Triaging Patients With Musculoskeletal Disorders Directly to Physiotherapists at Primary Health Care Clinics.

The Effects of Triaging Patients With Musculoskeletal Disorders Directly to Physiotherapists at Primary Health Care Clinics: a Pilot Study and Randomized Controlled Trial.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether initial triaging to physiotherapists of patients with musculoskeletal disorders who seek health care from primary care clinics affects the patients health and/or health care utilization differently than initial consultation with a general practitioner.

Inclusion Criteria:

• seeking primary care clinic for musculoskeletal disorder
• age 16-67 years
• speaks enough Swedish or English to understand the patient information and complete the questionnaires
• triage nurse judges it suitable to triage participant to physiotherapist

Exclusion Criteria:

• has received treatment at the clinic by physician or physiotherapist during the preceding month for the same problem
• seeking for chronic musculoskeletal disorder with unchanged symptoms the latest 3 months and for which the patient has already tried physiotherapy
• seeking for help with medical aids other than crutches
• is in need of home care
• has been included in the study earlier