An outcome audit for musculoskeletal patients in primary care

作者：Stephen May · 发表于：Physiotherapy Theory and Practice · 年份：2003 · DOI：10.1080/09593980390246724 · 被引用次数：37 · 研究领域：Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation、Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation、Shoulder Injury and Treatment

Use of accepted validated measures by physiotherapists to monitor the outcomes of their treatment interventions is not widespread. There is limited published data on the outcomes of physiotherapy intervention or the length of treatment episodes in physiotherapy. One objective of this study was to audit outcome measures at the beginning and end of an episode of physiotherapy care for musculoskeletal patients. A second objective was to evaluate the effectives of the introduction of evidence-based guidelines for the management of musculoskeletal problems. A retrospective review of 1,713 consecutive patients with a range of spinal and extremity problems was used. These patients were referred by General Practitioners (GPs) and seen in primary care. An audit was conducted during normal clinical practice using the Roland-Morris back function questionnaire, the Neck Disability Index, the Croft Shoulder scale, and the Lower Extremity Functional Scale as outcome tools. Patients who were unable to complete the outcome tools were excluded from this study, as were patients with elbow and hand conditions, as no suitable outcome tool for these patients was found. At the start of an episode of physiotherapy the patient was asked to complete a self-report measure of pain (0-10) and function (%). At discharge the patient was asked to complete the same measures. Changes in pain and function were documented as a record of outcome. Before and after data on pain and/or function was available for 9...