Disparities in Access to Outpatient Rehabilitation Therapy for African Americans with Arthritis

Frailty Is Strongest Need Factor Among Predictors of Prehabilitation Utilization for Total Hip or Knee Arthroplasty in Fee-for-Service Medicare Beneficiaries

OBJECTIVE

Prehabilitation may have benefits for total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA), given an aging population with multimorbidity and the growth of value-based programs that focus on reducing postoperative costs. This study aimed to describe prehabilitation use and examine predictors of utilization in fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study using the Medicare Limited Data Set included fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries who were ≥66 years old and who underwent inpatient elective THA or TKA between January 1, 2016, and September 30, 2021. The study assessed predictors of receiving preoperative physical therapist services within 90 days of surgery (prehabilitation) using a mixed-effects generalized linear model with a binary distribution and logit link. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were reported.

RESULTS

Of 24,602 THA episodes, 18.5% of patients received prehabilitation; of 38,751 TKA episodes, 17.8% of patients received prehabilitation. For both THA and TKA, patients with medium or high (vs low) frailty were more likely to receive prehabilitation (OR = 1.72-2.64). Male (vs female) patients, Black (vs White) patients, those with worse county-level social deprivation, those with dual eligibility, and those living in rural areas were less likely to receive prehabilitation before THA or TKA (OR = 0.65-0.88). Patients who were ≥85 years old (vs 66-69 years old) and who underwent THA were also less likely to receive services (OR = 0.84). Additionally, there were geographic differences in prehabilitation utilization and increased utilization in more recent years.

CONCLUSION

The need factor of frailty was most strongly associated with increased prehabilitation utilization. The variation in utilization by predisposing factors (eg, race) and enabling factors (eg, county-level social deprivation) suggests potential disparities.

IMPACT

The findings describe prehabilitation use in a large cohort of fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries. Although services seem to be targeted to those at greater risk for adverse outcomes and high spending, potential disparities related to access warrant further examination.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion-Related Curricular Elements in Entry-Level Physical Therapist Education: A Delphi Study

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this Delphi study was to determine whether experts in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in the field of physical therapy could achieve consensus on the key JEDI-related curricular content topics to be included in entry-level physical therapist education.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Inequities exist at all levels of health care for historically underserved populations, including referrals, access, and quality of physical therapy services. The physical therapy field is facing challenges and opportunities in how to best prepare providers to address individual, community, and population health inequities. There is a lack of consensus in physical therapist education regarding essential curricular content related to justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and antiracism.

SUBJECTS

Eighty-four experts in JEDI in the physical therapy profession were invited through email to participate in the Delphi process.

METHODS

A Delphi survey brought together 39 identified experts in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within the field of physical therapy to reach consensus on key JEDI-related curricular topics in physical therapist education. In the first-round survey, participants answered an open-ended question: "What JEDI-related curricular content should be included in entry-level physical therapist education?" The work team coded these free-text responses to populate an initial list of curricular elements. Over 2 subsequent rounds of surveys, the experts came to a consensus on which curricular elements should be addressed within physical therapist education. Nineteen experts completed all survey rounds.

RESULTS

In round I, coding of the expert group's responses generated 61 initial JEDI-related curricular elements. By round III, the group refined the list to 43 curricular elements; 41 of the 43 (95%) elements garnered 94% or higher consensus. The expert group deemed 30 of the elements "entry-level" content and 13 as more "advanced practice" topics.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Experts had a strong consensus on key JEDI-related curricular elements that physical therapist education programs should include to best prepare providers to improve the health of society. Future scholarship will explore recommendations for how physical therapist education programs might prioritize and implement JEDI-related content.

Racial disparities in osteoarthritis: Prevalence, presentation, and management in the United States

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in the United States, affecting approximately 24 % of adults. This literature review aims to summarize racial and ethnic disparities in OA prevalence, presentation, disability, diagnosis, and management among different groups in the U.S. The review found significant disparities, particularly affecting African Americans (AAs) and Hispanics (HISs) compared to non-Hispanic whites (WHs). AAs showed higher odds of developing symptomatic and radiological knee OA, with more severe radiological features. Pain and disability due to OA were also more pronounced in AAs and HISs. Disparities extended to imaging workup, with AAs less likely to undergo hip X-rays and MRIs for hip OA. Management strategies, including physical therapy, pharmacological treatments, and surgical interventions, were less utilized by AAs and HISs compared to WHs. These disparities are influenced by complex, multifaceted factors including socioeconomic status, education level, and healthcare access. The review highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions and policy changes to address these racial-ethnic disparities in OA care and outcomes.

