Article

OBJECTIVE: To explore major patient and provider characteristics influencing the
receipt of physical therapy (PT) among patients newly diagnosed with
osteoarthritis. DESIGN: A population-based, cross-sectional study on outpatient
PT for patients newly diagnosed with osteoarthritis within the period of 2005 to
2010. SETTING: Sample of 1 million National Health Insurance enrollees.
PARTICIPANTS: People aged >/=18 years with an incidence of osteoarthritis and
receiving initial outpatient treatment. A total of 29,012 patients were included
(N=29,012). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome
variable of interest was the probability of receiving PT within 1 year of
osteoarthritis diagnosis. Both individual and provider characteristics were
investigated to determine their influence on PT receipt. RESULTS: Of the 29,012
included patients with osteoarthritis, only 24.8% of them received PT within the
first year of diagnosis. Men and older adults were less likely to receive PT. In
addition, low-income patients with osteoarthritis were less likely to receive PT.
Furthermore, PT receipt was increased in patients treated by physicians who were
women and by physicians who specialized in rehabilitation medicine. In addition,
we observed a pattern indicating that the lower the accreditation level of the
practice setting, the greater the probability of receiving PT. CONCLUSIONS:
Because of the National Health Insurance program in Taiwan, direct medical costs
of PT have been substantially reduced; however, variations are still observed
among different patient and provider characteristics. The major role of providers
in PT receipt for patients with osteoarthritis should not be ignored.
CI - Copyright (c) 2015 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS