Article

Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is common, painful, and disabling. Physical
therapists have an important role in managing patients with hip OA ; however,
little is known about their current management approach and whether it aligns
with clinical guideline recommendations.
The objective of this study
is to describe United Kingdom (UK) physical therapists' current management of
patients with hip OA and to determine whether it aligns with clinical guidelines.
Design: The design is a cross-section questionnaire.
Methods: A questionnaire was
mailed to 3126 physical therapists in the UK that explored physical therapists'
self-reported management of a patient with hip OA using a case vignette and
clinical management questions. Results: The response rate was 52.7% (n = 1646).
In total, 1148 (69.7%) physical therapists had treated a patient with hip OA in
the last 6 months and were included in the analyses.
A treatment package was
commonly provided incorporating advice, exercise (strength training 95.9%;
general physical activity 85.4%), and other nonpharmacological modalities,
predominantly manual therapy (69.6%), and gait retraining (66.4%). There were
some differences in reported management between physical therapists based in the
National Health Service (NHS) and non-NHS-based physical therapists, including
fewer treatment sessions being provided by NHS-based therapists. Limitations:
Limitations include the potential for nonresponder bias and, in clinical
practice, physical therapists may manage patients with hip OA differently.
Conclusion: UK-based physical therapists commonly provide a package of care for
patients with hip OA that is broadly in line with current clinical guidelines,
including advice, exercise, and other nonpharmacological treatments. There were
some differences in clinical practice between NHS and non-NHS-based physical
therapists, but whether these differences impact on clinical outcomes remains
unknown.

Langue : ANGLAIS