[Are inpatient rehabilitation or ambulatory physical therapy of patients with musculoskeletal problems effective and are patients referred to proper treatment?].
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of an inpatient rehabilitation program and outpatient physiotherapy, respectively. Moreover, we wanted to know whether the referral to these two treatment paths was appropriate with regard to the patient's initial health status. According to the referring physician's indication patients with health problems in the cervical, lumbar spine, arm or leg were treated by an inpatient rehabilitation program or by outpatient physiotherapy. These two consecutively recruited patient cohorts were then compared. Those patients treated by the inpatient rehabilitation program differed from the outpatient group with regard to the initial health status and to age. Patients with musculoskeletal problems, who underwent an inpatient rehabilitation program, showed a significantly worse health and functional status than the outpatient group. Therefore, it can be concluded that the indication towards inpatient rehabilitation or outpatient physiotherapy was correctly given by the referring physicians. Patients treated by outpatient physiotherapy did also show a reduced health and functional status in comparison to the average population. Both types of treatment led to statistically significant and clinically relevant improvement of both the health and functional status in all patient groups.
Stoll
Th
T
Rheumaklinik und Institut für Physikalische Medizin, Universitätsspital Zürich.
Huber
E
E
Bachmann
St
S
Baumeler
H R
HR
Mariacher
St
S
Meyer
Th
T
Rutz
M
M
Schneider
W
W
Spring
H
H
Aeschlimann
A
A
Steiner
W
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010343:Patient Admission; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D013557:Switzerland