Controlled trial of an open-access physiotherapy service

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences
• Physical Therapy
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Traditional physiotherapy referral pathways can lead to significant delays.
• Evaluating alternative models of physiotherapy access is crucial for timely patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of open-access physiotherapy on referral rates.
• To evaluate the promptness of treatment and patient recovery.
• To determine the overall effectiveness of open-access physiotherapy.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial comparing open-access physiotherapy with standard care.
• Data collection on referral rates to consultant outpatient clinics.
• Analysis of treatment duration and patient-reported recovery times.

Main Results:

• Patients offered open-access physiotherapy had a 17% referral rate versus 56% in the control group.
• Physiotherapy was accessed promptly via open-access, though treatment duration was not shortened.
• Patients receiving open-access physiotherapy reported faster recovery.
• Control group patients experienced considerable delays in receiving physiotherapy.

Conclusions:

• Open-access physiotherapy models are effective in reducing unnecessary referrals.
• Direct access to physiotherapy leads to quicker recovery for patients.
• The findings support the broader implementation of open-access physiotherapy services.