Allied Health in Rheumatology Triage Project

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Inflammatory Arthritis
• Interventions: Other: Therapist Triage

• Registration Number: NCT02465879
• Lead Sponsor: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Brief Summary

There is accumulating evidence that early treatment leads to better outcomes for patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA). Triage, which is the process of identifying the urgency of a patient's disease state efficiently and correctly, may facilitate early referral to a rheumatologist. Several studies have suggested that placing allied health professionals (occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses, etc.) in a triage roll may reduce wait time for patients with suspected IA. The goal of this investigation will be to demonstrate the system-level impact of an Arthritis Society extended role occupational therapist (OT) or physical therapist (PT) working in a triage role in improving access to rheumatologists for people with IA. In this study two groups will be observed: intervention and "usual care" as determined by historical chart review. Wait times will be compared between both groups.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-05
• Status Verified: 2015-06
• Study First Submitted: 2015-06-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-06-04
• Study First Posted: 2015-06-09
• Primary Completion: 2015-12
• Study Completion: 2015-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-06-29
• Last Update Posted: 2016-06-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 295

Inclusion Criteria

• New referrals from a GP
• Adults with possible IA (determined by rheumatologist through paper triage)

Exclusion Criteria

• Currently on a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)
• Previously seen by a rheumatologist.
• FM, non-IA OA; soft tissue rheumatism; mechanical LBP

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Therapist Triage	Therapist Triage	All subjects in this group will be triaged by an extended role occupational or physical therapist prior to their visit with the rheumatologist.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Time to first visit with the rheumatologist (wait time)	3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Time to treatment (disease-modifying antirheumatic drug)	3 months
Time to diagnosis	3 months