Racial Disparities in Outpatient Physical Therapy Use After Hip Fracture: A Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether there was a racial disparity among Medicare beneficiaries in the likelihood of using outpatient physical therapy (PT) services following a hip fracture. METHODS: Our retrospective descriptive cohort study analyzed administrative claims data for 51 781 Medicare beneficiaries post hip fracture. We examined the association between race and PT use within the first 6 months post fracture using hierarchical logistic regression, adjusting for demographics, medical complexity, and socioeconomic factors. We used Poisson regression to examine the association between race and the number of PT visits. RESULTS: Only 31% of beneficiaries used outpatient PT after hip fracture with significant racial disparities. After controlling for demographics, medical complexity, and socioeconomic factors, Black beneficiaries had 42% lower odds of using PT (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.51, 0.66) compared to White beneficiaries. Among PT users, Black beneficiaries received fewer visits than White beneficiaries (rate ratio [RR], 0.85; 95% CI: 0.82, 0.88) with this disparity persisting after adjustments (RR, 0.88; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.91). CONCLUSION: Even after adjusting for demographic, medical, and socioeconomic factors, Black beneficiaries were less likely to use outpatient PT following hip fractures. Conditional on an initial PT evaluation, Black beneficiaries received fewer sessions. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2024;54(12):1-7. Epub 9 October 2024. 10.2519/jospt.2024.12641.

Race and ethnic disparities arthroplasty trends and hotspots: Bibliometric analysis

Introduction

Despite continual advancements in total joint arthroplasty and perioperative optimization, there remains national variability in outcomes. These outcome variabilities have been in part attributed to racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare quality and access to care. This study aims to identify arthroplasty racial and ethnic disparities research and to predict future hotspots.

Methods

Ethnic and racial disparities articles between 1992 and 2022 were queried from the Web of Science Core Collection of Clarivate Analytics. Bibliometric indicators in excel format were extracted and subsequently imported for further analysis. Bibliometrix and VOSviewer analyzed current and previous research.

Results

Database search yielded 234 total articles assessing racial and ethnic disparities between 1992 and 2022. Twenty-six countries published manuscripts with the United States producing the majority of publications. The Veterans Health Administration and University of Pittsburgh were the most relevant institutions. Ibrahim SA was the most relevant and influential author within this field. Visuals of thematic map and co-occurrences identified the basic, motor, and niche themes within the literature.

Conclusions

Racial and ethnic disparity within arthroplasty literature demonstrate growing traction with global contributions. United States authors and institutions are the largest contributors within this field. This bibliometric analysis identified previous, current, and future trends for prediction of future hotspots.

Racialized Inequities in Knee Arthroplasty Receipt After Osteoarthritis Diagnosis in the US Military Health System

OBJECTIVE

The goal was to evaluate institutional inequities in the US Military Health System in knee arthroplasty receipt within three years of knee osteoarthritis diagnosis when accounting for other treatments received (eg, physical therapy, medications).

METHODS

In this retrospective observational cohort study, medical record data of patients (n = 29,734) who received a primary osteoarthritis diagnosis in the US Military Health System between January 2016 and January 2020 were analyzed. Data included receipt of physical therapy one year before diagnosis and up to three years after diagnosis, prediagnosis opioid and nonopioid prescription receipt, health-related factors associated with levels of racism, and the primary outcome, knee arthroplasty receipt within three years after diagnosis.

RESULTS

In a generalized additive model with time-varying covariates, Asian and Pacific Islander (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.45-0.74), Black (IRR 0.52, 95%CI 0.46-0.59), and Latine (IRR 0.66, 95%CI 0.52-0.85) patients experienced racialized inequities in knee arthroplasty receipt, relative to white patients (all P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In the present sample, Asian and Pacific Islander, Black, and Latine patients were significantly less likely to receive a knee arthroplasty, relative to white patients. Taken together, system-level resources are needed to identify and address mechanisms underlying institutional inequities in knee arthroplasty receipt, such as factors related to systemic and structural, institutional, and personally mediated racism.

Exploring the Systemic Structures That Affect Access to Physical Therapist Services for Non-Indigenous Black People in Australia

OBJECTIVE

Physical therapy is generally considered to be a white profession in Western nations. Australia's increasingly diverse population, driven largely by growth in immigration, invites Australian health systems to be responsive to factors that may impact on non-white Australian population's access to health care. Here, the authors sought to explore non-Indigenous Black people's perspectives of physical therapy in Australia.

METHODS

Eligible participants (n = 12) took part in semistructured, in-depth interviews and were prompted to discuss their experiences and perceptions of physical therapy. Interview data were analyzed using critical discourse analysis, underpinned by critical race theory.

