The Health Economic Impact of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Delivered by Telehealth: A Systematic Review
Introduction: While the efficacy of telehealth in musculoskeletal physiotherapy has been supported, its cost effectiveness has not been established. Therefore, the objective of this review was to ascertain the health economic impact of outpatient musculoskeletal physiotherapy delivered by telehealt...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
2022-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Telerehabilitation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://telerehab.pitt.edu/ojs/Telerehab/article/view/6524 |
| _version_ | 1811200775630618624 |
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| author | Darryn Marks Sarah Kitcher Elodie Attrazic Wayne Hing Michelle Cottrell |
| author_facet | Darryn Marks Sarah Kitcher Elodie Attrazic Wayne Hing Michelle Cottrell |
| author_sort | Darryn Marks |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction: While the efficacy of telehealth in musculoskeletal physiotherapy has been supported, its cost effectiveness has not been established. Therefore, the objective of this review was to ascertain the health economic impact of outpatient musculoskeletal physiotherapy delivered by telehealth and describe methodology utilized to date. Methods: Electronic searching of PubMed, CINHAL, PEDro, and Web of Science databases was undertaken alongside handsearching for publications comprising: population: adults with musculoskeletal disorders managed in any type of outpatient ambulatory setting; intervention: physiotherapy delivered by telehealth comparison: traditional in-person physiotherapy; and, outcomes: economic analyses reporting costs and consequences. Appraisal was undertaken with the Downs and Black Questionnaire and the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards Checklist. Results: Eleven studies of mixed methodological quality were included. Most were conducted in the public sector, from the economic perspective of the health service funder. Telehealth consistently produced health outcomes akin to in-person care. In all but one, telehealth was less costly, with savings achieved by reducing in-person consultations and travel costs. Conclusion: Telehealth is as effective and cheaper than in-person physiotherapy for musculoskeletal disorders in public hospital outpatients. Further health economic research is needed to clarify the economic impact of telehealth upon non-government providers of musculoskeletal physiotherapy.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T02:09:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a6454e0ee62f4b76bac35a19c141ab6c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1945-2020 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T02:09:21Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | University Library System, University of Pittsburgh |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Telerehabilitation |
| spelling | doaj.art-a6454e0ee62f4b76bac35a19c141ab6c2022-12-22T03:52:27ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghInternational Journal of Telerehabilitation1945-20202022-12-0114210.5195/ijt.2022.6524The Health Economic Impact of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Delivered by Telehealth: A Systematic ReviewDarryn Marks0Sarah Kitcher1Elodie AttrazicWayne Hing2Michelle Cottrell3Bond University, School of Physiotherapy, Gold Coast, Australia; Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, AustraliaBond University, School of Physiotherapy, Gold Coast, Australia Bond University, School of Physiotherapy, Gold Coast, Australia Physiotherapy Department, Royal Women’s and Brisbane Hospital, Australia Introduction: While the efficacy of telehealth in musculoskeletal physiotherapy has been supported, its cost effectiveness has not been established. Therefore, the objective of this review was to ascertain the health economic impact of outpatient musculoskeletal physiotherapy delivered by telehealth and describe methodology utilized to date. Methods: Electronic searching of PubMed, CINHAL, PEDro, and Web of Science databases was undertaken alongside handsearching for publications comprising: population: adults with musculoskeletal disorders managed in any type of outpatient ambulatory setting; intervention: physiotherapy delivered by telehealth comparison: traditional in-person physiotherapy; and, outcomes: economic analyses reporting costs and consequences. Appraisal was undertaken with the Downs and Black Questionnaire and the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards Checklist. Results: Eleven studies of mixed methodological quality were included. Most were conducted in the public sector, from the economic perspective of the health service funder. Telehealth consistently produced health outcomes akin to in-person care. In all but one, telehealth was less costly, with savings achieved by reducing in-person consultations and travel costs. Conclusion: Telehealth is as effective and cheaper than in-person physiotherapy for musculoskeletal disorders in public hospital outpatients. Further health economic research is needed to clarify the economic impact of telehealth upon non-government providers of musculoskeletal physiotherapy. http://telerehab.pitt.edu/ojs/Telerehab/article/view/6524CostEfficiencyMusculoskeletalPhysiotherapyTelerehabilitation |
| spellingShingle | Darryn Marks Sarah Kitcher Elodie Attrazic Wayne Hing Michelle Cottrell The Health Economic Impact of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Delivered by Telehealth: A Systematic Review International Journal of Telerehabilitation Cost Efficiency Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Telerehabilitation |
| title | The Health Economic Impact of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Delivered by Telehealth: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | The Health Economic Impact of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Delivered by Telehealth: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | The Health Economic Impact of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Delivered by Telehealth: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Health Economic Impact of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Delivered by Telehealth: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | The Health Economic Impact of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Delivered by Telehealth: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | health economic impact of musculoskeletal physiotherapy delivered by telehealth a systematic review |
| topic | Cost Efficiency Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Telerehabilitation |
| url | http://telerehab.pitt.edu/ojs/Telerehab/article/view/6524 |
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