Observational studyBMJ open2025
Comparison of physiotherapy practice in university hospitals following chest trauma between two countries with different trauma panoramas: a prospective observational study.
Observational study in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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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.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- A New Breathing Technique for Pain Management in Patients With Thoracic Trauma: A Randomised Trial.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy · 2026Trial
- Profile and management of patients from low-middle socioeconomic status with thoracic trauma.The South African journal of physiotherapy · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesThe study aimed to describe and compare the clinical physiotherapy management of patients hospitalised due to chest trauma in South Africa (SA) and Sweden.
designA prospective observational multicentre international study.
settingTwo university-affiliated public sector hospitals in SA and four university-affiliated public sector hospitals in Sweden.
participantsIn total, 364 adults, hospitalised due to chest trauma were consecutively recruited of which 179 were from SA and 185 were from Sweden. OUTCOME MEASURES: Physiotherapy practice was recorded in parallel with standard care. In addition, pulmonary complications and length of hospital stay were collected.
resultsDespite differences in the type of trauma between the national cohorts (83% penetrating traumas in SA and 95% blunt traumas in Sweden), most patients received physiotherapy treatment during the first 3 days in hospital. Physiotherapy interventions such as mobilisation (day 1: sit on edge of bed; days 1-3: walking) and exercises to maintain range of motion (days 1-3: shoulder; day 3: trunk) were initiated earlier in SA (p<0.05). Treatment with the active cycle of breathing technique was more used in SA while deep breathing exercises were more common in Sweden and positive expiratory pressure was common in both countries. Length of stay was in mean 5.4 (95% CI 4.8, 6.0) days in SA and 6.6 (5.8, 7.4) days in Sweden (p=0.024).
conclusionsDespite differences in trauma panoramas and the national cohorts there seem to be similarities in clinical physiotherapy practices between the two countries.
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