| dc.description.abstract | Aim
Blended physiotherapy is the integration of a digital intervention and face-to-face therapy. Since physiotherapists in primary health care are not yet familiar with blended physiotherapy, it would be useful to support them in determining the suitability of the patient to receive blended physiotherapy and to determine the ratio between face-to-face physiotherapy and the blended component. Therefore, the Dutch Blended Physiotherapy Checklist (DBPC) was developed. The DBPC is a tool of conversation between physiotherapist and patient. It was not known how the tool could benefit primary physiotherapists. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of the DBPC.
Methods
A mixed-method triangulation design was used. Primary health care physiotherapists participated in this study and used the DBPC in at least four patients over one month. In this study, blended physiotherapy consisted of face-to-face physiotherapy and the use of Physitrack. Physitrack is a web-based exercise program.
Both quantitative and qualitative data were based on feasibility areas of focus: demand, acceptability, implementation, integration, understandability and readability. Quantitative data were collected with a self-developed questionnaire. The aim of the qualitative research is to explain quantitative results and gain deeper insight in the opinions of physiotherapists about the feasibility of the DBPC.
Results
Of the fourteen physiotherapists who were included, 71.4% stated that the DBPC is feasible and they will use the DBPC in the future. They rated the DBPC with a 7/10. The thirteen analysed interviews revealed captured themes: efficiency, innovation and change of behaviour. There is no surplus value of the long-term use of the DBPC, because physiotherapists declared that they can use the DBPC by heart.
Conclusion
Generally, a lot of physiotherapists in primary health care were positive about the feasibility of the DBPC for determining patients suitability for blended physiotherapy. For physiotherapists who do not yet provide blended physiotherapy or physiotherapists who have only done so for a short period, the DBPC seems most feasible.
Clinical Relevance
Physiotherapists who did not use blended physiotherapy prior to participation in this study and physiotherapists with the intention to provide blended physiotherapy should experience an added value of the DBPC. | |
