Synchronous Home-Based Telerehabilitation of the Upper Extremity Following Stroke-A Pyramid Review.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, often resulting in upper extremity impairment. Telerehabilitation offers a promising approach to deliver therapy in home settings. This review aimed to evaluate the effects of home-based telerehabilitation interventions delivered to address upper extremity function in stroke patients.

Measuring guideline adherence in physiotherapy: A scoping review of methodological approaches.

Rationale: Clinical practice guidelines summarise the existing evidence on specific health conditions and aim to optimise quality of care by providing evidence-based recommendations. Studies have reported a gap between research findings and clinical practice in physiotherapy. Guideline adherence is often used as a measure of agreement between therapeutic care and guideline recommendations.

Barriers and facilitators to the use of clinical practice guidelines in osteoarthritis care: a qualitative study among German physiotherapists.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore barriers and facilitators to the use of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in osteoarthritis (OA) care among German physiotherapists.

Design: Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with German physiotherapists. An interview topic guide based on the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) was developed to explore perceived barriers and facilitators to the use of CPGs in OA care.

Evidence gaps in conservative non-pharmacological interventions and guideline implementation for high-burden non-communicable diseases: protocol for an overview of reviews.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) represent a high burden for the society and affected individuals. Conservative non-pharmacological interventions play a first-line role in the treatment and management of most NCDs. Systematic reviews (SRs) provide the highest level of evidence and significantly influence clinical decision-making.

Implementation of a Virtual Reality Intervention in Outpatient Physiotherapy for Chronic Pain: Protocol for a Pilot Implementation Study.

Background: Chronic pain is a global health issue that causes physical, psychological, and social disabilities for patients, as well as high costs for societies. Virtual reality (VR) is a new treatment that provides an opportunity to narrow the gap between clinical practice and recommended care in the use of patient education and behavioral interventions in the outpatient physiotherapy setting. However, there is currently no implementation strategy to integrate VR treatments into this setting.

Evidence-based and Patient-centered Indication for Knee Arthroplasty - Update of the Guideline.

Knee arthroplasty is one of the most frequently performed operations in Germany, with approximately 170000 procedures per year. It is therefore essential that physicians should adhere to an appropriate, and patient-centered indication process. The updated guideline indication criteria for knee arthroplasty (EKIT-Knee) contain recommendations, which are based on current evidence and agreed upon by a broad consensus panel.

Guideline-Adherent Physiotherapy for Patients With Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis in Germany: Protocol for an Implementation Research Project Using the Theoretical Domains Framework and the Behavior Change Wheel.

Background: Hip and knee osteoarthritis is common and leads to pain, stiffness, and disability. Clinical practice guidelines provide recommendations based on the best available evidence to assist health care professionals and patients in clinical decision-making. However, several studies have reported a gap between guideline recommendations and clinical practice in physiotherapy.

Physiotherapy for patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis in Germany: a survey of current practice.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and the knee is common and leads to pain, stiffness and disability. Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) provide recommendations to assist healthcare professionals in clinical decision-making. Although evidence-based physiotherapy has been shown to be effective in the management OA, a gap between clinical practice and guideline recommendations exists.

Smartphone-assisted training with education for patients with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis (SmArt-E): study protocol for a multicentre pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Hip and knee osteoarthritis are associated with functional limitations, pain and restrictions in quality of life and the ability to work. Furthermore, with growing prevalence, osteoarthritis is increasingly causing (in)direct costs. Guidelines recommend exercise therapy and education as primary treatment strategies.

Adherence to evidence-based practice across healthcare professionals in Germany: results from a cross-sectional, nationwide survey.

Background: Adherence to evidence-based practice (EBP) is considered a key competence to improve healthcare quality. In this study, we aimed to describe the EBP adherence of healthcare professionals working in Germany and to explore barriers and facilitators regarding the implementation of EBP in clinical practice.

Methods: A nationwide online survey was performed among healthcare professionals in Germany from January to April 2018 using the German version of the Evidence-based Practice Inventory (EBPI) questionnaire for a comprehensive assessment of adherence to EBP.

Tailored GuideLine Implementation in STrokE Rehabilitation (GLISTER) in Germany. Protocol of a Mixed Methods Study Using the Behavior Change Wheel and the Theoretical Domains Framework.

Objective: Evidence-based guidelines are important for informing clinical decision-making and improving patient outcomes. There is inconsistent usage of guidelines among physical therapists involved in stroke rehabilitation, suggesting the existence of a gap between theory and practice. Addressing the German guideline "evidence-based rehabilitation of mobility after stroke (ReMoS)," the aims of this project are (1) to describe the current physical therapy practice within the context of stroke rehabilitation in Germany, (2) to evaluate barriers and facilitators of guideline usage, (3) to develop, and (4) to pilot test a theory-based, tailored implementation intervention for the benefit of guideline recommendations.

Current physical therapy practice and implementation factors regarding the evidence-based 'Rehabilitation of Mobility after Stroke (ReMoS)' guideline in Germany: a cross-sectional online survey.

Background: Evaluation of the current physical therapy practice for German stroke rehabilitation with respect to the 'Rehabilitation of Mobility after Stroke (ReMoS)' guideline recommendations and the associated implementation factors.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study employing an online survey was performed among German physical therapists in 2019. The survey consisted of three sections with open and closed questions: 1) self-reported use of ReMoS recommendations, 2) barriers of guideline use and 3) socio-demographic characteristics.

