Postgraduate education to increase adherence to a Dutch physiotherapy practice guideline for hip and knee OA: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effectiveness of two educational courses aiming to improve adherence to recommendations in a Dutch physiotherapy practice guideline for hip and knee OA.


METHODS
Physiotherapists (PTs) from three regions in The Netherlands were invited to participate in a study comparing an interactive workshop (IW) with conventional education (CE). Participants were randomly assigned to one of the two courses. Satisfaction with the course (scale 0-10), knowledge (score range 0-76) and guideline adherence (score range 0-72) were measured at baseline, immediately after the educational course and 3 months after that. Data were analysed using a linear mixed model.


RESULTS
In total, 203 (10%) PTs participated in the IW (n = 108) and the CE (n = 95). There were no differences between groups at baseline. Satisfaction was significantly higher in the IW than in the CE group [mean scores (S.D.) 7.5 (1.1) and 6.7 (1.6), respectively (P < 0.001)]. A significantly greater improvement in adherence was seen over time in the IW group compared with the CE group (F = 3.763, P = 0.024), whereas the difference in improvement of knowledge was not significant (F = 1.283, P = 0.278).


CONCLUSIONS
An IW led to greater satisfaction and was more effective in improving adherence to recommendations in a PT guideline on hip and knee OA than CE, whereas the increase in knowledge did not differ significantly.
Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedics, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. w.f.h.peter@lumc.nl
Wilfred F
WF
Peter
Philip J
PJ
van der Wees
John
J
Verhoef
Zuzana
Z
de Jong
Leti
L
van Bodegom-Vos
Wim K H A
WK
Hilberdink
Marta
M
Fiocco
Thea P M
TP
Vliet Vlieland
D000328:Adult; D004500:Education, Graduate / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000628:therapy*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000628:therapy*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty / Q000193:education*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires