Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34949626›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2021

Development of an optimised physiotherapist-led treatment protocol for lateral elbow tendinopathy: a consensus study using an online nominal group technique.

Marcus Bateman, Benjamin Saunders, Chris Littlewood, Jonathan C Hill

Open access · goldAbstract readConsensus Statement
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
15citing papers in PubMed
2.7field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

15 citing papers in PubMed, 18 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Marcus BatemanDerby Shoulder Unit, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Derby, UK marcus.bateman@nhs.net.ORCID 0000-0002-3203-506X
Benjamin SaundersSchool of Medicine, Keele University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-0856-1596
Chris LittlewoodFaculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
Jonathan C HillSchool of Medicine, Keele University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-6246-1409
Indiana University School of MedicineCleveland Shoulder Institute · USManchester Metropolitan University · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThere are a wide range of physiotherapy treatment options for people with lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET); however, previous studies have reported inconsistent approaches to treatment and a lack of evidence demonstrating clinical effectiveness. This study aimed to combine the best available research evidence with stakeholder perspectives to develop key components of an optimised physiotherapist-led treatment protocol for testing in a future randomised controlled trial (RCT).

designOnline consensus groups using nominal group technique (NGT), a systematic approach to building consensus using structured multistage meetings.

settingUK National Health Service (NHS).

participants10 physiotherapists with special interest in LET, 2 physiotherapy service managers and 3 patients who had experienced LET.

interventionsTwo consensus groups were conducted; the first meeting focused on agreeing the types of interventions to be included in the optimised treatment protocol; the second meeting focused on specific details of intervention delivery. Participants were sent an evidence summary of available treatments for LET prior to the first meeting. All treatment options were discussed before anonymous voting and ranking of priority. Consensus for inclusion of each treatment option was set at ≥70% based on OMERACT guidelines. Options with 30%-69% agreement were discussed again, and a second vote was held, allowing for a change of opinion.

resultsThe optimised physiotherapist-led treatment package included: advice and education, exercise therapy and orthotics. Specific components for each of these interventions were also agreed such as: condition-specific advice, health-promotion advice, exercise types, exercise into 'acceptable' levels of pain, exercise dosage and type of orthoses. Other treatment options including electrotherapy, acupuncture and manual therapy were excluded.

conclusionAn optimised physiotherapist-led treatment protocol for people with LET was successfully developed using an online NGT consensus approach. This intervention is now ready for testing in a future pilot/feasibility RCT to contribute much needed evidence about the treatment of LET. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: This is the pre-cursor to the OPTimisE Pilot and Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial. Registration: https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN64444585.

Indexed as

Elbow TendinopathyPhysical TherapistsTendinopathyClinical ProtocolsExercise TherapyHumanselbow & shouldermusculoskeletal disordersprimary caresports medicine

Identifiers

PMID34949626
PMCPMC8712984
OpenAlexW4200192858

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.