A private physiotherapy group, has published a report on the clinical outcomes, patient engagement, cost effectiveness and patient satisfaction among 1010 patients with musculoskeletal conditions using their physio-supported self-management app, Ascenti Reach.
The app offers features such as digital triage, personalised video-led exercise plans and 24/7 clinician access through a chat feature.
The report, ‘Unlocking Physio-Supported Self-Management Through Digital Advancement’, indicates that physio-supported self-management is clinically effective. Half of all patients involved in the study used the app at least five times per week, and a further 29 percent of patients used it three to four times per week; in addition, 39.7 percent of messages sent by patients to clinicians arrived outside traditional office hours, suggesting that the convenience of easy access was an important factor for patients.
Whilst Ascenti say that “published data on face-to-face physio appointments suggests that as many as 70% of MSK patients do not engage in prescribed home exercise”, patients during the study completed 33 workouts across the 12-week period on average, with those who engaged for the full duration of the study completing an average of 5.75 workouts per week.
When measuring pain improvements on a 10-point Global Rating of Change, “patients reported a clinically meaningful 2.1 point change on average”, the report states. Engagement was typically maintained over a sustained period, with 53.5% of patients continuing to use the app after eight weeks had passed.
Ascenti also identified some challenges, including the risk of digital exclusion, and the potential for reduced trust from patients who prefer an in-person appointment. Ascenti said that “physio-supported self-management tools should only be offered as part of an ecosystem that also supports in-person treatment”.
‘The results of this study show that this model has a big part to play in the future of MSK treatment,” said Adam Jarvis, Ascenti’s chief operating officer and a qualified physiotherapist, “particularly at a time when the impact of musculoskeletal conditions on health, the economy and the NHS is rapidly worsening.
“People today want to be more involved in the management of their own health and they want to be able to access clinical advice at a time and place that is convenient for them. The good news is that when they are supported in this more personalised way, they feel more engaged, more motivated and more committed to taking the steps that we know will help them to manage their rehabilitation effectively.”
The full report can be read here.
