One step at a time. Shaping consensus on research priorities and terminology in telehealth in musculoskeletal pain: an international modified e-Delphi study.

BACKGROUND: Telehealth has emerged as an alternative model for treatment delivery and has become an important component of health service delivery. However, there is inconsistency in the use of terminologies and a lack of research priorities in telehealth in musculoskeletal pain. The purpose of this international, multidisciplinary expert panel assembled in a modified three-round e-Delphi survey is to achieve a consensus on research priorities and for the standard terminology for musculoskeletal pain telehealth practice. METHODS: In this international modified e-Delphi survey, we invited an expert panel consisting of researchers, clinicians, consumer representatives, industry partners, healthcare managers, and policymakers to participate in a three-round e-Delphi. Expert panels were identified through the Expertscape website, PubMed database, social media, and a snowball approach. In Round 1, potential research priorities and terminologies were presented to panel members. Panel members rated the agreement of each research priority on a 5-point Likert scale and an 11-point numerical scale, and each terminology on a 5-point Likert scale for the "telehealth in musculoskeletal pain " field over rounds. At least 80% of the panel members were required to agree to be deemed a consensus. We analyzed the data descriptively and assessed the stability of the results using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test. RESULTS: We performed an international e-Delphi survey from February to August 2022. Of 694 invited people, 160 panel members participated in the first round, 133 in the second round (83% retention), and 134 in the third round (84% retention). Most of the panel members were researchers 76 (47%), clinicians 57 (36%), and consumer representatives 9 (6%) of both genders especially from Brazil 31 (19%), India 22 (14%), and Australia 19 (12%) in the first round. The panel identified fourteen telehealth research priorities spanned topics including the development of strategies using information and communication technology, telehealth implementation services, the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of telehealth interventions, equity of telehealth interventions, qualitative research and eHealth literacy in musculoskeletal pain conditions from an initial list of 20 research priorities. The consensus was reached for "digital health" and "telehealth" as standard terminologies from an initial list of 37 terminologies. CONCLUSION: An international, multidisciplinary expert consensus recommends that future research should consider the 14 research priorities for telehealth musculoskeletal pain reached. Additionally, the terms digital health and telehealth as the most appropriate terminologies to be used in musculoskeletal telehealth research. REGISTER: Open Science Framework ( https://osf.io/tqmz2/ ).

[Effectiveness of platelet rich plasma in pain management of osteoarthritis knee: double blind, randomized comparative study]. / Efetividade do plasma rico em plaquetas no tratamento da dor em osteoartrite de joelho: estudo comparativo randômico e duplo­cego.

BACKGROUND: Intra-articular injections of platelet-rich plasma to treat symptoms of knee osteoarthritis have been successfully used in young patients. However in most of these studies the control and test knees were present in different patients thus incorporating a large amount of bias in the results. Therefore, the present study was designed in which patients with bilateral osteoarthritis knee were included and platelet-rich plasma was administered in one knee and normal saline in another knee of same patient. METHODS: 20 patients aged 30-65 years with bilateral osteoarthritis knees (ASA class I and II) of either gender were included in the study. Patients were randomized to receive platelet-rich plasma and normal saline in one of the two knees. The primary outcome was VAS and WOMAC score at 6months after procedure. The secondary outcome included changes in joint stiffness, physical function, any adverse effects noted during the course of study. RESULTS: The baseline VAS score in platelet-rich plasma knee was 8.4 ± 0.88 which improved significantly to 4.85 ± 2.48 (p < 0.001) at 6months as compared to normal saline knee (p = 0.017). The WOMAC pain score also improved from baseline (14.5 ± 1.3) to over 6month 7.00 ± 4.24 (p < 0.001) in platelet-rich plasma knee while in the normal saline knee, no significant change occurred from baseline to six months (10.2 ± 1.2 to 10.05 ± 1.23). There was also significant decrease in stiffness and improvement of physical activity in the platelet-rich plasma knee as compared to normal saline knee. CONCLUSION: The present study showed significant decrease in pain and stiffness and improvement of physical functions of knee joint with intra-articular platelet-rich plasma injection as compared to normal saline.