RESULTS

Participants were on average 29.4 years (SD = 12.9) from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Participants described mostly positive experiences with physical therapists, but they noted that it was not widely accessed by their communities, with 2 key discourses underpinning these discussions. Discourse 1, "physiotherapy is a solution for white people," established physical therapy as primarily accessed by and welcoming of white people. "Whiteness" and the perpetuation of Western norms in physical therapy resulted in little consideration of other cultural practices. Participants' discussions also pointed to the intersections of systemic racism and social inequities such as low income and language barriers, impacting Black people's engagement with physical therapy. Discourse 2, "physiotherapists are white," was mostly concerned with how the perceived "whiteness" of professionals and lack of Black physical therapists impacts cultural safety and comfort when accessing physical therapy.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that Westernization and whiteness persist among discourses surrounding physical therapy. Such discourses are likely to inform Black people's perceptions and experiences of physical therapy. Our analyses suggest avenues to enhance the cultural diversity of the profession and improve physical therapy accessibility for Black people in Australia by providing culturally appropriate material, including critical reflexivity, epistemic and cultural humility in the curricula, recruiting staff from diverse backgrounds, and providing outreach services to underserved populations.

IMPACT

These findings highlight the need for increased cultural safety and diversity within the physical therapy profession to improve equity.

Racial differences in patient-reported outcomes among men treated with radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Real-world data on racial differences in the side effects of radical prostatectomy on quality of life (QoL) are lacking. We aimed to evaluate differences in patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) among non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and non-Hispanic White (NHW) men using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite for Clinical Practice (EPIC-CP) questionnaire to measure health-related QoL after radical prostatectomy.

METHODS

We retrospectively assessed prospectively collected PROMs using EPIC-CP scores at a tertiary care center between 2015 and 2021 for men with prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy. The primary endpoint was the overall QoL score for NHB and NHW men, with a total score of 60 and higher scores indicating worse QoL. An imputed mixed linear regression model was used to examine the effect of covariates on the change in overall QoL score following surgery. A pairwise comparison was used to estimate the mean QoL scores before surgery as well as up to 24 months after surgery.

RESULTS

Our cohort consisted of 2229 men who answered at least one EPIC-CP questionnaire before or after surgery, of which 110 (4.94%) were NHB and 2119 (95.07%) were NHW men. The QoL scores differed for NHB and NHW at baseline (2.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36-4.31, p = 0.02), 3 months (4.36, 95% CI 2.29-6.42, p < 0.01), 6 months (3.26, 95% CI 1.10-5.43, p < 0.01), and 12 months after surgery (2.48, 95% CI 0.19-4.77, p = 0.03) with NHB having worse scores. There was no difference in QoL between NHB and NHW men 24 months after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant difference in QoL between NHB and NHW men was reported before surgery, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery, with NHB having worse QoL scores. However, there was no long-term difference in reported QoL. Our findings inform strategies that can be implemented to mitigate racial differences in short-term outcomes.

Sociocultural and Economic Disparities in Physical Therapy Utilization Among Insured Older Adults With Rheumatoid Arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To examine influences of sociocultural and economic determinants on physical therapy (PT) utilization for older adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

In these annual cross-sectional analyses between 2012 and 2016, we accessed Medicare enrollment data and fee-for-service claims. The cohort included Medicare beneficiaries with RA based on 3 diagnosis codes or 2 codes plus a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug medication claim. We defined race and ethnicity and dual Medicare/Medicaid coverage (proxy for income) using enrollment data. Adults with a Current Procedural Terminology code for PT evaluation were classified as utilizing PT services. Associations between race and ethnicity and dual coverage and PT utilization were estimated with logistic regression analyses. Potential interactions between race and ethnicity status and dual coverage were tested using interaction terms.

RESULTS

Of 106,470 adults with RA (75.1% female; aged 75.8 [SD 7.3] years; 83.9% identified as non-Hispanic White, 8.8% as non-Hispanic Black, 7.2% as Hispanic), 9.6-12.5% used PT in a given year. Non-Hispanic Black (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.77, 95% CI 0.73-0.82) and Hispanic (aOR 0.92, 95% CI 0.87-0.98) individuals had lower odds of PT utilization than non-Hispanic White individuals. Adults with dual coverage (lower income) had lower odds of utilization than adults with Medicare only (aOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.43-0.46). There were no significant interactions between race and ethnicity status and dual coverage on utilization.

CONCLUSION

We found sociocultural and economic disparities in PT utilization in older adults with RA. We must identify and address the underlying factors that influence these disparities in order to mitigate them.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Receipt of Nonpharmacologic Care for Chronic Low Back Pain Among Medicare Beneficiaries With OUD

Importance

Nonpharmacologic treatments are important for managing chronic pain among persons with opioid use disorder (OUD), for whom opioid and other pharmacologic therapies may be particularly harmful. Racial and ethnic minority individuals with chronic pain and OUD are vulnerable to suboptimal pain management due to systemic inequities and structural racism, highlighting the need to understand their receipt of guideline-recommended nonpharmacologic pain therapies, including physical therapy (PT) and chiropractic care.

