Access, delivery and perceived efficacy of physiotherapy and use of complementary and alternative therapies by people with progressive multiple sclerosis in the United Kingdom: An online survey
Date
2017-01-16Author
Campbell, Evan
Coulter, Elaine H.
Mattison, Paul
McFadyen, Angus
Miller, Linda
Paul, Lorna
Metadata
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Campbell, E., Coulter, E., Mattison, P., McFadyen, A., Miller, L. & Paul, L. (2017) Access, delivery and perceived efficacy of physiotherapy and use of complementary and alternative therapies by people with progressive multiple sclerosis in the United Kingdom: An online survey, Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, vol. 12, , pp. 64-69,
Abstract
Introduction: All people with progressive MS in the United Kingdom should have access to physiotherapy
through the National Health Service (NHS). However levels of access and delivery are unknown. Furthermore
there is no research on perceived efficacy of physiotherapy or the use of complementary and alternative
medicine in people with progressive MS in the United Kingdom.
Methods: An online survey was carried out via the UK MS Register. Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of
progressive MS, a member of UK MS Register and 18 years or older. The survey asked participants regarding
access and delivery of physiotherapy; perceived efficacy of physiotherapy and interventions received; barriers to
accessing physiotherapy and use of complementary and alternative medicine. The following additional data
were supplied from the UK MS Register: demographics, EQ5D, MSIS-29 physical and psychological sub-scales
and geographical data.
Results: Total number of respondents was 1,298 from an identified 2,538 potential registrants: 87% could
access physiotherapy services, 77% received physiotherapy from the NHS and 32% were currently receiving
physiotherapy. The most common interventions received were home exercise programme (86%), exercises with
a physiotherapist (74%) and advice/education (67%). 40% had recently used complementary and alternative
medicine.
Perceived efficacy of physiotherapy was high with 70% reporting it to be either 'beneficial' or 'very beneficial'.
Main barriers to accessing physiotherapy were mobility, fatigue, continence, transport issues, requiring
someone to go with them and pain.
Discussion: Access to physiotherapy was high with most people reporting it as beneficial. However 13%
reported not having access indicating a gap in accessibility. Considering some of the barriers reported may allow
physiotherapy services to address this gap in accessibility.