Impacts of Physiotherapy Services in a Quebec Emergency Department

Emergency departments (ED) in several countries integrated physiotherapists in order to reduce wait times for patients with musculoskeletal disorders (MSKD). These initiatives have indeed reduced wait times, length of stay, time waited before seeing a professional and the prescription of unnecessary consultations and diagnostic tests. In Canada, such initiatives are marginal and their effects have not been studied.

The objectives of the project are to evaluate the effects of physiotherapy management of patients with MSKD in ED compared to usual practice on clinical course of patients, use of services and resources, and waiting time and length of stay in ED. The hypothesis is that patients presenting with a MSKD to the ED with direct access to a physiotherapist will have better clinical outcomes and that use of services, waiting time, and length of stay are going to be inferior to those of the EP group.

Background and rationale: Emergency departments (ED) in several countries integrated physiotherapists, which led, for patients with musculoskeletal disorders (MSKD), to a reduction in wait times, length of stay, time waited before seeing a professional and the prescription of unnecessary consultations and diagnostic tests. Furthermore, early access to physiotherapy is associated with a decrease in pain and psychological symptoms and decreased risks of developing persistent pain. In Canada, such initiatives are still marginal and their effects have not been studied.

Objectives: Evaluate the effects of direct access physiotherapy management of patients with MSKD in the ED compared to the usual management by the emergency physician on clinical course of patients (pain, quality of life and disability) and use of services and resources at one and three months, and waiting time and length of stay in the ED.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial is currently in progress at the Centre hospitalier de l'Université Laval (CHUL). Two groups of 50 participants each are recruited over a six months period: one group with direct access to a physiotherapist (PT) in the ED and one control group with the usual access care to the emergency physician. Data is extracted from the patients' medical record, administrative data from the ED, self-administered forms given to the patients during their ED stay and either electronic or phone follow-ups (1 and 3 months). Data will be analysed using descriptive (demographic and clinical profiles) and inferential statistics (repeated ANOVA between groups across time points and Student T tests for independent samples).

Importance of potential findings for MSK health: ED overcrowding causes prolonged lengths of stay, increased rates of patient leaving without being seen, increased medical errors, increased mortality among ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients and decreased patient satisfaction. This project will measure the effects of integrating PTs into the ED in a Canadian hospital setting and help identify ways to improve the current services offered to patients with a MSKD presenting to the ED. Direct access to PT may improve musculoskeletal health outcomes and support positive patient experience.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Triage category 3, 4 or 5
* Discharged home with a minor MSKD after ED care
* Able to consent
* Able to understand French and to complete the questionnaire either verbally or in writing

Exclusion Criteria:

* Major MSKD requiring urgent care
* Presence of a red flag or an unstable clinical condition
* Living in a long-term care facility