Objective

To assess differences across racial and ethnic groups in receipt of PT or chiropractic care for chronic low back pain (CLBP) among persons with comorbid OUD.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective cohort study used a 20% random sample of national Medicare administrative data from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2018, to identify fee-for-service community-dwelling beneficiaries with a new episode of CLBP and comorbid OUD. Data were analyzed from March 1, 2022, to July 30, 2023.

Exposures

Race and ethnicity as a social construct, categorized as American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, Black or African American, Hispanic, non-Hispanic White, and unknown or other.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcomes were receipt of PT or chiropractic care within 3 months of CLBP diagnosis. The time (in days) to receiving these treatments was also assessed.

Results

Among 69 362 Medicare beneficiaries analyzed, the median age was 60.0 years (IQR, 51.5-68.7 years) and 42 042 (60.6%) were female. A total of 745 beneficiaries (1.1%) were American Indian or Alaska Native; 444 (0.6%), Asian or Pacific Islander; 9822 (14.2%), Black or African American; 4124 (5.9%), Hispanic; 53 377 (77.0%); non-Hispanic White; and 850 (1.2%), other or unknown race. Of all beneficiaries, 7104 (10.2%) received any PT or chiropractic care 3 months after a new CLBP episode. After adjustment, Black or African American (adjusted odds ratio, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.39-0.55) and Hispanic (adjusted odds ratio, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.43-0.67) persons had lower odds of receiving chiropractic care within 3 months of CLBP diagnosis compared with non-Hispanic White persons. Median time to chiropractic care was longest for American Indian or Alaska Native (median, 8.5 days [IQR, 0-44.0 days]) and Black or African American (median, 7.0 days [IQR, 0-42.0 days]) persons and shortest for Asian or Pacific Islander persons (median, 0 days [IQR, 0-6.0 days]). No significant racial and ethnic differences were observed for PT.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries with comorbid CLBP and OUD, receipt of PT and chiropractic care was low overall and lower across most racial and ethnic minority groups compared with non-Hispanic White persons. The findings underscore the need to address inequities in guideline-concordant pain management, particularly among Black or African American and Hispanic persons with OUD.

Strategies to Bridge Equitable Implementation of Telehealth

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapid scaling of telehealth limited the extent to which proactive planning for equitable implementation was possible. The deployment of telehealth will persist in the postpandemic era, given patient preferences, advances in technologies, growing acceptance of telehealth, and the potential to overcome barriers to serve populations with limited access to high-quality in-person care. However, aspects and unintended consequences of telehealth may leave some groups underserved or unserved, and corrective implementation plans that address equitable access will be needed. The purposes of this paper are to (1) describe equitable implementation in telehealth and (2) integrate an equity lens into actionable equitable implementation.

Spinal Cord Injury: Epidemiology, Spontaneous Recovery, and Hand Therapy for the Reconstructive Hand Surgeon

People with spinal cord injury (SCI) prioritize hand function above all else as a reconstructive goal, yet remain a markedly undertreated population by hand surgeons. This review article provides an overview of the epidemiology of SCI and the unmet clinical need of these patients. Further, this article outlines the natural history of SCI, including the expected spontaneous recovery over time and the expectations of hand function when treated with hand therapy alone. This review aims to equip reconstructive hand surgeons with a sound understanding of the basic principles of SCI and recovery and provide a rationale for when to intervene with surgery. In the last decade, this field has changed dramatically with the advent of reliable nerve transfers, making referral and surgical intervention time-sensitive. Therefore this review aims to highlight the expectations from hand therapy alone in this group, the urgent need for early referral to allow nerve transfer options to be viable, and the strategies for overcoming the barriers to these referrals. This offers the opportunity for surgeons to expand their tetraplegia practices while maximizing the considerable contributions to the hand function and quality of life of these patients.

Disparities Exist in Physical Therapy Utilization and Time to Utilization Between Black and White Patients With Musculoskeletal Pain

OBJECTIVE

Black patients are less likely than White patients to receive physical therapy for musculoskeletal pain conditions. Current evidence, however, is limited to self-reported conditions and health services use. The purpose of this study was to use a large electronic health record database to determine whether a race disparity existed in use of physical therapy within 90 days of a new musculoskeletal diagnosis.

METHODS

Eligible patients (n = 52,384) were sampled from an Optum deidentified electronic health record database of 5 million adults distributed throughout the United States. In this database, patients were designated as "Black" and "White." Patients were eligible if they had a new diagnosis for musculoskeletal neck, shoulder, back, or knee pain between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2017. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models were computed before and after adjusting for covariates to estimate the association between race and receipt of physical therapy services within 90 days of musculoskeletal pain diagnoses.

RESULTS

Patients were on average 47.5 (SD = 14.9) years of age, 12.8% were Black, 87.2% were White, and 52.7% were female. Ten percent of Black patients and 15.5% of White patients received physical therapy services within 90 days of musculoskeletal pain diagnoses. After adjusting for covariates, White patients were 57% more likely (odds ratio = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.44-1.71) to receive physical therapy compared with Black patients and had significantly shorter time to physical therapy than Black patients (hazard ratio = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.42-1.66).

