Photo Credit: Gorodenkoff
The following is a summary of “The ability of Austrian registered physiotherapists to recognize serious pathology,” published in the October 2024 issue of Primary Care by Janssen et al.
Serious pathology can mimic musculoskeletal conditions, making recognition crucial for physiotherapists. However, Austrian physiotherapists’ decision-making skills in this area remain unexplored.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to analyze Austrian physiotherapists’ accuracy in keep-refer decisions.
In this national survey, registered Austrian physiotherapists (self-employed and employed) were recruited to complete 12 clinical vignettes. Correct responses were recorded as percentages.
The results showed that 479 physiotherapists participated, with an 8.0% response rate from self-employed physiotherapists. Participants correctly classified an average of 70.5% of musculoskeletal cases, 79.4% of non-critical medical cases, and 53.3% of critical medical cases.
The study concluded that Austrian physiotherapists supported additional training to improve recognition of serious pathology. Targeted educational programs were recommended to enhance diagnostic skills and decision-making.
Source: bmcprimcare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12875-024-02634-8
