BACKGROUND A previous randomized clinical trial found that a Group Physical Therapy (PT) program for knee osteoarthritis yielded similar improvements in pain and function compared with traditional individual PT. Based on these findings the Group PT program was implemented in a Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System. The objective of this study was to evaluate implementation metrics and changes in patient-level measures following implementation of the Group PT program. METHODS This was a one-year prospective observational study. The Group PT program involved 6 weekly sessions. Implementation metrics included numbers of referrals and completed sessions. Patient-level measures were collected at the first and last PT sessions and included the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC; self-report of pain, stiffness and function (range 0-96)) and a 30-s chair rise test. RESULTS During the evaluation period, 152 patients were referred, 80 had an initial session scheduled, 71 completed at least one session and 49 completed at least 5 sessions. The mean number of completed appointments per patient was 4.1. Among patients completing baseline and follow-up measures, WOMAC scores (n = 33) improved from 56.8 (SD = 15.8) to 46.9 (SD = 14.0); number of chair rises (n = 38) completed in 30 s increased from 10.4 (SD = 5.1) to 11.9 (SD = 5.0). CONCLUSIONS Patients completing the Group PT program in this implementation phase showed clinically relevant improvements comparable to those observed in the previous clinical trial that compared group and individual PT for knee osteoarthritis. These results are important because Group PT can improve efficiency and access compared with individual PT. However, there were some limitations with respect to attendance and completion rates, and program adaptations may be needed to optimize these implementation metrics. Larger, longer-term studies are required to more fully evaluate the effectiveness of this program.

中文翻译：

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为退伍军人患有膝骨关节炎实施团体物理治疗计划。

背景技术先前的一项随机临床试验发现，与传统的个人PT相比，膝关节骨关节炎的团体物理治疗（PT）程序在疼痛和功能上产生了类似的改善。基于这些发现，在退伍军人事务卫生保健系统部门实施了小组PT计划。这项研究的目的是评估实施PT计划后实施指标和患者水平措施的变化。方法这是一项为期一年的前瞻性观察性研究。小组PT计划每周进行6次课程。实施指标包括推介次数和完成的会话次数。在第一次和最后一次PT会议上收集了患者水平的测量数据，其中包括西安大略省和麦克马斯特大学的骨关节炎指数（WOMAC；疼痛的自我报告，刚度和功能（范围0-96））和30秒的椅子上升测试。结果在评估期间，转诊了152例患者，其中80例已安排了初次会议，71例至少完成了一次会议，49例至少完成了5次会议。每个病人完成预约的平均数为4.1。在完成基线和随访措施的患者中，WOMAC评分（n = 33）从56.8（SD = 15.8）提高到46.9（SD = 14.0）；30秒内完成的椅子升起（n = 38）的次数从10.4（SD = 5.1）增加到11.9（SD = 5.0）。结论在该实施阶段完成小组PT计划的患者显示出与先前在临床研究中观察到的可比较的临床相关改善，该比较将小组和个人PT进行了膝骨关节炎的比较。这些结果非常重要，因为与单个PT相比，Group PT可以提高效率和访问权限。但是，在出勤率和完成率方面存在一些限制，可能需要进行计划调整以优化这些实施指标。需要更长时间的长期研究才能更全面地评估该计划的有效性。