CONCLUSIONS

In a nationally distributed cohort, Black patients were less likely than White patients to utilize physical therapy and had a longer time to utilization of physical therapy for musculoskeletal pain.

IMPACT

These findings highlight the need to determine the mechanisms underlying the observed disparities and how these disparities influence health outcomes.

Differences in synovial fibrosis relative to range of motion in knee osteoarthritis patients

This study tests if differences exist in the severity of synovial fibrosis between patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for osteoarthritis (OA) to help explain disparate deficits in pre- and postoperative range of motion (ROM) between patient groups. 117 knee OA patients were grouped by women (n = 74) and men (n = 43) or those who self-reported as Black (n = 48) or White (n = 69). ROM was measured pre- and post-TKA. Condyles and synovium collected during TKA were scored histologically for OA severity and synovitis. Fibrosis was measured from picrosirius-stained sections of the synovium. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney, parametric, and Spearman's rho tests with alpha at 0.05. We found no significant differences between patient age, BMI, radiographic scores, or deformity type when grouped by sex or race, or between metrics or OA severity when grouped by sex. Notably, higher synovitis was measured in women (p = .039) than men. White patients had greater ROM before (p = 0.46) and after surgery (p = .021) relative to Black patients. Fibrosis, but not OA severity and synovitis scores, for the total patient sample negatively correlated with preoperative (r _s  = -0.330; p = .0003) but not postoperative (r_s  = -0.032; p = .7627) ROM. Black patients manifested more fibrosis than White patients (p = <.0001), without significant differences between sexes. Statement of Clinical Significance: Coupled with histological scoring, measuring perioperative differences in synovial fibrosis against ROM may refine OA classification and justify the in-depth preoperative assessment of the knee as a whole. Such individualized analyses could guide personalized strategies to relieve symptomatic OA when TKA is not readily accessible and promote equitable TKA outcomes.

Association of Disease Activity and Disability With Rehabilitation Utilization in African American Adults With Rheumatoid Arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association of disease activity and disability with rehabilitation utilization in African American adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

We analyzed cross-sectional baseline data from the Consortium for the Longitudinal Evaluation of African Americans with RA (CLEAR) I and CLEAR II registry. Disease activity was quantified with the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints using the C-reactive protein level. Disability was measured with the Health Assessment Questionnaire. Rehabilitation utilization was determined by self-reported recall of physical therapy or occupational therapy visits in the prior 6 months or ever. We examined the association of disease activity and disability with rehabilitation utilization using separate binary logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals and adjusted for potential confounders. We repeated the analyses with the sample stratified by disease duration (early RA and established RA).

RESULTS

Of 1,067 participants, 14% reported utilizing rehabilitation in the prior 6 months, and 41% reported ever utilizing rehabilitation. Rehabilitation utilization in the prior 6 months was similar among those with early and established RA (12% versus 16%). A greater proportion of those with established RA reported any past rehabilitation utilization (28% versus 50%). Among those with established RA but not early RA, worse disability was associated with rehabilitation utilization in the prior 6 months. Disease activity was not associated with either outcome.

CONCLUSION

Among African American adults with RA, rehabilitation utilization in the 6 months prior to assessment was low and associated with disability but not disease activity. Factors driving rehabilitation utilization are unclear.

Does Patient Race Affect Physical Therapy Treatment Recommendations?

BACKGROUND

Racial disparities in the medical treatment of adults with arthritis are well-documented. Disparities with physical therapy treatment have yet to be thoroughly evaluated.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of patient's race with physical therapy treatment recommendations for patients with arthritis.

DESIGN

Online survey.

METHODS

Physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, student physical therapists, and student physical therapist assistants within a Southern California county completed an online survey that presented a case vignette with a randomly assigned photograph of a White or Black woman. Recommendations for the plan of care included frequency of visits and number of exercises in the home exercise program (HEP), referrals to other healthcare professionals, and explicit ranking of how patient characteristics impacted the treatment planning were compared between respondents who viewed the Black or White patient.

RESULTS

Eighty-three participants completed the survey, and all participants reported that the patient was appropriate for physical therapy. Most participants (66.3%) reported that they would recommend a frequency of therapy of 2-3 times weekly. All participants recommended including a HEP. There were no statistically significant differences by patient race in recommendations for treatment frequency or referrals to other healthcare team members. HEP prescription was a median of four exercises, but participants who viewed the Black patient were more likely to recommend fewer exercises than those who viewed the White patient (p = 0.03). Explicitly, 96.1% of participants reported that race did not impact their treatment recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

In most aspects of treatment planning, the patient's race did not impact recommendations by physical therapy professionals. The lower exercise prescription assigned to the Black patient may represent a disparity that merits further attention.

