Impact of an interactive workshop on specialist physiotherapists’ practice when implementing a new clinical care pathway for people with musculoskeletal conditions

A new pathway of care proposes early comprehensive assessment and targeted management by specialist musculoskeletal clinicians for people with musculoskeletal conditions at risk of poor outcomes. Adoption of this care pathway is likely to be influenced by beliefs and behaviours of specialist musculoskeletal clinicians. To evaluate the effect of an interactive educational workshop about the proposed clinical care pathway on knowledge, beliefs and practice of specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapists. Mixed methods. Fifty specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapists participated in a 2-day interactive educational workshop. Knowledge, beliefs and clinical practice behaviours were assessed immediately before the workshop and 3 months’ later using surveys. Knowledge about key guideline messages improved and were maintained at follow-up. Most participants agreed to provide more targeted interventions to patients at risk of poor outcome (92%, 95% CI: 81%–98%) and utilise prognostic screening tools (84%, 95% CI: 71 to 93). However, only 56% (95% CI: 39%–68%) of participants believed implementing a shared care pathway was easy. At follow-up, participants’ beliefs were more aligned with the proposed care pathway (i.e., shared care: 83%, 95% CI: 68%–93%). With respect to clinical practice, there were 16% more referrals back to the primary physiotherapist at 3 months than before the workshop. Barriers (practitioner, patient and system factors) to implementation of the care pathway were discussed. An interactive educational workshop influenced specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapists’ knowledge, beliefs and clinical practice, but barriers need to be overcome to facilitate widespread implementation. •Specialist physiotherapists target interventions for people at risk of poor outcome•Specialist physiotherapists' clinical practice changed after a 2-day workshop•Referral decisions were better aligned with the care pathway after the workshop•Lack of intra-professional collaboration and trust were perceived barriers•Collaborative communication will play a key role in adoption of the care pathway