Patient Adherence for Blended Physiotherapy in Patients With Chronic Pain: A Critically Appraised Topic

Clinical Scenario : Chronic pain conditions affect approximately 30% of the world’s population, and treatment plans are often complex. 70% of patients fail to adhere to prescribed home exercise programs. One possible solution is blended physiotherapy, which combines in-person physical therapy and web-based applications to support. Clinical Question : In patients with chronic pain, is blended physiotherapy an effective approach to patient adherence when compared to traditional rehabilitation interventions? Summary of Key Findings : The literature search included studies including any form of blended physiotherapy assessing patient adherence outcome measures. A total of 22 were identified for inclusion criteria, and three were identified for data synthesis. Two studies found significant increases in patient adherence when applying blended physiotherapy. The third study reported lower patient adherence when comparing blended physiotherapy to standard treatment methods. Clinical Bottom Line : Current low-level evidence supports the use of blended physiotherapy as an effective approach for adherence in patients with chronic pain. Blended physiotherapy reported in the literature consisted of video-supported exercises; self-management skills; pain management education; and telephone support for low-, medium-, and high-risk patients with chronic pain. Use of blended physiotherapy promotes patient engagement and may enhance a patient-centered care environment.