Evaluation of the efficacy and acceptability to patients of a physiotherapist working in a health centre.

Abstract

The records of the first 805 patients who had been referred by general practitioners at this health centre to the attached physiotherapist were examined in November 1985, three years after the physiotherapy department was opened. Seventy per cent (549) of the patients had been treated within one week, treatment having started on the same day for 8-5% (67) of the patients. This compares with a mean of six weeks for direct access to a district general hospital that is eight miles away and between six and 13 months for the three nearest orthopaedic consultants who are 13 miles away.The most common conditions treated were knee injuries (16-5%), followed by cervical (15-5%) and shoulder (13.8%)injuries. Surprisingly, only 9% were back injuries. The nonattendance rate was 2-2%, and only 7% of patients failed to complete treatment. Nearly all the patients were able to attend the clinic, only 4% requiring home treatment. By March 1986, 90 treatments a week were being carried out at a cost of £6-11 per patient. Compared with official hospital figures, this represents a savings of £21 500 a year for a practice of 12 000 patients.

Epidemiology of physiotherapy utilization among adults and elderly

“…6 The determinants of physiotherapy utilization found in the study (shown in Figure 2) were not consistent with those found in a 1985 British study. 8 While knee problems accounted for 16.5% of all physiotherapy visits in the British study, the corresponding rate in the present study was 5.5%. The proportions of physiotherapy utilization due to spine problems were 24.5% and 41.7% in the British and the present study, respectively.…”

Incidence and Outcome of Whiplash Injury After Multiple Trauma

“…[1][2][3][4][5] The current annual incidence in the United Kingdom is approximately 250,000 new patients per year, 3 and in the United States, it is estimated to be as high as 1 million new cases annually. 5 Out of all claims for personal injury in the United Kingdom, 85% are related to whiplash injury, 6 and the litigation cost is approximately 3 billion British pounds per year.…”

Organization of rehabilitation services

“…Innovative schemes such as the attachment of a physiotherapist to a primary health care centre may not benefit the elderly, because of attention being diverted to younger patients and the lack of a team structure. 54 Hospital working methods may also be inappropriate because of potential communication difficulties between team members.…”