Measuring patient satisfaction with exercise therapy for knee osteoarthritis: evaluating the utility of the physiotherapy outpatient survey (original) (raw)

Objectives: To assess patient satisfaction with exercise for knee osteoarthritis (OA) and to compare the relationship between patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. Methods: A convenience sample of 27 patients recruited to a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing open kinetic-chain (OKC) and closed kinetic-chain (CKC) exercises for knee OA were reassessed at 9 months post-randomisation. Clinical outcomes included self-report and physical performance measures of function and pain severity. They also completed the Physiotherapy Outpatient Survey (POPS) which is a multidimensional measure of patient satisfaction with physiotherapy. Results: There was no significant difference in satisfaction between the two intervention groups. Overall mean satisfaction for the entire cohort was 4.07 of a maximum score of 5 (standard deviation (SD) =0.52). Lower levels of satisfaction with outcome (mean =3.56, SD=0.8) were reported compared with other domains of expectations, communication, organisation and the therapist (mean=3.79-4.49; SDs=0.42-0.92). Changes in pain and function were also more strongly correlated with satisfaction with outcome (r=0.38-0.48) than other satisfaction subscales (r=0.004-0.33). Both intervention groups improved from baseline on clinical outcomes, with no significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion: High levels of satisfaction were reported in this subsample of knee OA patients participating in an RCT evaluating the effects of different exercise approaches for knee OA. Satisfaction varied depending on the satisfaction domain, with lower satisfaction with outcome compared to other aspects of care. A stronger relationship between satisfaction with outcome and clinical outcomes compared to other features of satisfaction was also found. The POPS is a useful questionnaire to evaluate the multidimensional aspects of satisfaction with physiotherapy for OA.