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Optimizing referral of patients with neuromuscular disorders to allied health care
Author(s) -
Pieterse A. J.,
Cup E. H. C.,
Akkermans R. P.,
Hendricks H. T.,
Van Engelen B. G. M.,
Van Der Wilt G. J.,
Oostendorp R. A. B.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02515.x
Subject(s) - referral , medicine , logistic regression , test (biology) , multivariate analysis , physical therapy , family medicine , cross sectional study , paleontology , biology , pathology
Background and purpose: To report the predictive validity of the perceived limitations in activities and need questionnaire (PLAN‐Q), a screening instrument to support neurologists to select patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMD) for referral for a one‐off consultation by occupational therapist (OT), physical therapist (PT) and speech therapist (ST). Methods: In a cross‐sectional validation study, 102 patients with various NMD participated. Patients received a one‐off consultation by an expert OT, PT and ST and filled out the PLAN‐Q. Therapists rated the appropriateness of the one‐off consultations based on need, available treatment and patient’s motivation. Receiver Operation Characteristic analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to obtain a PLAN‐Q based prediction model for the appropriateness of the one‐off consultations. Results: Probability for a one‐off OT consultation increased from 64% to 78% (95% CI: 69–85%). Prior test probability for a one‐off ST consultation increased from 44% to 61% (95% CI: 48–73%). Prior test probability for one‐off PT consultation could not be increased. Conclusion: Screening patients with NMD using the PLAN‐Q may assist neurologists in selecting the appropriate patients for a one‐off consultation by OT and ST. Unlike our expectations the screening did not guide referral for a one‐off consultation by PT.