Preliminary study of the relationship of knowledge to compliance and outcomes in patients after anterior cruciate ligament surgery

The practice of physical therapy continues to evolve and be influenced by numerous outside forces. Greater emphasis is now placed on the role of physical therapists (PTs) as patient educators. As a result of the restructuring of the insurance industry, patients are allocated less physical therapy visits by their insurance carrier. Patient education may enable PTs to compensate for a decrease in direct physical therapy visits by emphasizing patient education. To determine the impact of patient education by PTs on patient compliance and rehabilitation, patients' knowledge of ACL rehabilitation after surgery was assessed, via a test of knowledge of rehabilitation. The purpose of this preliminary study is to determine the relationship of knowledge of rehabilitation to compliance and knowledge of rehabilitation to outcomes. A sample of convenience was used. All subjects (n = 19) were patients of a board certified orthopedic surgeon; each patient had ACL reconstruction using the bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft. Data were gathered on patients' knowledge of rehabilitation using a test of knowledge, a compliance survey, and the Knee Outcomes Survey Activities of Daily Living Scale at six and 12-weeks post surgery. No significant relationships were found between knowledge of rehabilitation and compliance and knowledge of rehabilitation and outcomes. Further analyses were performed to address other relationships, which may affect knowledge of rehabilitation, outcomes, and compliance. This is a preliminary study in the field of physical therapy exploring patients' knowledge of rehabilitation, with the degree of compliance and rehabilitation outcomes. The absence of significant relationships verifies the need for additional research in the areas of patient education, compliance, and outcomes with a larger patient population and various patient diagnoses. Implications for future research design in the area of patient education in physical therapy are described.