Determinants of adherence in outpatient physiotherapy - v.1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Determinants of attendance at appointments and adherence to exercise recommendations in outpatients musculoskeletal physiotherapy: A mixed methods study
IRAS ID
120287
Contact name
Devdeep Ahuja
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Hallam University
Research summary
Poor attendance and adherence has significant negative impact on treatment outcomes and healthcare costs. Several socio-demographic, psychological, therapist related and organizational factors have been studied in previous literature, but a review indicated there is limited evidence for many barriers and a lack of research into other potential factors indicating that further research is required in this area. Therefore, this two phase study aims to evaluate the factors which might significantly influence attendance, in clinic adherence and home exercise adherence at physiotherapy outpatient departments of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals (STH).
Phase one of the proposed study will evaluate the predictive relationship between various patient, therapist, exercise program and institution related factors with attendance and adherence through use of questionnaires before and after physiotherapy treatment. These questionnaires will be administered to patients on waiting list for treatment of musculoskeletal conditions at outpatient physiotherapy departments at STH. The results will be explored through multivariate statistical procedures.
Phase II of the study will utilise interviews and focus groups to explore the results of Phase I in order to build an understanding of the mechanisms which connect key factors which emerge from Phase I with the outcomes of attendance and adherence. Interviews will be conducted with participant patients from Phase I and reception staff of participating physiotherapy departments while clinical physiotherapists and managers will be invited to participate in focus groups.
Once the results of both phases have been individually analysed, these will be integrated to explore how the results from two phases complement or contradict each other. This will result in development of a conceptual framework which will explain the barriers to attendance and adherence and serve to suggest strategies which can be utilized to enhance attendance and adherence in outpatient musculoskeletal physiotherapy clinics at STH.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/YH/0096
Date of REC Opinion
23 May 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion