Article

Whilst prognostic factors for recovery from whiplash associated
disorders have been documented, factors related to high physiotherapy use are not
well recognized. This study profiles predictors for high use of physiotherapy
services from a large dataset from an Australian state insurer for motor vehicle
accidents. METHOD: A dataset of Motor Accident Commission claims in South
Australia for whiplash associated disorders (2006-2009) was interrogated.
RESULTS: The median number of physiotherapy services per claimant was 15 (range:
1-194). The typical high user of physiotherapy was female, aged 25-59 years,
living in a high socio-economic area, with legal representation, who delayed
obtaining physiotherapy for at least 28 days after the accident. The largest mean
number of days between treatments (5.4 days) in the first 5 treatments related to
the lowest subsequent use of physiotherapy services. CONCLUSION: This represents
the first review of physio-therapy service use based on an insurance dataset. A
range of factors were related to high use of physiotherapy services. It is hoped
that identifying the mean number and spread of physiotherapy interventions for
whiplash associated disorders, and the profile of high users of physiotherapy
will help gauge the success of strategies to maximize the efficacy of
physiotherapy management of whiplash associated disorders.

Langue : ANGLAIS