Is telephysiotherapy an option for improved quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee?
This study investigated effect of a 6-week telephysiotherapy programme on quality of life (QoL) of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Fifty patients with knee OA were randomly and equally assigned into two treatment groups: clinic group (CG) and telephysiotherapy group (TG). The CG received physiotherapist-administered osteoarthritis-specific exercises in the clinic thrice weekly for 6 weeks while the TG received structured telephone monitoring with self-administered osteoarthritis-specific exercises for the same duration at home. Participants' QoL was assessed using WHOQoL-Bref at baseline, second, fourth, and sixth week of intervention. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and independent Student's t-test. Within-group comparison showed significant improvements in physical health domain (P = 0.00* for TG and CG) and psychological domain (P = 0.02* for TG; P = 0.00* for CG) of WHOQoL following six-week intervention. However, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in TG and CG's social relationship and environment domains. Between-group comparison showed no significant differences (P > 0.05) between CG and TG's physical health, psychological, and social relationships domains of WHOQoL following 6-week intervention. However, there was significant difference in the environment domain (P < 0.05). Telephysiotherapy using telephone medium improved QoL in patients with knee OA comparable to clinic based treatment.
Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200284, Nigeria ; School of Research and Postgraduate Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, Mafikeng 2735, South Africa.
Adesola C
AC
Odole
Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200284, Nigeria ; Department of Physiotherapy, Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta 110251, Nigeria.
Oluwatobi D
OD
Ojo