Demographic and Diagnostic Factors in Physical Therapy Attendance

Abstract

Introduction Physical therapy (PT) is an effective nonoperative treatment for various orthopedic diagnoses. However, patients may have many reasons to dismiss PT, including favoring another intervention for their injury, time constraints, transportation, and cost. This dismissal of PT may contribute to inadequate patient compliance. This study aimed to elucidate patient compliance with a basic PT prescription and whether PT led to subjective injury improvement. Methods This is a retrospective study of patients observed in Stony Brook Orthopedic clinics from 08/01/2022 to 12/23/2022. Patients prescribed PT received a phone call six weeks after the PT prescription. The primary outcome was patient attendance at PT. Secondary outcomes were subjective; symptomatic improvement was listed as better, worse, or the same. Chi-square testing was used to compare outcomes. Results A total of 100 patients were enrolled in the study. Patients prescribed PT following surgery were more likely to attend compared to patients prescribed PT as a primary treatment (P value=0.027). The association between attendance at PT and a change in subjective symptoms (better, worse, same) was not significant. Patients’ age, sex, and chronicity of injury were not significant factors in PT attendance. Of the 40 patients who did not attend PT, 14 cited time constraints, 11 utilized self-directed treatment, three cited insurance, two cited transportation, and 10 cited other reasons. Conclusions Overall, postoperative patients were more likely to attend PT compared to patients prescribed PT as a primary treatment. Factors such as age, sex, and chronicity of injury did not affect whether a patient attended PT. Of the patients enrolled, 71% stated subjective improvement in symptoms, but there was no association between symptoms and PT attendance. This study highlights the characteristics of those patient factors that may influence PT compliance and underscores the importance of further research into the population most likely to attend and benefit from PT.