Evidence-based guidelines for physiotherapy management of patients with multiple myeloma: study protocol

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Multiple myeloma (MM) patients experience significant functional impairments and reduced quality of life due to disease and treatment side effects.
• Current physiotherapy (PT) management lacks established guidelines for safe and effective care.
• Developing evidence-based PT guidelines is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and evaluate existing evidence on physiotherapy for multiple myeloma.
• To develop consensus-based guidelines for physiotherapy management of MM patients.
• To provide recommendations for safe and effective PT interventions.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across multiple databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, PEDro, etc.).
• Screening and quality assessment of identified articles by two independent reviewers.
• Guideline development through critical appraisal, team judgment, and a consensus process.

Main Results:

• The study will synthesize evidence to inform guideline development.
• Recommendations will be based on the strength of evidence and grades of recommendations.
• Guidelines will be refined through internal and external reviews, including expert and professional feedback.

Conclusions:

• The developed guidelines will provide a framework for physiotherapy management in multiple myeloma.
• These guidelines aim to improve functional performance and quality of life for MM patients.
• This initiative addresses a critical gap in the current clinical practice for MM rehabilitation.