Preparing Non-specialist Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists to Provide Evidence-based Care to People with MS in Canada

Start Term
End Term
Funding Amount
$299,220
Affiliation(s)
Queen’s University
Geographic Region(s) / Province(s)
Ontario
Researcher(s)
Dr. Marcia Finlayson
Research Priorities
Life-modifying therapies
Impact Goal(s)
Advance Treatment and Care

Summary: 

  • Rehabilitation provided by occupational therapists and physiotherapists are an important part of disease management for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Currently, people with MS have limited access to therapists with MS expertise.
  • Dr. Marcia Finlayson and team will design and test an education program – called MS Rehabilitation ECHO® – to equip non-specialist therapists in Canada with the knowledge to provide evidence-based care to people with MS.
  • This research has the potential to improve the quality and access to MS rehabilitation services in Canada by increasing the number of therapists who are knowledgeable and well-prepared to treat people with MS. 

Project Description: 

Research shows that rehabilitation helps people with MS perform daily activities and improve their quality of life regardless of disability or age. Currently, people with MS have limited access to occupational therapists and physiotherapists with MS expertise. 

Dr. Marcia Finlayson and team will design and test an education program – called MS Rehabilitation ECHO® – to help prepare non-specialist occupational therapists and physiotherapists to provide evidence-based care to people with MS. ECHO®, which stands for Extension for Community Health Outcomes, and is an internationally recognized model for providing education to healthcare providers through videoconferencing, mentoring, and connecting with subject-matter experts. Dr. Finlayson will collaborate with a group of rehabilitation experts and people with MS to create a curriculum to support non-specialist therapists in their work with people with MS. A measurement tool will also be developed to assess the impact of the program on the therapists’ knowledge of MS, their confidence in working with people with MS, and to confirm improvements in rehabilitation practices.

Potential Impact: 

If proven to be effective, MS Rehabilitation ECHO® has the potential to improve the quality and access to MS rehabilitation services in Canada by increasing the number of therapists who are well-prepared to work with people with MS. The program can also be used to train future therapists using evidence-based rehabilitation practices, ultimately advancing treatment and care for people living with MS.

Project Status: In Progress