[How do authors of systematic reviews restrict their literature searches when only studies from Germany should be included?]

[Appropriateness of physiotherapy care in Germany: a scoping review]

BACKGROUND

Physiotherapy is applied for various indications in practices, hospitals and rehabilitation facilities and should be delivered according to the patients' needs. Empirical knowledge on the appropriateness of physiotherapy care in Germany is scarce. This scoping review aims to give an overview over the evidence base, to describe the results of previous studies and to evaluate the appropriateness of physiotherapy care.

METHOD

A systematic literature search was conducted in the databases PubMed, CINAHL, LIVIO and SPOLIT. Results were synthesized in a quantitative and qualitative narrative review.

RESULTS

The screening of 1,517 publications yielded 30 studies eligible for inclusion. The included studies encompass 16 different indications. The number of patients with appropriate physiotherapy care varies between indications (from 3 % for urinary incontinence up to 72 % for osteoporosis).

DISCUSSION

The review shows a lack of empirical evidence since sufficient empirical findings regarding the appropriateness of physiotherapy care are missing for many of the indications, in particular on physiotherapy in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. The results of single studies are limited by insufficient assessment of therapeutic needs or the therapy modalities applied. Analyses which encompass multiple settings and/or providers of care have not been conducted in all studies, even though respective approaches would have been suitable. Nevertheless, suggestions for targeted improvement of the appropriateness of physiotherapy care can be derived from the results.