The Ability of Austrian Qualified Physiotherapists to Make Accurate Keep-Refer Decisions and to Detect Serious Pathologies Based on Clinical Vignettes: Protocol for a Cross-sectional Web-Based Survey

Wolfgang Lackenbauer; Simon Gasselich; Martina Edda Lickel; Reinhard Beikircher; Christian Keip; Florian Rausch; Manfred Wieser; James Selfe; Jessie Janssen

doi:10.2196/43028

The Ability of Austrian Qualified Physiotherapists to Make Accurate Keep-Refer Decisions and to Detect Serious Pathologies Based on Clinical Vignettes: Protocol for a Cross-sectional Web-Based Survey

JMIR Res Protoc. 2023 Jan 24:12:e43028. doi: 10.2196/43028.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Krems, Krems, Austria.
² Karl Landsteiner University, Krems, Austria.
³ University Hospital Krems, Krems, Austria.
⁴ Department of Health Professions, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 36692940
PMCID: PMC9906318
DOI: 10.2196/43028

Abstract

Background: The recognition of serious pathologies affecting the musculoskeletal (MSK) system, especially in the early stage of a disease, is an important but challenging task. The prevalence of such serious pathologies is currently low. However, in our progressing aging population, it is anticipated that serious pathologies affecting the MSK system will be on the rise. Physiotherapists, as part of a wider health care team, can play a valuable role in the recognition of serious pathologies. It is at present unknown how accurately Austrian qualified physiotherapists can detect the presence of serious pathologies affecting the MSK system and therefore determine whether physiotherapy management is indicated (keep patients) or not (refer patients to a medical doctor).

Objective: We will explore the current ability of Austrian qualified physiotherapists to recognize serious pathologies by using validated clinical vignettes.

Methods: As part of an electronic web-based survey, these vignettes will be distributed among a convenience sample of qualified Austrian physiotherapists working in a hospital or private setting. The survey will consist of four sections: (1) demographics and general information, (2) the clinical vignettes, (3) questions concerning the clinical vignettes, and (4) self-perceived knowledge gaps and learning preferences from the perspective of study participants. Results will further be used for (1) international comparison with similar studies from the existing literature and (2) gaining insight into the participants' self-perceived knowledge gaps and learning preferences for increasing their knowledge level about keep-refer decision-making and detecting serious pathologies.

Results: Data collection took place between May 2022 and June 2022. As of June 2022, a total of 479 Austrian physiotherapists completed the survey. Data analysis has started, and we aim to publish the results in 2023.

Conclusions: The results of this survey will provide insights into the ability of Austrian physiotherapists to make accurate keep-refer decisions and to recognize the presence of serious pathologies using clinical vignettes. The results of this survey are expected to serve as a basis for future training in this area.

International registered report identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/43028.

Keywords: clinical reasoning; musculoskeletal; physiotherapy; red flags; referral; screening.

©Wolfgang Lackenbauer, Simon Gasselich, Martina Edda Lickel, Reinhard Beikircher, Christian Keip, Florian Rausch, Manfred Wieser, James Selfe, Jessie Janssen. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (https://www.researchprotocols.org), 24.01.2023.