A multicenter clinical study with the participation of 462 patients concluded that the patient management changed after the physical therapist performed an Electromyography and Nerve conduction test and took into account the results of the testing.
The study, titled “Impact of electrodiagnostic (EMG/NCS) tests on clinical decision-making and patient perceived benefit in the outpatient physical therapy practice”, is co-authored by Drs. Mohini Rawat; Dimitrios Kostopoulos (HODS); Konstantine Rizopoulos (HODS); William Dodson; Josh Henderson; Marissa Grow and Chirag Upreti.
As noted in the article, the objective of the study was to “investigate the impact of Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Studies (EMG/NCS) on clinical decision-making and patient perspectives within PT practice settings.”
The 462 patients, who were candidates for diagnostic testing (EMG/NCS) were included in this outcome study and questionnaire-based survey design. Pre-test diagnosis was compared to post-test diagnosis. Post-test, patients were asked to rate their perceived benefit of the testing.
The article states the powerful new findings in this study “officially prove Diagnostics have a strong impact upon both patient management and perception. As the article reports, “Management was changed in 60.61% of patients post EMG/NCS testing (p < 0.0001). The diagnosis was changed post-EMG/NCS test in 39% of the patients with a change in management, which is greater than expected (p < 0.0004). There was no effect of gender or age (p > 0.05) on change in treatment (tx) or diagnosis (dx). 89.8% of patients agreed, or strongly agreed, that they were better able to understand their condition; 92.4% strongly agreed, or agreed, that they were reassured about their condition; 89.1% strongly agreed, or agreed, that they were better able to manage their condition and 92% reported very high, or high, value perceived from the EMG/NCS test administered.”
Physical Therapists who participated in the study have received their training on EMG/NCS testing from Hands-On Diagnostics (HODS), which provides diagnostic testing education to physical therapists.
To read full study, CLICK HERE.
