The effectiveness of feedback in exercise therapy on patient-related treatment outcome and patient satisfaction: a randomized controlled trial in inpatient orthopedic rehabilitation in Germany.

PURPOSE: Therapist feedback regarding the patient's performance, behavior or personal development constitutes an effective interventional technique in the context of psychotherapy. Due to the extensive patient-therapist interaction during exercise therapy in medical rehabilitation, this study evaluated the effects of multidimensional exercise therapy feedback on the patient-related treatment outcome and satisfaction with rehabilitation.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The study was conducted as a two-armed, mono-center, randomized controlled trial with three measuring points: start of three-week inpatient rehabilitation (T0), end of three-week inpatient rehabilitation (T1), 12-week follow-up (T2), and included patients with chronic neck, shoulder and/or lumbar spine disorders. The intervention group received multidimensional exercise therapy feedback during the initial and final physical therapist examination as well as short therapist feedbacks during group-based exercise therapy. The control group received usual care.

RESULTS

109 (69%) participants completed the study. Although patients and exercise therapists regarded the intervention as conducive for patient-therapist interaction, no significant differences were found at T1 or T2 between the intervention and control group in terms of average pain intensity, impairment or satisfaction with rehabilitation.

CONCLUSION

While multidimensional exercise therapy feedback is appreciated by patients, it does not improve patient-related outcomes in the context of medical rehabilitation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered with the German Clinical Trial Register (DRKS) (https://www.drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00027263/details) under the registration number DRKS00027263 (Date of registration: 25/Mar/2022).