Effect of supervised implementation of the international classification of functioning, disability and health on physiotherapeutic electronic patient records: A randomized controlled trial

Introduction/Background Documentation of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) components in physiotherapeutic electronic health records may improve interdisciplinary productivity and efficiency We examine the effect of targeted teaching and personalized feedback on physiotherapists’ completion of physiotherapeutic patient records and description of these components. Material and method A randomized controlled trial in a tertiary care hospital in Belgium Ten physiotherapists were included in the intervention group and five physiotherapists were in the control group The intervention (2015–2016) included targeted teaching and weekly personalized feedback for a period of four weeks regarding reporting of ICF components in electronic patient records At baseline, after targeted training, after each round of personalized feedback, and at long-term follow-up, electronic patient records for 10 random patients per physiotherapist in the intervention group were reviewed for completion of a physiotherapeutic patient record and reporting of ICF components Data for the control group were collected at baseline, after the third round of feedback, and at long term follow-up 670 and 140 patient records from 729 unique patients were reviewed for the intervention and control group, respectively. Results In the intervention group, all outcomes improved (Table 1 and Fig. 1) Although reporting declined for several components between personalized feedback and at long-term follow-up, at both occasions patient record completion and reporting of ICF components of activity, participation, and personal factors were significantly higher compared to the control group For environmental factors, the significant effect after personalized feedback disappeared at long-term follow-up Reporting of body functions and structures improved similarly across groups. Conclusion Targeted teaching and personalized feedback improved completion of physiotherapeutic patient records and reporting of ICF components Intervention strategies should factor in regular reminders to ensure continued reporting of ICF components in the long term.