Exploration of Rapid Adaptation of First Contact Physiotherapy Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Three-Phase Sequential Mixed-Methods Study Protocol

Oluwatoyin Adenike Adeniji; Nicola Carey; Evangelos Pappas; Victoria Traynor; Karen Stenner; Theopisti Chrysanthaki

doi:10.1002/hsr2.70653

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Exploration of Rapid Adaptation of First Contact Physiotherapy Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Three-Phase Sequential Mixed-Methods Study Protocol

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Exploration of Rapid Adaptation of First Contact Physiotherapy Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Three-Phase Sequential Mixed-Methods Study Protocol

Oluwatoyin Adenike Adeniji, Nicola Carey, Evangelos Pappas, Victoria Traynor, Karen Stenner and Theopisti Chrysanthaki

Health Science Reports, Vol.8(4), pp.1-10

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70653

PMID: 40256137

Appears in COVID-19 Research

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Abstract

COVID-19

first contact physiotherapy

healthcare service delivery

musculoskeletal

rapid adaptation

rapid implementation

Background The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted primary care and emergency departments globally, including the UK and Australia respectively, affecting services within these settings, such as first contact physiotherapy services (FCPS) for patients with musculoskeletal conditions. This disruption necessitated rapid adaptation to ensure continuity of care. Before this study, comprehensive adaptations across both primary care and emergency departments FCPS had not been documented. Additionally, the specific adaptation processes, strategies used, and experiences of both staff and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic were unclear. Variations in responses between the UK and Australia also remained unknown. Documenting these rapid adaptations and experiences is crucial for future preparedness, as it provides valuable insights to guide FCPS and similar services, preventing future disruptions and promoting continuity of care. Moreover, findings will contribute significant knowledge to the existing literature. Aim This study explores rapid adaptation of FCPS for patients with musculoskeletal conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK and Australia. Methods This is an ongoing three-phase sequential mixed-methods study. Phase 1 utilises a cross-sectional survey of physiotherapists in FCPS role in the UK and Australia to assess changes in healthcare delivery during the pandemic, as well as levels of readiness and responsiveness, highlighting similarities and differences. Phase 2 employs a case-study approach, including semi-structured interviews and a review of documents produced to direct the management and implementation of proposed changes in FCPS, to further understand the findings from Phase 1. In phase 3, mixed-methods integration facilitates the development of context specific recommendations for the rapid adaptation of FCPS and similar contexts. These recommendations will be presented to experts for feedback and further refinement. Discussion The mixed-methods research will provide contextually rich account of FCPS rapid adaptation, providing key learnings that could be applied to implement evidence-informed rapid adaptation in FCPS during public health emergencies.

Details

Title: Exploration of Rapid Adaptation of First Contact Physiotherapy Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Three-Phase Sequential Mixed-Methods Study Protocol
Authors: Oluwatoyin Adenike Adeniji (Corresponding Author) - University of Surrey
Nicola Carey - University of the Highlands and Islands
Evangelos Pappas - RMIT University
Victoria Traynor - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Nursing
Karen Stenner - University of Surrey
Theopisti Chrysanthaki - University of Surrey
Publication details: Health Science Reports, Vol.8(4), pp.1-10
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.70653
ISSN: 2398-8835
PMID: 40256137
Copyright note: © 2025 The Author(s). Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Data Availability: The authors have nothing to report.
Grant note: Funded by the University of Surrey Doctoral College Studentship and the University of Wollongong Higher Degree Research Studentship, through a collaboration called University Global Partnership Network.
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Nursing
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991127097602621
Output Type: Journal article

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Web Of Science research areas: Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

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