Direct-access physiotherapy to help manage patients with musculoskeletal disorders in an emergency department: Results of a randomized controlled trial.
Acad Emerg Med
; 28(8): 848-858, 2021 08.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33617696
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
The objective was to evaluate the effects of direct-access physiotherapy on patients presenting with a musculoskeletal disorder (MSKD) to the emergency department (ED) on clinical outcomes and use of health care resources.METHODS:
We conducted a randomized controlled trial in an academic ED in Québec City, Canada. We included patients aged 18 to 80 years with minor MSKD. The intervention group had direct access to a physiotherapist (PT) in the ED immediately after triage and prior to physician assessment, and the control group received usual care by the emergency physician without PT intervention. The key variables included clinical outcomes (pain, interference of pain on function) and resources use (ED return visit, medications, diagnostic tests, additional consultations). They were analyzed using descriptive statistics and compared between groups using two-way analyses of variance, log-linear analysis, and chi-square tests.RESULTS:
Seventy-eight patients suffering from MSKDs were included (40.2 ± 17.6 years old; 44% women). For the primary clinical outcome, participants in the PT group (n = 40) had statistically lower levels of pain and pain interference at 1 and 3 months. In terms of resource use, participants in the PT group returned significantly less often to the ED. At baseline and 1 month, less prescription medication was used, including opioids, but there were no differences at 3 months. Although over-the-counter medication was recommended more at baseline in the PT group, there were no differences in use at 1 month, and the PT group had used them less at 3 months. There were no differences between groups at follow-up for imaging tests, other professionals consulted, and hospitalization rates.CONCLUSION:
Patients presenting with a MSKD to the ED with direct access to a PT had better clinical outcomes and used less services and resources than those in the usual care group after ED discharge and up to 3 months after discharge.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Doenças Musculoesqueléticas
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Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
Limite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article