Physiotherapy
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Physiotherapy services have recently been introduced to Australian emergency departments in an attempt to address service delivery issues such as access block. This study aimed to determine the roles, including those relating to extended scope practice, currently undertaken by physiotherapists in Australian emergency departments. ⋯ Australian emergency department physiotherapists currently perform traditional physiotherapy roles in a non-traditional work environment. The role is aligned with musculoskeletal physiotherapy; however, there is a degree of holistic care involved, particularly for elderly patients. The effect that an emergency department physiotherapy service has on health outcomes is not known, but the study participants indicated that they believe their service has system-wide benefits.
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To assess the extent to which perceived pain and psychological factors explain levels of disability and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients scheduled for lumbar fusion surgery, and to test the hypothesis that relationships between pain intensity, mental health, fear of movement/(re)injury, disability and HRQOL are mediated by cognitive beliefs and appraisals. ⋯ This study highlights the strong influence and mediation roles of psychological factors on pain, mental health, fear of movement/(re)injury, disability and HRQOL in patients scheduled for lumber fusion. Future research should focus on screening as well as pre- and post-operative interventions based on these psychological factors for the potential improvement of lumber fusion surgery outcomes.