Diagnostic and decision-making abilities of Swiss physiotherapists in a simulated direct access setting

Core competencies for first contact physiotherapists in a direct access model of care for adults with musculoskeletal disorders: A scoping review

“…Twenty articles used quantitative methodologies, such as cohort, cross‐sectional, and randomized or non‐randomized, controlled designs (Addley et al., 2010; Bishop et al., 2017; Bornhöft et al., 2019; Childs et al., 2005; Domholdt & Durchholz, 1992; Donato et al., 2004; Durant et al., 1989; Gagnon et al., 2021; Gorman et al., 2010; Holdsworth et al., 2007; Jette et al., 2006; Keller et al., 2022; Kilner & Sheppard, 2010; Ludvigsson & Enthoven, 2012; Mitchell & de Lissovoy, 1997; Nordeman et al., 2006; Onyeso et al., 2022; Overman et al., 1988a; Richardson, 2005; Taylor et al., 2011); 9 used qualitative methodologies based on interviews, focus groups, or Delphi methods (Alshareef et al., 2023; Boakye et al., 2016; Burley et al., 2020; Chance‐Larsen et al., 2019; French & Galvin, 2017; Kumar & Grimmer, 2005; Lefmann & Sheppard, 2014; McMahon et al., 2016; Vader et al., 2022); 2 used a mixed methodology (Alkhouri et al., 2020; Fisher, 2020); seven involved knowledge syntheses such as systematic, scoping, critical, and narrative reviews (Boakye et al., 2016; Ferreira et al., 2019; Foster et al., 2012; C. Harris et al., 2020; Lackenbauer et al., 2017; Lin et al., 2020; Ojha et al., 2014); 9 were viewpoints (editorials and clinical commentaries) (Bishop et al., 2013; W. G. Boissonnault et al., 2010; W. G. Boissonnault & Ross, 2012; W. Boissonnault & Goodman, 2006; Crane & Delany, 2013; Fleming‐McDonnell et al., 2010; Juneja et al., 2020; Lebec & Jogodka, 2009; McMahon et al., 2016); and 18 were from grey literature, including international references, books, and theses (APTA, 2012, 2...…”

Description of the abilities of physiotherapists in terms of diagnostic hypothesis and management decision for self‐referred patients with musculoskeletal disorders in France using clinical vignettes: A cross‐sectional survey

“…Their selection was based on the prevalence of the disorders concerned and the most frequent areas of symptoms (Données globales d, 2023; Panchout et al., 2017; World Health Organization, 2022). The clinical vignettes presented three categories of patients: the musculoskeletal category (MS) included musculoskeletal disorders that physiotherapists could manage without the need for medical care, the non‐critical medical category (NCM) where physiotherapy could be combined with parallel medical care, and the critical medical category (CM) that solely required medical referral without physiotherapy management (Keller et al., 2022; Scheermesser et al., 2012).…”

“…The responses to the questions in the clinical vignettes were categorised as either correct or incorrect following the criteria used in the original studies (Table 1) (Jette et al., 2006; Keller et al., 2022; Scheermesser et al., 2012).…”

“…Participants were not informed of this categorisation. Each vignette led to two questions (Jette et al., 2006; Keller et al., 2022). The first one involved selecting the most likely diagnostic hypothesis among 19 options, and the second one involved choosing the most appropriate management decision for patient care among four proposals (Table 2).…”

“…Several studies have dealt with the capacities of physiotherapists in the care of patients in a direct access context, particularly in the United States, Switzerland, and Denmark. The results obtained are better for the management decision than for the proposal of diagnostic hypotheses, but within them show poorer results for the critical medical category (Budtz et al., 2021; Jette et al., 2006; Keller et al., 2022). No research has described the capacities of private practice physiotherapists in France to manage patients with musculoskeletal disorders in a direct access context.…”