title: Effectiveness of PhysioDirect telephone assessment and advice services for patients with musculoskeletal problems.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Are PhysioDirect services, based on initial telephone assessment and advice from a physiotherapist, as effective as usual care involving patients waiting for a face-to-face appointment?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients allocated to PhysioDirect received treatment more quickly than those allocated to usual care, and had equivalent clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Academic Primary Care, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salisbury
authors.affiliation: Bristol Randomised Controlled Trials Collaboration, University of Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Alan A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.affiliation: Centre for Academic Primary Care, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hollinghurst
authors.affiliation: Centre for Academic Primary Care, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK.
authors.forename: Cherida
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hopper
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Primary Care Sciences, Keele University, Keele, UK.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.affiliation: Bristol Randomised Controlled Trials Collaboration, University of Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franchini
authors.affiliation: Centre for Academic Primary Care, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK.
authors.forename: Surinder
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: Health Economics Unit, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coast
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Outpatient Department, Bristol Community Health, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Jeanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Outpatient Department, Bristol Community Health, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grove
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Primary Care Sciences, Keele University, Keele, UK.
authors.forename: Nadine E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000458:organization & administration*