A therapist-focused knowledge translation intervention for improving patient adherence in musculoskeletal physiotherapy practice.
Folarin Omoniyi Babatunde, Joy Christine MacDermid, Norma MacIntyre
PMID 29340196WHAT IT FOUND
After a 1-hour workshop, 35 physiotherapists reported higher confidence in identifying adherence risks, assessing barriers, measuring adherence and implementing strategies.
It did not show that patients adhered better or had improved outcomes.
Key findings
01Post-workshop confidence scores were significantly higher than pre-workshop scores for identifying patients at risk of nonadherence, assessing barriers, assessing whether patients are following treatment recommendations, and developing and implementing strategies to improve adherence.
02All participants in Phase 1 indicated that adherence to treatment was a big issue, but only six formally assessed patient adherence during clinical practice.
03Only 11% of respondents utilised attendance records, accurate exercise recall or exercise diaries/logs.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The main outcome was self-reported confidence immediately after a workshop, not observed behaviour or patient adherence. The questionnaire had no established validity and some items had low reliability. Only 35 of 51 consenting physiotherapists completed the questionnaire, and the sample came from a conference setting where people interested in adherence may have been more likely to respond. There was no control group, so the confidence increase could not be separated from ordinary conference learning or other influences. Phase 1 included occupational therapists, but Phase 2 tested the session only with physiotherapists. The supplied text does not report funding or conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the higher post-workshop confidence scores as proof that patients followed exercises better or had better outcomes. The study measured therapists’ self-reported confidence immediately after a conference session, not patient adherence or long-term practice change.