For-Profit and Not-For-Profit Inpatient Rehabilitation in Traumatic Brain Injury: Analysis of Demographics and Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

To describe differences in traumatic brain injury patient characteristics and outcomes by inpatient rehabilitation facility profit status.

DESIGN

Retrospective database review utilizing the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation® (UDSMR).

SETTING

Inpatient rehabilitation facilities.

PARTICIPANTS

Individual discharges (n = 53,630) from 877 distinct rehabilitation facilities for calendar years 2016 through 2018.

INTERVENTION

NA MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient demographic data (age, race, primary payer source), admission and discharge Functional Independence Measure® (FIM®), FIM® gain, length of stay efficiency, acute hospital readmission from for-profit and not-for-profit IRFs within 30 days, and community discharges by facility profit status.

RESULTS

Patients at for-profit facilities were significantly older (69.69 vs. 64.12 years), with lower admission FIM® scores (52 vs. 57), shorter lengths of stay (13 vs. 15 days), and higher discharge FIM® scores (88 vs. 86); for-profit facilities had higher rates of community discharges (76.8% vs. 74.6%), but also had higher rates of readmission (10.3% vs. 9.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

The finding that for-profit facilities admit older patients who are reportedly less functional on admission and more functional on discharge, with higher rates of community discharge but higher readmission rates than not-for-profit facilities is an unexpected and potentially anomalous finding. In general, older, less functional patients who stay for shorter periods of time would not necessarily be expected to make greater functional gains. These differences should be further studied, to determine if differences in patient selection, coding/billing, or other unreported factors underlie these differences.

Association of Physical Therapy Interventions With Long-term Opioid Use After Total Knee Replacement

IMPORTANCE

Many individuals who undergo total knee replacement (TKR) become long-term opioid users after TKR. Associations of physical therapy (PT) interventions before or after TKR with long-term use of opioids are not known.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate associations of PT interventions before and after TKR with long-term opioid use after TKR.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This cohort study used data from the OptumLabs Data Warehouse on 67 322 individuals aged 40 years or older who underwent TKR from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2016, stratified by history of opioid use. The analyses for the study included data from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2018.

EXPOSURES

Any PT interventions within 90 days before or after TKR, post-TKR PT dose as number of sessions (ie, 1-5, 6-12, and ≥13 sessions), post-TKR PT timing as number of days to initiation of care (ie, <30 days, 31-60 days, or 61-90 days after TKR), and post-TKR PT type (ie, active vs passive).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The association of pre- and post-TKR PT with risk of long-term opioid use occurring more than 90 days after TKR was assessed using logistic regression while adjusting for confounders, including age, sex, race and ethnicity (Asian, Black, Hispanic, or White), obesity, type of insurance, geographical location, and physical and mental health comorbidities.

RESULTS

A total of 38 408 opioid-naive individuals (21 336 women [55.6%]; mean [SD] age, 66.2 [9.2] years) and 28 914 opioid-experienced individuals (18 426 women [63.7%]; mean [SD] age, 64.4 [9.3] years) were included. Receipt of any PT before TKR was associated with lower odds of long-term opioid use in the opioid-naive (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.75 [95% CI, 0.60-0.95]) and opioid-experienced (aOR, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.70-0.80]) cohorts. Receipt of any post-TKR PT was associated with lower odds of long-term use of opioids in the opioid-experienced cohort (aOR, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.70-0.79]). Compared with 1 to 5 sessions of PT after TKR, 6 to 12 sessions (aOR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.75-0.90]) and 13 or more sessions (aOR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.65-0.77) were associated with lower odds in the opioid-experienced cohort. Compared with initiation of PT within 30 days after TKR, initiation 31 to 60 days or 61 to 90 days after TKR were associated with greater odds in the opioid-naive (31-60 days: aOR, 1.45 [95% CI, 1.19-1.77]; 61-90 days: aOR, 2.15 [95% CI, 1.43-3.22]) and opioid-experienced (31-60 days: aOR, 1.10 [95% CI, 1.02-1.18]; 61-90 days: aOR, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.12-1.55]) cohorts. Compared with passive PT, active PT was not associated with long-term opioid use in the opioid-naive (aOR, 1.00 [95% CI, 0.81-1.24]) or opioid-experienced (aOR, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.92-1.07]) cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This cohort study suggests that receipt of PT intervention before and after TKR, receipt of 6 or more sessions of PT care after TKR, and initiation of PT care within 30 days after TKR were associated with lower odds of long-term opioid use. These findings suggest that PT may help reduce the risk of long-term opioid use after TKR.

Social determinants of health are associated with physical therapy use: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this systematic review is to identify and summarise the social determinants of health (SDH) cited in the literature and evaluate their association with individuals using physical therapy services.

DESIGN

A systematic review using qualitatively synthesised information to describe the association between SDH and physical therapy use.

