Assessment of description and implementation fidelity of clinical trials involving exercise-based treatment in individuals with rotator cuff tears: a scoping review

Larissa Pechincha Ribeiro; Francisca Curiel-Montero; Daiana Priscila Rodrigues-de-Souza; Paula Rezende Camargo; Francisco Alburquerque-Sendín

doi:10.1016/j.bjpt.2024.101062

Assessment of description and implementation fidelity of clinical trials involving exercise-based treatment in individuals with rotator cuff tears: a scoping review

Braz J Phys Ther. 2024 Apr 11;28(2):101062. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2024.101062. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Larissa Pechincha Ribeiro¹, Francisca Curiel-Montero², Daiana Priscila Rodrigues-de-Souza³, Paula Rezende Camargo⁴, Francisco Alburquerque-Sendín³

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Analysis and Intervention of the Shoulder Complex, Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
² Department of Nursing, Pharmacology and Physical Therapy, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
³ Department of Nursing, Pharmacology and Physical Therapy, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain; Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain.
⁴ Laboratory of Analysis and Intervention of the Shoulder Complex, Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: prcamargo@ufscar.br.

Abstract

Background: For evidence-based practice, clinicians and researchers can rely on well-conducted randomized clinical trials that exhibit good methodological quality, provide adequate intervention descriptions, and implementation fidelity.

Objective: To assess the description and implementation fidelity of exercise-based interventions in clinical trials for individuals with rotator cuff tears.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, LILACS, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, SCOPUS and SciELO. Randomized clinical trials that assessed individuals with rotator cuff tears confirmed by imaging exam were included. All individuals must have received an exercise-based treatment. The methodological quality was scored with the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. The Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist and the National Institutes of Health Behaviour Change Consortium (NIHBCC) were used to assess intervention description and implementation fidelity, respectively.

Results: A total of 13 studies were included. Despite their adequate methodological quality, the description of the intervention was poor with TIDieR scores ranging from 6 to 15 out of 24 total points. The TIDieR highest-scoring item was item 1 (brief name) that was reported in all studies. Considering fidelity, only one of the five domains of NIHBCC (i.e., treatment design) reached just over 50%.

Conclusion: Exercise-based interventions used in studies for individuals with rotator cuff tears are poorly reported. The description and fidelity of the intervention need to be better reported to assist clinical decision-making and support evidence-based practice.

Keywords: Physical therapy; Rehabilitation; Reporting quality; Shoulder pain.

Publication types

Review