NCT07137754 Effect and Cost of a Physiotherapy-led Care Model in Emergency Departments for Patients With Minor Musculoskeletal Injuries
| NCT ID | NCT07137754 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | Aarhus University Hospital |
| Condition | Musculoskeletal Disorders |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 800 participants |
| Start Date | 2025-08-15 |
| Primary Completion | 2028-03-01 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.
What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 800 participants in total. It began in 2025-08-15 with a primary completion date of 2028-03-01.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
Both in Denmark and internationally, emergency departments have been overwhelmed for several years by a growing number of patients, combined with a shortage of doctors and nurses. This problem is expected to continue because the number of elderly people with multiple health problems is increasing. To keep providing good quality care in emergency departments, we need to consider new ways of organizing treatment. In Canada, Australia, and the UK, some hospitals have tried a model where specially trained physiotherapists examine and treat patients who come in with muscle and joint injuries and pain. Since these patients make up about 25% of all those referred to emergency departments, this model could help take some pressure off doctors and nurses. That way, doctors and nurses can spend more time caring for seriously ill patients who need urgent help. Several studies on these physiotherapist-led models show benefits for both patients and the healthcare system. Patients report being more satisfied and better informed about their injury and treatment. They wait less, have fewer unnecessary tests, and need fewer repeat visits to the emergency department. However, similar studies have never been done in Scandinavia, even though some Danish emergency departments have tested similar models. Healthcare systems and the education of physiotherapists differ between Scandinavian countries and the countries mentioned above. So, we don't know if we would see the same benefits here. Also, there has been no research on whether this model is cost-effective, which is important for decision-makers when planning future healthcare budgets. With this research project, we want to test a model in Danish hospitals where specially trained physiotherapists take care of examining, treating, and discharging patients with muscle and joint pain and injuries. We will look at how this model affects patient experiences (like pain and satisfaction) and clinical outcomes (like repeat emergency visits and use of imaging tests), compared to the usual practice where doctors handle these patients. We will also study whether the model is cost-effective, meaning whether the benefits of using this approach are worth the costs, or even greater than the costs. The study will be conducted at 4-5 hospitals, where a total of 800 patients with minor musculoskeletal injuries will be included in connection with their visit at the emergency department. Patients will receive questionnaires at 1, 4, 12 and 26 weeks after injury regarding patient reported outcomes. Register data will be retrieved at 26 weeks regarding the patients' health care use during follow-up.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Musculoskeletal pain and injury to the upper or lower extremities * Triaged non-urgent (blue) in the emergency department * Speaks and understands Danish Exclusion Criteria: * High velocity trauma * Cognitively unable to participate * Non-malignant conditions (cancer, inflammation, infection)
Contact & Investigator
Nanna Rolving, Associate professor
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Aarhus University Hospital
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT07137754 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Musculoskeletal Disorders. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT07137754 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT07137754 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at Nanna.Rolving@rm.dk for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT07137754 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Aarhus N, Denmark.
Who is sponsoring the NCT07137754 clinical trial?
NCT07137754 is sponsored by Aarhus University Hospital. The principal investigator is Nanna Rolving, Associate professor at Aarhus University Hospital. The trial plans to enroll 800 participants.