DATA SOURCES

The electronic databases Medline, Embase and Scopus were searched from inception to February 2021, identifying observational and qualitative studies.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Published studies included all adults, aged 18 or older, who independently sought to use physical therapy, in all practice settings from all geographical locations.

RESULTS

Of the 9248 studies screened, 36 met the inclusion criteria for the review. The participants represented 8 countries and totaled 2 699 437. The majority of the papers reported moderate strength of association for each SDH. Female gender, non-Hispanic white race/ethnicity, increased education attainment, urban environment, access to transportation, employment, high socioeconomic status and private insurance were associated with higher likelihood of physical therapy use.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review identifies predisposing and enabling factors impacting physical therapy usage among adults in different countries and across physical therapy settings. The results of this study have implications for policy and future research regarding populations that have been shown to be using physical therapy services less, such as those with lower levels of education, those in a rural area, or those in a low socioeconomic class.

Exploring Race Differences in Satisfaction with Rehabilitation Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: a Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this qualitative focus group study was to explore race differences in the rehabilitation experience and satisfaction with rehabilitation following total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODS

We conducted a series of qualitative focus group discussions with groups of Non-Hispanic White and Non-Hispanic Black older adults who recently underwent TKA. We used grounded theory approach, which asks the researcher to develop theory from the data that are collected. Participants discussed barriers and facilitators to accessing rehabilitation after surgery, opinions regarding their physical therapists, the amount of post-operative physical therapy received, and overall satisfaction with the post-operative rehabilitation process.

RESULTS

Thirty-six individuals participated in focus groups. Three major themes emerged: (1) Participants reported overall positive views of their post-TKA rehabilitation experience. They particularly enjoyed one-on-one care, the ability to participate in "prehabilitation", and often mentioned specific interventions they felt were most helpful in their recovery. (2) Despite this, substantial barriers to accessing physical therapy exist. These include suboptimal pain management, copayments and other out-of-pocket costs, and transportation to visits. (3) There were minor differences in the rehabilitation experiences between Black and White participants. Black participants reported longer paths toward surgery and occasional difficulty interacting with rehabilitation providers.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals undergoing TKA can largely expect positive rehabilitation experiences post-operatively. However, some barriers to post-operative physical therapy exist and may differ between Black and White patients. Physical therapists should increase their awareness of these barriers and work to minimize them whenever possible.

Racial/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Disparities in Osteoarthritis Management

This article reviews the literature on racial and socioeconomic disparities in the management of osteoarthritis. Treatments investigated include arthritis education, dietary weight management, exercise/physical therapy, pharmacologic therapy with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and opioids, intra-articular steroid injections, and total joint replacement. The amount of evidence for each treatment modality varied, with the most evidence available for racial and socioeconomic disparities in total joint arthroplasty. Black patients, Hispanic patients, and patients with low socioeconomic status (SES) are less likely to undergo total joint replacement than white patients or patients with high SES, and generally have worse functional outcomes and more complications.

Examining racial and ethnic trends and differences in annual healthcare expenditures among a nationally representative sample of adults with arthritis from 2008 to 2016

BACKGROUND

Disparities in health care utilization and outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities with arthritis are well-established. However, there is a paucity of research on racial and ethnic differences in healthcare expenditures and if this relationship has changed over time. Our objectives were to: 1) examine trends in annual healthcare expenditures for adults with arthritis by race and ethnicity, and 2) determine if racial and ethnic differences in annual healthcare expenditures were independent of other factors such as healthcare access and functional disability.

METHODS

We used the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (2008-2016) to examine trends in annual healthcare expenditures within and between racial and ethnic groups with arthritis (n = 227,663). A two-part model was used to estimate the marginal differences in expenditures by race and ethnicity after adjusting for relevant covariates, including the impact of healthcare access.

RESULTS

Between 2008 and 2016, there were no significant changes in unadjusted healthcare expenditures within any of the racial and ethnic groups, but the trend among non-Hispanic whites did differ significantly from Hispanics and Other. In fully adjusted analysis, mean annual expenditures for non-Hispanic whites was $946, $939, and $1178 more than non-Hispanic blacks, Hispanics, and Other, respectively (p < .001). Healthcare access also independently explained expenditure differences in this population with adults who delayed care spending significantly more ($2629) versus those who went without care spending significantly less (-$1591).

CONCLUSIONS

Race and ethnicity are independent drivers of healthcare expenditures among adults with arthritis independent of healthcare access and functional disability. This underscores the need for ongoing research on the factors that influence persistent racial and ethnic differences in this population.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Physical Function Before and After Total Knee Arthroplasty Among Women in the United States

IMPORTANCE

Although racial/ethnic differences in functional outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) exist, whether such differences are associated with differences in presurgical physical function (PF) has not been thoroughly investigated.

