B1 Non-refereed journal articles
Asiakkaan kokemuksia fysioterapeutin suoravastaanotosta selkäkipujen varhaisvaiheessa (2017)
Patients’ experiences of their visit to direct access physiotherapists in the early phase of low back pain : a retrospective descriptive survey


Karvonen, E., Paatelma, M., & Heinonen, A. (2017). Asiakkaan kokemuksia fysioterapeutin suoravastaanotosta selkäkipujen varhaisvaiheessa. Kuntoutus, 40(3-4), 34-44. https://doi.org/10.37451/kuntoutus.111385


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Karvonen, Eira; Paatelma, Markku; Heinonen, Ari

Journal or series: Kuntoutus

ISSN: 0357-2390

eISSN: 2489-7604

Publication year: 2017

Volume: 40

Issue number: 3-4

Pages range: 34-44

Publisher: Kuntoutussäätiö

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: Finnish

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37451/kuntoutus.111385

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel


Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the experiences of low back pain patients regarding their visit to direct access physiotherapists at a health center. The study is a retrospective descriptive survey conducted in a structured questionnaire three months after a visit to a physiotherapist. The questionnaire included questions, in particular, information on the relief of back pain, the management of the instructed exercises, the recurrence of back pain, patients’ perceptions of the causes of pain, the fear of pain, reasons for a repeat visit to a doctor or physiotherapist, and eventual absences due to sickness. The questionnaire was sent to 150 people who were picked up from the health care centers. Eighty (53%) low back pain patients responded. They were divided into three groups: retired people (n=26); unemployed people (n=15); and students and employed people (n=39). The data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. The open answers were transcribed and the similarities of the answers were combined.
The results showed that 80-82% of patients in all groups experienced the benefits from their visit to a physiotherapist as being great or moderate. During the three months after their visit, the recurrence of back pain was at its lowest among students and employed people (5%) and the highest among retired people (30%). Only 10% of the respondents made a repeat visit to a physiotherapist or doctor for the same back problem. Only one person in the students and employed people group was on sick leave. The results show that the patients viewed the early visit to a physiotherapist as useful in the treatment of back pain and in the prevention of new episodes. From a social cost–benefit point of view the results; the low need for repeat visits to the physiotherapist or to the doctor, and the low rates of absence due to sickness let us assume those to be notable. Additional high-quality research involving longer prospective randomized designs and economic impact analyses is required to further investigate the outcomes associated with early initiation of physiotherapy.


Keywords: spinal diseases; pain; rehabilitation; physiotherapy; experiences (knowledge)

Free keywords: physiotherapy; direct access; low back pain; patients' experiences


Contributing organizations


Ministry reporting: Yes


Last updated on 2023-14-12 at 19:26