A short questionnaire to identify patient characteristics indicating improved compliance to exercise rehabilitation programs: A pilot investigation

Background and objectives: Osteopaths and other health care practitioners are increasingly utilising exercise rehabilitation prescription (ERP) to complement manual therapy treatment regimens and augment the recovery of their patients. Research has demonstrated a positive relationship between the level of patient compliance to ERP and recovery from a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. A problem facing osteopaths and other health care practitioners is the failure of patients to comply with ERP, which can impact on the successful recovery and rehabilitation of injuries. The aim of this study was to identify patient characteristics that influence compliance to ERP in an osteopathic student clinic. Setting: Clinic of an Australian osteopathic training institution, where patients are treated by students under the supervision of clinical tutors. Methods: A purposive sample of patients attending the Victoria University Osteopathic Medicine Clinic (VUOMC) was recruited over a three month period in 2006. The study population consisted of 200 patients aged 18 or over routinely attending the clinic, who volunteered to participate in response to verbal invitation from students or tutors. All consenting patients completed a pilot questionnaire developed by the researchers. The questionnaire assessed (1) patient attitudes, education and past experiences relating to health, sport and exercise, (2) whether the patient had received ERP and (3) compliance to the ERP. Results: Seventy-three percent (146 respondents) of return patients were prescribed ERP and 27% (54 respondents) were not. Total compliance rate to ERP was 52% (76 respondents), with 48% (70 respondents) non-compliant. There was a significant difference between ‘attitude’ (P < 0.001), ‘education’ (P < 0.001) and ‘past experience’ (P < 0.001) scores for the ERP compliant and noncompliant groups. Conclusion: The overall ERP compliance rate of return patients at the VUOMC is comparable with previous studies. The findings of this study also suggest that patients who have a positive attitude, more education and more positive experiences in relation to health, sport and exercise are more likely to be compliant to practitioner prescribed exercise rehabilitation programs