Physiotherapy triage assessment of patients referred for orthopaedic consultation – Long-term follow-up of health-related quality of life, pain-related disability and sick leave

IntroductionThe literature indicates that physiotherapy triage assessment can be efficient for patients referred for orthopaedic consultation, however long-term follow up of patient reported outcome measures are not available.AimTo report a long-term evaluation of patient-reported health-related quality of life, pain-related disability, and sick leave after a physiotherapy triage assessment of patients referred for orthopaedic consultation compared with standard practice.MethodsPatients referred for orthopaedic consultation (n = 208) were randomised to physiotherapy triage assessment or standard practice. The randomised cohort was analysed on an intention-to-treat (ITT) basis. The patient reported outcome measures EuroQol VAS (self-reported health-state), EuroQol 5D-3L (EQ-5D) and Pain Disability Index (PDI) were assessed at baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months. EQ VAS was analysed using a repeated measure ANOVA. PDI and EQ-5D were analysed using a marginal logistic regression model. Sick leave was analysed for the 12 months following consultation using a Mann–Whitney U-test.ResultsThe patients rated a significantly better health-state at 3 after physiotherapy triage assessment [mean difference −5.7 (95% CI −11.1; −0.2); p = 0.04]. There were no other statistically significant differences in perceived health-related quality of life or pain related disability between the groups at any of the follow-ups, or sick leave.ConclusionThis study reports that the long-term follow up of the patient related outcome measures health-related quality of life, pain-related disability and sick leave after physiotherapy triage assessment did not differ from standard practice, indicating the possible benefits of implementation of this model of care.