[Adherence to and influencing factors of evidence-based practice in physiotherapeutic care in Germany: a cross-sectional study].

Background: The implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) is a central goal in health care. As in other areas, the transfer of scientific knowledge into clinical practice is very delayed or incomplete in physiotherapy. The primary aim of the present study is to describe the adherence to EBP among physiotherapists working in Germany.

Physical therapy for patients with low back pain in Germany: a survey of current practice.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders worldwide. The National Disease Management Guideline (NVL) "Non-specific LBP" is a practical decision-making aid for both physicians and non-medical professionals in Germany to improve quality of health care. Although LBP is the most frequent diagnosis resulting in physical therapy treatment, information on the current management of patients with LBP and guideline adherence is limited.

Effects of a movement control and tactile acuity training in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain and control impairment - a randomised controlled pilot study.

Background: Nonspecific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) is a heterogeneous condition that is associated with complex neuromuscular adaptations. Exercise is a widely administered treatment, but its effects are small to moderate. Tailoring patient-specific exercise treatments based on subgroup classification may improve patient outcomes.

Patient, physiotherapist and surgeon endorsement of the core domain set for total hip and total knee replacement in Germany: a study protocol for an OMERACT initiative.

Introduction: There is a lack of harmonising measures for clinical trials on total joint replacement (TJR) that would allow for results from TJR studies to be compared or pooled. The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) TJR core domain set is already endorsed among patients and physicians in the USA and Australia. Physiotherapists use different types of measurements compared to orthopaedic surgeons while both make substantial contributions to research in the field of TJR.

Comparison of different rating scales for the use in Delphi studies: different scales lead to different consensus and show different test-retest reliability.

Background: Consensus-orientated Delphi studies are increasingly used in various areas of medical research using a variety of different rating scales and criteria for reaching consensus. We explored the influence of using three different rating scales and different consensus criteria on the results for reaching consensus and assessed the test-retest reliability of these scales within a study aimed at identification of global treatment goals for total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: We conducted a two-stage study consisting of two surveys and consecutively included patients scheduled for TKA from five German hospitals.

Cross-cultural adaptation, internal consistency, test-retest reliability and feasibility of the German version of the evidence-based practice inventory.

Background: A psychometrically robust measurement instrument is prerequisite to tailor and monitor interventions aiming to improve evidence-based practice (EBP). The recently developed "Evidence-based Practice Inventory" (EBPI) questionnaire (five dimensions) provides a sound inventory for a comprehensive assessment of adherence to EBP, and identification of barriers and facilitators for EBP. The aims of this study were to establish a German language version of the EBPI and to examine the instrument's reliability in a diverse sample of healthcare professionals.

The OMERACT Core Domain Set for Clinical Trials of Shoulder Disorders.

Objective: To reach consensus on the core domains to be included in a core domain set for clinical trials of shoulder disorders using the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Filter 2.1 Core Domain Set process.

Methods: At OMERACT 2018, the OMERACT Shoulder Working Group conducted a workshop that presented the OMERACT 2016 preliminary core domain set and its rationale based upon a systematic review of domains measured in shoulder trials and international Delphi sessions involving patients, clinicians, and researchers, as well as a new systematic review of qualitative studies on the experiences of people with shoulder disorders.

Evaluation of a New Exercise Program in the Treatment of Scapular Dyskinesis.

An abnormal motion of the scapula, or scapular dyskinesis (SD), can be effectively treated through conservative therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate a new specific exercise program to restore normal position. A standardized and specific exercise program was created.

[The S2k guideline: Indications for knee endoprosthesis : Evidence and consent-based indications for total knee arthroplasty].

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most frequent surgical procedures in orthopaedic surgery. Until now there have not been any standardized indication criteria, which might contribute to the large geographical differences in the frequency of TKA. This guideline aims to consent minimal requirements (main criteria), additional important aspects (minor criteria), as well as relative and absolute contraindications for TKA.

Developing a core outcome domain set to assessing effectiveness of interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy: the VAPAIN consensus statement on core outcome domains.

Interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMPT) is a biopsychosocial treatment approach for patients with chronic pain that comprises at least psychological and physiotherapeutic interventions. Core outcome sets (COSs) are currently developed in different medical fields to standardize and improve the selection of outcome domains, and measurement instruments in clinical trials, to make trial results meaningful, to pool trial results, and to allow indirect comparison between interventions. The objective of this study was to develop a COS of patient-relevant outcome domains for chronic pain in IMPT clinical trials.

Indication Criteria for Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients with Osteoarthritis - A Multi-perspective Consensus Study.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a significant public health burden. Rates of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in OA vary substantially between geographical regions, most likely due to the lack of standardised indication criteria. We set out to define indication criteria for the German healthcare system for TKA in patients with knee OA, on the basis of best evidence and transparent multi-stakeholder consensus.

[What does pain intensity mean from the patient perspective? : A qualitative study on the patient perspective of pain intensity as an outcome parameter in treatment evaluation and on the interpretability of pain intensity measurements].

Background: Pain intensity (PI) is a common outcome parameter in effectiveness studies on interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMPT), despite the fact that IMPT highlights dealing with rather than reducing chronic pain. Moreover, the measurement of pain intensity as a highly subjective experience is problematic. Patient participation is absolutely essential to examine the relevance of PI as a criterion of treatment success as well as to select/develop suitable measurement methods.