Blended Care in Patients With Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis in Physical Therapy: Delphi Study on Needs and Preconditions.
Franziska Weber, Corelien Kloek, Angela Arntz and 2 others
PMID 37418301WHAT IT FOUND
Patients and physical therapists wanted blended osteoarthritis care to keep in-person first and last sessions, with digital parts for exercises, education, reminders, and tailored support.
They did not want digital care to replace trust or hands-on therapy.
Key findings
01Participants agreed blended care should be tailored to each patient and should include an in-person first session.
02Physical therapists saw digital components as a guiding tool, while patients saw them only as a supplement to regular in-person sessions.
03Feasible blended care depended on access to digital devices and a stable internet connection, plus clarification of financial reimbursement.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included a small German sample, with saturation reached after nine physical therapist interviews and seven patient interviews. It did not test a blended care program or measure pain, function, adherence, or other patient outcomes. Participants saw one video example of blended care, so their answers may reflect that example rather than all blended models. Patients and physical therapists sometimes had difficulty distinguishing blended care from digital care in general. One planned stakeholder group was incomplete because a politician did not take part, and the findings may not apply to other countries, health systems, or osteoarthritis groups.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that blended care improves knee or hip osteoarthritis. It reports no patient outcomes; it only describes what patients, therapists, and stakeholders said they needed before trying blended care.