OBJECTIVE

To examine trajectories of PF by race/ethnicity before and after TKA among older women.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This cohort study was conducted among the prospective Women's Health Initiative with linked Medicare claims data. A total of 10 325 community-dwelling women throughout the United States with Medicare fee-for-service underwent primary TKA between October 1, 1993, and December 31, 2014, and were followed up through March 31, 2017.

EXPOSURES

Race/ethnicity comparisons between Hispanic or Latina women, non-Hispanic black or African American women, and non-Hispanic white women (hereafter referred to as Hispanic, black, and white women, respectively).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Physical functioning scale scores and self-reported activity limitations with walking 1 block, walking several blocks, and climbing 1 flight of stairs were measured by the RAND 36-Item Health Survey during the decade before and after TKA, with a median of 9 PF measurements collected per participant over time.

RESULTS

In total, 9528 white women (mean [SD] age at surgery, 74.6 [5.5] years), 622 black women (mean [SD] age at surgery, 73.1 [5.3] years), and 175 Hispanic women (mean [SD] age at surgery, 73.1 [5.2] years) underwent TKA. During the decade prior to TKA, black women had lower PF scores than white women (mean difference, -5.8 [95% CI, -8.0 to -3.6]) and higher odds of experiencing difficulty walking a single block (5 years before TKA: odds ratio, 1.86 [95% CI, 1.57-2.21]), walking multiple blocks (odds ratio, 2.14 [95% CI, 1.83-2.50]), and climbing 1 flight of stairs (odds ratio, 1.81 [95% CI, 1.55-2.12]). After TKA, black women continued to have lower PF scores throughout the decade (mean difference 1 year after TKA, -7.8 [95% CI, -10.8 to -4.9]). After adjusting for preoperative PF scores, PF scores after TKA were attenuated (mean difference 1 year after TKA, -3.0 [95% CI, -5.3 to -0.7]), with no statistically significant differences in long-term follow-up. Hispanic women had similar PF scores to white women during the pre-TKA and post-TKA periods.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This study suggests that black women had significantly poorer PF than white women during the decades before and after TKA. Poorer PF after surgery was associated with poorer preoperative PF. Reducing disparities in post-TKA functional outcomes should target maintenance of function preoperatively in the early stages of arthritic disease and/or reduction of delays to receiving TKA once need arises.

Rehabilitation After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Do Racial Disparities Exist?

BACKGROUND

Racial disparities in functional outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) exist. Whether differences in rehabilitation utilization contribute to these disparities remains to be investigated.

METHODS

Among 8349 women enrolled in the prospective Women's Health Initiative cohort who underwent primary TKA between 2006 and 2013, rehabilitation utilization was determined through linked Medicare claims data. Postacute discharge destination (home, skilled nursing facility, and inpatient rehabilitation facility), facility length of stay, and number of home health physical therapy (HHPT) and outpatient physical therapy (OPPT) sessions were compared between racial groups.

RESULTS

Non-Hispanic black women had worse physical function (median score, 65 vs 70) and higher likelihood of disability (13.2% vs 6.9%) than non-Hispanic white women before surgery. After TKA, black women were more likely to be discharged postacutely to an institutional facility (64.3% vs 54.5%) than white women, were more likely to receive HHPT services (52.6% vs 47.8%), and received more HHPT and OPPT sessions. After stratification by postacute discharge setting, the likelihood of receipt of HHPT or OPPT services was similar between racial groups. No significant difference in receipt of HHPT or OPPT services was found after use of propensity score weighting to balance health and medical characteristics indicating severity of need for physical therapy services.

CONCLUSION

Rehabilitation utilization was generally comparable between black and white women who received TKA when accounting for need. There was no evidence of underutilization of post-TKA rehabilitation services, and thus disparities in post-TKA functional outcomes do not appear to be a result of inequitable receipt of rehabilitation care.

Racial Differences in Patterns of Use of Rehabilitation Services for Adults Aged 65 and Older

OBJECTIVES

To examine racial differences in the use of rehabilitation services and functional improvement during receipt of services.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of the 2016 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS).

SETTING

Standardized in-person home interviews.

PARTICIPANTS

Community-dwelling Medicare enrollees (N = 6,309), 1,276 of whom reported receiving rehabilitation services in the previous 12 months.

MEASUREMENTS

Self-reported use of rehabilitation services, setting (inpatient, outpatient, home based), reason for use, and perceptions of change in functioning after receiving services.

RESULTS

Controlling for sex, dual eligibility for Medicaid, age, number of chronic conditions, functional mobility at the prior round, income, and geographic region, the odds of receiving rehabilitation services in any setting was 1.38 times as great in whites as in blacks (95% confidence interval = 1.09-1.75). Of those receiving therapy, whites were more likely to receive home-based and inpatient rehabilitation services, but there were no racial differences in improvement in function.

CONCLUSION

Strategies are needed to identify possible barriers to use of rehabilitation services for vulnerable groups of aging individuals who need rehabilitation services, particularly older blacks.