ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Randomised controlled trial and cost consequences study comparing initial physiotherapy assessment and management with routine practice for selected patients in an accident and emergency department of an acute hospital

B Richardson¹, L Shepstone², F Poland¹, M Mugford², B Finlayson³, N Clemence³

¹ School of Allied Health Professions, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
² School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia
³ Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Trust, Norwich

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr B Richardson
School of Allied Health Professions (formerly Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy), University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK; b.richardson{at}uea.ac.uk

Objective: The Department of Health is reviewing the effectiveness of accident and emergency (A&E) departments. This study aimed to compare health and economic effects of physiotherapy initial assessment and management with routine practice in an A&E department.

Methods: Randomised controlled trial and cost and consequences study. Patients presenting at A&E were eligible if suspected at triage to have soft tissue injury without fracture. The efficacy end point was "days to return to usual activities". Secondary end points included patient satisfaction with their care and further health outcomes and cost data.

Results: 766 of 844 (915) patients were randomised. The median days before return to usual activities (available for 73% of those randomised) was greater in the physiotherapist group (41 days compared with 28.5 days; hazard ratio 0.85 p = 0.071). The physiotherapy group expressed greater satisfaction with their A&E care (on a scale of 1 to 5, median was 4.2 compared with 4.0, p<0.001), were more likely to be given advice and reassurance, and more likely to be provided with aids and appliances. Costs were the same between the two arms.

Conclusion: There is evidence that physiotherapy leads to a prolonged time before patients return to usual activities. This study shows no clear danger from physiotherapy intervention and long term outcomes may be different but given these findings, a best estimate is that introducing physiotherapist assessment will increase costs to the health service and society. Routine care should continue be provided unless there is some reason why it is not feasible to do so and an alternative must be found.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Primary survey

Kevin Mackway-Jones
Emerg. Med. J. 2005 22: 79. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Peterson, L. E., Goodman, C., Karnes, E. K., Chen, C. J., Schwartz, J. A. (2009). Assessment of the Quality of Cost Analysis Literature in Physical Therapy. ptjournal 89: 733-755 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ball, S. T E, Walton, K., Hawes, S. (2007). Do emergency department physiotherapy Practitioner's, emergency nurse practitioners and doctors investigate, treat and refer patients with closed musculoskeletal injuries differently?. Emerg. Med. J. 24: 185-188 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Frank, A. O., Chamberlain, M. A. (2006). Rehabilitation: an integral part of clinical practice.. Occup Med (Lond) 56: 289-291 [Full Text]  
• McClellan, C M, Greenwood, R, Benger, J R (2006). Effect of an extended scope physiotherapy service on patient satisfaction and the outcome of soft tissue injuries in an adult emergency department. Emerg. Med. J. 23: 384-387 [Abstract] [Full Text]