Consensus‐based recommendations on communication and education regarding primary care physical therapy for patients with systemic sclerosis

Musculoskeletal Care, vol. 21, pp. 45–55

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop recommendations for communication and postgraduate education regarding primary care physical therapy for systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. METHODS: A virtual Nominal Group Technique was used with tasks forces for communication (n = 18) and education (n = 21). Both included rheumatologists, physical therapists (PTs) in primary, secondary or tertiary care, rheumatology nurses, advanced nurse practictioners and patient representatives. Three online meetings were organised for each task force to discuss (1) current bottlenecks; (2) potential solutions; and (3) the resulting draft recommendations. After the final adjustments, participants rated their level of agreement with each recommendation on a scale from 0 (not at all agree) to 100 (totally agree), using an online questionnaire. RESULTS: 19 and 34 recommendations were formulated for communication and education, respectively. For communication the main recommendations concerned the provision of an overview of primary care physical therapists with expertise in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases to patients and rheumatologists, the inclusion of the indication by the rheumatologist in the referral to the physical therapist and low-threshold communication with the rheumatologist in case of questions or concerns of the physical therapist. For postgraduate education three types of "on demand" educational offerings were recommended with varying levels of content and duration, to match the competencies and preferences of individual primary care physical therapists. CONCLUSION: Using a systematic qualitative approach, two multi-stakeholder task forces developed practical recommendations for primary care physical therapists' communication with hospital-based care providers and postgraduate education regarding the treatment of SSc patients.

Authors 8

1. Sophie I E Liem corresponding Aachen Department of Rheumatology Leiden University Medical Center Leiden The Netherlands Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Rheumatology Leiden University Medical Center Leiden The Netherlands

   Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

2. T. P. M. Vliet Vlieland Aachen Department of Orthopaedics Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy Leiden University Medical Center Leiden The Netherlands Department of Rheumatology Leiden University Medical Center Leiden The Netherlands Department of Orthopaedics, Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Orthopaedics Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy Leiden University Medical Center Leiden The Netherlands

   Department of Rheumatology Leiden University Medical Center Leiden The Netherlands

   Department of Orthopaedics, Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

   Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

3. Cornelia H. van de Ende

   Radboud University Nijmegen · Radboud University Medical Center · Sint Maartenskliniek

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Rheumatology Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen The Netherlands

   Department of Rheumatology Sint Maartenskliniek Nijmegen The Netherlands

   Department of Rheumatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

   Department of Rheumatology, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

4. Sonja Dittmar

   Nationale vereniging voor LUPUS, APS, Sclerodermie en MCTD

   Affiliation as printed

   NVLE Dutch Patient Organization for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Utrecht The Netherlands

   NVLE, Dutch Patient Organization for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases, Utrecht, The Netherlands

5. Rita Schriemer

   Nationale vereniging voor LUPUS, APS, Sclerodermie en MCTD

   Affiliation as printed

   NVLE Dutch Patient Organization for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Utrecht The Netherlands

   NVLE, Dutch Patient Organization for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases, Utrecht, The Netherlands

6. Leti van Bodegom‐Vos Aachen Department of Biomedical Data Sciences Medical Decision Making Leiden University Medical Center Leiden Zuid‐Holland The Netherlands Department of Biomedical Data Sciences

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biomedical Data Sciences Medical Decision Making Leiden University Medical Center Leiden Zuid‐Holland The Netherlands

   Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Medical Decision Making, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands

7. Wilfred F. Peter Aachen Department of Orthopaedics Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy Leiden University Medical Center Leiden The Netherlands Department of Orthopaedics, Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Orthopaedics Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy Leiden University Medical Center Leiden The Netherlands

   Department of Orthopaedics, Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

8. Jeska Kirsten De Vries-Bouwstra Aachen Department of Rheumatology Leiden University Medical Center Leiden The Netherlands Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Rheumatology Leiden University Medical Center Leiden The Netherlands

   Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands