Policy-into-practice for rheumatoid arthritis: Randomized controlled trial and cohort study of E-learning targeting improved physiotherapy management
Objective To examine the effectiveness of a physiotherapy-specific, web-based e-learning platform, "RAP-el," in best-practice management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using a single-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) and prospective cohort study. Methods Australian-registered physioth...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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John Wiley and Sons Inc.
2015
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/34892 |
| _version_ | 1848754347133894656 |
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| author | Fary, Robyn Slater, Helen Chua, J. Ranelli, Sonia Chan, M. Briggs, Andrew |
| author_facet | Fary, Robyn Slater, Helen Chua, J. Ranelli, Sonia Chan, M. Briggs, Andrew |
| author_sort | Fary, Robyn |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Objective To examine the effectiveness of a physiotherapy-specific, web-based e-learning platform, "RAP-el," in best-practice management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using a single-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) and prospective cohort study. Methods Australian-registered physiotherapists were electronically randomized into intervention and control groups. The intervention group accessed RAP-eL over 4 weeks. Change in self-reported confidence in knowledge and skills was compared between groups at the end of the RCT using linear regression conditioned for baseline scores by a blinded assessor, using intent-to-treat analysis. Secondary outcomes included physiotherapists' satisfaction with RA management and responses to RA-relevant clinical statements and practice-relevant vignettes. Retention was evaluated in a cohort study 8 weeks after the RCT. Results Eighty physiotherapists were randomized into the intervention and 79 into the control groups. Fifty-six and 48, respectively, provided baseline data. Significant between-group differences were observed for change in confidence in knowledge (mean difference 8.51; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 6.29, 10.73; effect size 1.62) and skills (mean difference 7.26; 95% CI 5.1, 9.4; effect size 1.54), with the intervention group performing better. Satisfaction in ability to manage RA, 4 of the 6 clinical statements, and responses to vignettes demonstrated significant improvement in the intervention group. Although 8-week scores showed declines in most outcomes, their clinical significance remains uncertain. Conclusion RAP-eL can improve self-reported confidence, likely practice behaviors and satisfaction in physiotherapists' ability to manage people with RA, and improve their clinical knowledge in several areas of best-practice RA management in the short term. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:38:58Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-34892 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:38:58Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | John Wiley and Sons Inc. |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-348922017-09-13T15:28:26Z Policy-into-practice for rheumatoid arthritis: Randomized controlled trial and cohort study of E-learning targeting improved physiotherapy management Fary, Robyn Slater, Helen Chua, J. Ranelli, Sonia Chan, M. Briggs, Andrew Objective To examine the effectiveness of a physiotherapy-specific, web-based e-learning platform, "RAP-el," in best-practice management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using a single-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) and prospective cohort study. Methods Australian-registered physiotherapists were electronically randomized into intervention and control groups. The intervention group accessed RAP-eL over 4 weeks. Change in self-reported confidence in knowledge and skills was compared between groups at the end of the RCT using linear regression conditioned for baseline scores by a blinded assessor, using intent-to-treat analysis. Secondary outcomes included physiotherapists' satisfaction with RA management and responses to RA-relevant clinical statements and practice-relevant vignettes. Retention was evaluated in a cohort study 8 weeks after the RCT. Results Eighty physiotherapists were randomized into the intervention and 79 into the control groups. Fifty-six and 48, respectively, provided baseline data. Significant between-group differences were observed for change in confidence in knowledge (mean difference 8.51; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 6.29, 10.73; effect size 1.62) and skills (mean difference 7.26; 95% CI 5.1, 9.4; effect size 1.54), with the intervention group performing better. Satisfaction in ability to manage RA, 4 of the 6 clinical statements, and responses to vignettes demonstrated significant improvement in the intervention group. Although 8-week scores showed declines in most outcomes, their clinical significance remains uncertain. Conclusion RAP-eL can improve self-reported confidence, likely practice behaviors and satisfaction in physiotherapists' ability to manage people with RA, and improve their clinical knowledge in several areas of best-practice RA management in the short term. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/34892 10.1002/acr.22535 John Wiley and Sons Inc. unknown |
| spellingShingle | Fary, Robyn Slater, Helen Chua, J. Ranelli, Sonia Chan, M. Briggs, Andrew Policy-into-practice for rheumatoid arthritis: Randomized controlled trial and cohort study of E-learning targeting improved physiotherapy management |
| title | Policy-into-practice for rheumatoid arthritis: Randomized controlled trial and cohort study of E-learning targeting improved physiotherapy management |
| title_full | Policy-into-practice for rheumatoid arthritis: Randomized controlled trial and cohort study of E-learning targeting improved physiotherapy management |
| title_fullStr | Policy-into-practice for rheumatoid arthritis: Randomized controlled trial and cohort study of E-learning targeting improved physiotherapy management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Policy-into-practice for rheumatoid arthritis: Randomized controlled trial and cohort study of E-learning targeting improved physiotherapy management |
| title_short | Policy-into-practice for rheumatoid arthritis: Randomized controlled trial and cohort study of E-learning targeting improved physiotherapy management |
| title_sort | policy-into-practice for rheumatoid arthritis: randomized controlled trial and cohort study of e-learning targeting improved physiotherapy management |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/34892 |