Physio First_Data for Impact Study

Clinicians are becoming increasingly aware of the need to be able to demonstrate and account for the delivery and quality of their clinical services. Standardised data collection systems can be used by clinicians to gather this information in a robust and accessible way.

The University of Brighton (UoB) have worked collaboratively with Physio First in developing standardised data collection (SDC) systems for private physiotherapy musculoskeletal (MSK) practitioners since 2005. The project arose out of a desire of the Executive Committee of Physio First (the Organisation for Chartered Physiotherapists in Private Practice in the UK) to gain fuller information about current practice, patient demographics and outcome of care within physiotherapy private practices in the UK. The Data for Impact project was commissioned by Physio First, and is funded by the Private Physiotherapy Educational Foundation (PPEF).

Physio First have a membership of approximately 3000 private physiotherapy practitioners in the UK. To date approximately 1000 musculoskeletal practitioners have registered to participate in the Data for Impact (DfI) project, inputting their patient data on to the online system. The research team at UoB monitor and maintain the system, downloading and analysing the national data set three times a year and prepare both national and individualised reports for Physio First and their members. Practitioners registered for the DfI project are also able to offer access to the online Brighton Musculoskeletal Patient Reported Outcome Measure (BmPROM) for their patients.

The Data for Impact project is funded by the Private Physiotherapy Educational Foundation (PPEF).

The DfI project provides useful information to all involved, in terms of patient profiling, marketing, evidence of outcomes, benchmarking and identifying areas for personal learning and professional development.

Since 2018 patients are able to use the Brighton MSK Patient Recorded Outcome Measure (BmPROM) which has been set up online for patients to use independently from their private physiotherapist. This provides additional information about efficiency, effectiveness and quality of care.

Physio First and their clinicians have a growing database of patient data showing how efficient, timely and equitable their services are which will help support them in the ever changing healthcare market.

Overall aims of the project:-

1. To provide the means to allow online standardised data collection (SDC) by MSK practitioners

2. To facilitate participation by MSK practitioners in data collection

3. To facilitate practitioners to make the most of their practice data and to use the data towards becoming quality assured practitioners

4. To provide the means to assist Physio First to position private practice in the changing healthcare environment

5. To facilitate clinicians and patients involvement in capturing patient recorded outcome measures