Karvonen E1, Paatelma M,2, Heinonen A3
1University of Jyväskylä, Health Sciences, Helsinki, Finland, 2Physiotherapy Consulting P&K, Physiotherapy, Helsinki, Finland, 3University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
Background: Physiotherapists' direct access has become more common in counselling patients after clinical examination for low back pain problems and it has been shown to be a promising treatment option. Patient experiences of physiotherapists' direct access should be explored further.
Purpose: To investigate the experiences of low back pain patients regarding their visits to direct access physiotherapists at a health centre.
Methods: The study is a retrospective descriptive survey conducted using a structured questionnaire three months after a visit to a physiotherapist. The questionnaire included questions regarding the relief of back pain, the management of the instructed exercises, the recurrence of back pain, patients' perceptions of the causes of pain, the fear of pain, reasons for a repeat visit to a doctor or physiotherapist, and eventual absences due to sickness. The questionnaire was sent to 150 people selected from the health care centre the order which they came to the centre. Eighty (53%) low back pain patients responded. They were divided into three groups: retired people (n = 26), unemployed people (n = 15), and students and employed people (n = 39). The data were analysed using SPSS statistical software. The open answers were transcribed, and similar answers were combined. The study protocol was ethically approved by the head of X Health Care Centre in January 2015.
Results: About 80% of patients in all groups experienced the benefits from their visit to a physiotherapist as being great or moderate. During the three months after their visit, the recurrence of back pain was at its lowest among students and employed people (5%) and was highest among retired people (30%). Only 10% of the respondents made a repeat visit to a physiotherapist or doctor for the same back problem. Only one person in the group of students and employed people was on sick leave.
Conclusion(s): The patients viewed the early visit to a physiotherapist as useful in the treatment of back pain and in the prevention of new episodes. However, additional high-quality research involving longer prospective randomized designs and economic impact analyses is required to further investigate the outcomes associated with the early initiation of physiotherapy.
Implications: From a social cost-benefit point of view the notable results included the low need for repeat visits to a physiotherapist or doctor, and the low rates of absence due to sickness.
Keywords: physiotherapy, direct access, patients' experiences
Funding acknowledgements: No funding
Purpose: To investigate the experiences of low back pain patients regarding their visits to direct access physiotherapists at a health centre.
Methods: The study is a retrospective descriptive survey conducted using a structured questionnaire three months after a visit to a physiotherapist. The questionnaire included questions regarding the relief of back pain, the management of the instructed exercises, the recurrence of back pain, patients' perceptions of the causes of pain, the fear of pain, reasons for a repeat visit to a doctor or physiotherapist, and eventual absences due to sickness. The questionnaire was sent to 150 people selected from the health care centre the order which they came to the centre. Eighty (53%) low back pain patients responded. They were divided into three groups: retired people (n = 26), unemployed people (n = 15), and students and employed people (n = 39). The data were analysed using SPSS statistical software. The open answers were transcribed, and similar answers were combined. The study protocol was ethically approved by the head of X Health Care Centre in January 2015.
Results: About 80% of patients in all groups experienced the benefits from their visit to a physiotherapist as being great or moderate. During the three months after their visit, the recurrence of back pain was at its lowest among students and employed people (5%) and was highest among retired people (30%). Only 10% of the respondents made a repeat visit to a physiotherapist or doctor for the same back problem. Only one person in the group of students and employed people was on sick leave.
Conclusion(s): The patients viewed the early visit to a physiotherapist as useful in the treatment of back pain and in the prevention of new episodes. However, additional high-quality research involving longer prospective randomized designs and economic impact analyses is required to further investigate the outcomes associated with the early initiation of physiotherapy.
Implications: From a social cost-benefit point of view the notable results included the low need for repeat visits to a physiotherapist or doctor, and the low rates of absence due to sickness.
Keywords: physiotherapy, direct access, patients' experiences
Funding acknowledgements: No funding
Topic: Musculoskeletal: spine; Pain & pain management
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Helsinki City Health Centre
Ethics committee: Helsinki City Health Centre
Ethics number: HEL 2015-000350
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
