A physiotherapy telephone assessment and advice service for patients with musculoskeletal problems can improve the process of care while maintaining clinical effectiveness

摘要

Question: Does a physiotherapy telephone assessment andadvice service (PhysioDirect) affect physical health andimprove the process of care in patients with musculoskeletalproblems? Design: Randomised controlled trial withconcealed allocation and blinded outcome assessment.Setting: Four community physiotherapy services drawingpatients from 94 general practices in England. Participants:Adults referred by a general practitioner or self-referred tophysiotherapy for a musculoskeletal problem were eligiblefor inclusion. Referral from a consultant and an inabilityto communicate in English were key exclusion criteria.Randomisation of 2256 participants at a ratio of 2:1allocated 1513 to PhysioDirect and 743 to the usual carephysiotherapy.