{"id":10049,"date":"2022-03-25T06:00:35","date_gmt":"2022-03-25T05:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/?p=10049"},"modified":"2022-03-24T11:33:41","modified_gmt":"2022-03-24T10:33:41","slug":"do-you-have-the-knowledge-skills-and-confidence-to-provide-physiotherapy-by-telehealth-for-patients-with-musculoskeletal-pain-conditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/2022\/03\/25\/do-you-have-the-knowledge-skills-and-confidence-to-provide-physiotherapy-by-telehealth-for-patients-with-musculoskeletal-pain-conditions\/","title":{"rendered":"Do you have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to provide physiotherapy by telehealth for patients with musculoskeletal pain conditions?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Check out this free online telehealth toolkit to find out more\u2026.<\/em><\/p>\n

by Allison M Ezzat PT PhD, Danilo de Oliveira Silva PT, PhD<\/strong><\/p>\n

Musculoskeletal pain conditions are a global leading cause of pain, disability, and result in increased all-cause mortality.1<\/sup> Yet, evidence-based physiotherapy management of musculoskeletal conditions is not universally accessible, especially for people living in rural and remote regions. Reduced access to in-person physiotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighted the importance of alternative delivery models to facilitate patients\u2019 timely access to care. Telehealth, defined as the remote patient-clinician interaction via synchronous (e.g. telephone, teleconference, video call) means,2<\/sup> exploded in popularity during the pandemic with many physiotherapists implementing it for the first time. There is an emerging body of research supporting the efficacy of telehealth as being comparable to in-person care in the management of many musculoskeletal conditions, including osteoarthritis and low back pain.3<\/sup> In many countries, the pandemic provided impetus for improved funding for physiotherapy via telehealth. This has created an opportunity for the profession to improve patient access to physiotherapy by leveraging the benefits of telehealth.<\/p>\n

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However, our previous work with Australian and Canadian physiotherapists has found that many lack knowledge, skills, and confidence when providing care via telehealth. In a series of cross-sectional surveys of Canadian physiotherapists, 84% planned to continue offering telehealth beyond the pandemic. However, 60% were less confident in managing patients compared to in-person care.4<\/sup> Similarly, investigating the views of allied health professionals in Australia, only 21% stated they had sufficient telehealth training.5<\/sup> If physiotherapists want to be able to confidently provide high-quality care for musculoskeletal conditions, they need accessible training and resources to support them. Toolkits have been found to be the most preferred methods for physiotherapists to receive further training.6<\/sup> Responding to this urgent need, we developed an online, evidence-based telehealth toolkit for physiotherapists managing musculoskeletal conditions.<\/p>\n

This project used co-design methods,7<\/sup> integrating feedback from physiotherapist clinicians and patients with musculoskeletal pain conditions, to ensure the toolkit is relevant to facilitate widespread adoption. We conducted 4 focus groups with 13 physiotherapists, 7 patients, and 2 clinic administrators to ask them to provide their perspectives on the content, format, and usability of the toolkit.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the resources included in the Musculoskeletal Telehealth Toolkit:<\/p>\n