Effectiveness of platelet rich plasma in pain management of osteoarthritis knee: double blind, randomized comparative study / Efetividade do plasma rico em plaquetas no tratamento da dor em osteoartrite de joelho: estudo comparativo randômico e duplo-cego

Abstract Background: Intra-articular injections of platelet-rich plasma to treat symptoms of knee osteoarthritis have been successfully used in young patients. However in most of these studies the control and test knees were present in different patients thus incorporating a large amount of bias in the results. Therefore, the present study was designed in which patients with bilateral osteoarthritis knee were included and platelet-rich plasma was administered in one knee and normal saline in another knee of same patient. Methods: 20 patients aged 30-65 years with bilateral osteoarthritis knees (ASA class I and II) of either gender were included in the study. Patients were randomized to receive platelet-rich plasma and normal saline in one of the two knees. The primary outcome was VAS and WOMAC score at 6 months after procedure. The secondary outcome included changes in joint stiffness, physical function, any adverse effects noted during the course of study. Results: The baseline VAS score in platelet-rich plasma knee was 8.4 ± 0.88 which improved significantly to 4.85 ± 2.48 (p < 0.001) at 6 months as compared to normal saline knee (p = 0.017). The WOMAC pain score also improved from baseline (14.5 ± 1.3) to over 6 month 7.00 ± 4.24 (p < 0.001) in platelet-rich plasma knee while in the normal saline knee, no significant change occurred from baseline to six months (10.2 ± 1.2 to 10.05 ± 1.23). There was also significant decrease in stiffness and improvement of physical activity in the platelet-rich plasma knee as compared to normal saline knee. Conclusion: The present study showed significant decrease in pain and stiffness and improvement of physical functions of knee joint with intra-articular platelet-rich plasma injection as compared to normal saline.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos: Injeções intra-articulares de plasma rico em plaquetas têm sido usadas com sucesso para tratar os sintomas da osteoartrite de joelho em pacientes jovens. Porém, na maioria desses estudos, os joelhos de controle e teste estavam presentes em diferentes pacientes, o que incorporou uma grande quantidade de viés aos resultados. Portanto, o projeto do presente estudo incluiu pacientes com osteoartrite em ambos os joelhos, com a administração de plasma rico em plaquetas em um dos joelhos e de solução salina normal no outro joelho do mesmo paciente. Métodos: 20 pacientes, de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 30-65 anos e portadores de osteoartrite bilateral de joelho (classificação ASA I e II) foram incluídos no estudo. Os pacientes foram randomizados para receber plasma rico em plaquetas e solução salina normal em um dos dois joelhos. O desfecho primário foram os escores VAS e WOMAC seis meses após o procedimento. O desfecho secundário incluiu alterações na rigidez articular, função física e qualquere feito adverso observado durante o curso do estudo. Resultados: O escore VAS basal para o joelho que recebeu plasma rico em plaquetas foi 8,4 ± 0,88 e melhorou significativamente para 4,85 ± 2,48 (p < 0,001) após seis meses, comparado ao joelho que recebeu solução salina normal (p = 0,017). A intensidade da dor avaliada com o WOMAC também melhorou de 14,5 ± 1,3 na fase basal para 7,00 ± 4,24 após seis meses (p < 0,001) nos joelhos que receberam plasma rico em plaquetas, enquanto nenhuma mudança significativa ocorreu nos joelhos que receberam solução salina normal entre a fase basal e após seis meses (10,2 ± 1,2 a 10,05 ± 1,23). Além disso, houve uma diminuição significativa da rigidez e melhora da atividade física nos joelhos que receberam plasma rico em plaquetas, comparados aos joelhos que receberam salina normal. Conclusão: O presente estudo identificou uma diminuição significativa da dor e da rigidez e uma melhora das funções físicas da articulação do joelho com a injeção intra-articular de plasma rico em plaquetas, comparada à solução salina normal.