Effectiveness of remotely delivered motivational conversations on health outcomes in patients living with musculoskeletal conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of remotely delivered motivational conversations on health outcomes in musculoskeletal populations. Methods: Four electronic databases (inception-March 2022) were searched and combined with grey literature. Randomised control trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of remotely delivered motivational conversation-based interventions within musculoskeletal populations, using valid measures of pain, disability, quality of life (QoL), or self-efficacy were included. Overall quality was assessed using GRADE criteria. Meta-analyses were performed using random effects models with pooled effect sizes expressed as standardised mean differences ( +/- 95%CIs). Results: Twelve RCTs were included. Meta-analyses revealed very-low to moderate quality evidence that remote interventions have a positive effect on pain and disability both immediately post intervention and at long -term follow-up compared to control, and have a positive effect on self-efficacy immediately post intervention. There was no effect on QoL immediately post intervention or at long -term follow up. Conclusion: Remotely delivered motivation-based conversational interventions have a positive effect on pain, disability, and self-efficacy but not on QoL. Practice implications: Motivational conversations, delivered remotely, may be effective in improving some health-related outcomes in MSK populations. However, higher quality evidence is needed to determine optimal intervention durations, and dosing frequencies using sufficient sample sizes and follow-up time frames.