Systematic review of the use and challenges of electronic health records in physiotherapy practice
Objective To synthesise current evidence on physiotherapists’ use of electronic health records (EHRs), with a focus on the determinants of adoption, implementation processes and associated implementation outcomes.Design A systematic review employing a narrative synthesis approach.Data sources PubMed...
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| Format: | Article |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/7/e097649.full |
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| author | André Moreira-Rosário Carla Pereira Sara Vaz Carlos Rodrigues |
| author_facet | André Moreira-Rosário Carla Pereira Sara Vaz Carlos Rodrigues |
| author_sort | André Moreira-Rosário |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective To synthesise current evidence on physiotherapists’ use of electronic health records (EHRs), with a focus on the determinants of adoption, implementation processes and associated implementation outcomes.Design A systematic review employing a narrative synthesis approach.Data sources PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus and Web of Science, covering all records from the inception of each database to 10 May 2024.Eligibility criteria Studies conducted in physiotherapy clinical settings and using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).Data extraction and synthesis Two authors independently screened articles and assessed methodological quality. Risk of bias was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool for qualitative and for cohort studies, the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool for mixed-methods studies and the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies.Results From 3820 records screened, 9 observational studies met inclusion criteria. Key factors influencing EHR adoption included organisational readiness, perceived usefulness, managerial support and training availability. Implementation patterns clustered into three domains: recorded content, ICF framework integration and record quality. Reported outcomes focused on care quality metrics and evidence of clinical effectiveness.Conclusions Persistent challenges in physiotherapy EHR use were identified, notably in data quality, completeness and alignment with the ICF framework. Improving EHR practices is crucial to improve clinical assessment and support digital health integration. However, limited evidence and methodological heterogeneity remain key limitations.PROSPERO registration number CRD42023420267. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5ec10fc474534f91aa3a7c66b7e5cd69 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-5ec10fc474534f91aa3a7c66b7e5cd692025-08-20T03:58:36ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-07-0115710.1136/bmjopen-2024-097649Systematic review of the use and challenges of electronic health records in physiotherapy practiceAndré Moreira-Rosário0Carla Pereira1Sara Vaz2Carlos Rodrigues3NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, PortugalNOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Centre, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, PortugalNOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Centre, CHRC, REAL, CCAL, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, PortugalInstituto Politécnico de Portalegre Escola Superior de Saúde de Portalegre, Portalegre, PortugalObjective To synthesise current evidence on physiotherapists’ use of electronic health records (EHRs), with a focus on the determinants of adoption, implementation processes and associated implementation outcomes.Design A systematic review employing a narrative synthesis approach.Data sources PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus and Web of Science, covering all records from the inception of each database to 10 May 2024.Eligibility criteria Studies conducted in physiotherapy clinical settings and using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).Data extraction and synthesis Two authors independently screened articles and assessed methodological quality. Risk of bias was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool for qualitative and for cohort studies, the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool for mixed-methods studies and the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies.Results From 3820 records screened, 9 observational studies met inclusion criteria. Key factors influencing EHR adoption included organisational readiness, perceived usefulness, managerial support and training availability. Implementation patterns clustered into three domains: recorded content, ICF framework integration and record quality. Reported outcomes focused on care quality metrics and evidence of clinical effectiveness.Conclusions Persistent challenges in physiotherapy EHR use were identified, notably in data quality, completeness and alignment with the ICF framework. Improving EHR practices is crucial to improve clinical assessment and support digital health integration. However, limited evidence and methodological heterogeneity remain key limitations.PROSPERO registration number CRD42023420267.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/7/e097649.full |
| spellingShingle | André Moreira-Rosário Carla Pereira Sara Vaz Carlos Rodrigues Systematic review of the use and challenges of electronic health records in physiotherapy practice BMJ Open |
| title | Systematic review of the use and challenges of electronic health records in physiotherapy practice |
| title_full | Systematic review of the use and challenges of electronic health records in physiotherapy practice |
| title_fullStr | Systematic review of the use and challenges of electronic health records in physiotherapy practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Systematic review of the use and challenges of electronic health records in physiotherapy practice |
| title_short | Systematic review of the use and challenges of electronic health records in physiotherapy practice |
| title_sort | systematic review of the use and challenges of electronic health records in physiotherapy practice |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/7/e097649.full |
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