. The visual analog scale showed the greatest improvement between the baseline score (mean, 7.76) and the score at one month (mean, 2.9), and the score remained improved at one year (mean, 2.9). The Oswestry and Roland-Morris questionnaires demonstrated significant (p < 0.0001) functional improvement between the baseline and one-month scores. With the numbers available, there were no significant changes in any variable from one month to one year (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Vertebroplasty is an effective treatment for patients with intractable pain due to osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Improvement in pain scores and functional capabilities that were found at one month were maintained at one year.