Internet Enhanced, Patient-Centered Orthopedic Care: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Pilot Trial

Phase 1CompletedNCT02025400

Charlotte Sports Medicine Institute, PA24 enrolled

Overview

The investigators have previously reported on patient utilization of an eRehab patient education web portal that utilizes streaming, clinician prescribed video instruction to motivate and inform patients in self-care of their orthopedic condition, focusing on the importance of a home exercise program. The greatest barrier to patient use of this web-based home exercise treatment plan was the initial access to the program. The purpose of this study is to compare an Internet-based patient education rehab portal (eRehab) to formal physical therapy (PT) in terms of patient costs and outcomes.

This is a prospective, randomized, controlled pilot study. Twenty-four patients who were candidates for a knee or shoulder orthopedic outpatient physical therapy referral were randomized to a 6-week treatment course of either PT or eRehab. Patients were evaluated for outcome scores (KOOS or DASH), pain NRS-11 scores, patient subjective outcomes and cost of treatment.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Knee Injuries Shoulder Injuries Rotator Cuff Disease

Interventions

eRehabOTHER

Growth in e-Health applications, defined as any computer or Internet application integrated into health services, has resulted in the development of treatment strategies to improve healthcare while reducing costs. The utilization of e-Health to provide a rehabilitative intervention has recently been identified in the cardiac literature as "e-rehabilitation" or "eRehab." This study specifically compares an orthopedic eRehab Internet application to standard outpatient physical therapy as an adjunct in the treatment of non-complicated knee and shoulder disorders.

Formal Physical TherapyOTHER

This intervention involves referral to a licensed physical therapist or supervised ATC-L.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * patient diagnosed by board certified orthopedic surgeon to be in need of formal physical therapy referral * had the ability to access and use the Internet and email * English-speaking * non-pregnant adults * had not received formal physical therapy for their current diagnosis Exclusion Criteria: * work-related injuries * pain NRS-11 score greater than or equal to 6

Internet Enhanced, Patient-Centered Orthopedic Care: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Pilot Trial

Overview

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (2)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes