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Original research
Integrating sport and exercise medicine clinics into the National Health Service: a qualitative study
  1. Dane Vishnubala1,2,
  2. Katherine Rose Marino3,
  3. Margaret Kathryn Pratten4,
  4. Andy Pringle5,
  5. Steffan Arthur Griffin6,
  6. Gabrielle Finn1,
  7. Peter Bazira1,
  8. Kimberley Edwards7
  1. 1 Hull York Medical School, York, UK
  2. 2 Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
  3. 3 University of Leeds Faculty of Biological Sciences, Leeds, UK
  4. 4 School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
  5. 5 School of Human Sciences, University of Derby, Derby, UK
  6. 6 Emergency Department, St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK
  7. 7 Centre for Sports Medicine, Queens Medical Centre Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dane Vishnubala; dane.vishnubala{at}googlemail.com

Abstract

Objectives To explore the services National Health Service (NHS)-based sport and exercise medicine (SEM) clinics can offer, and the barriers to creating and integrating SEM services into the NHS.

Methods Semi-structured interviews were undertaken to collect data from identified ‘stakeholders’. Stakeholders were identified as individuals who had experience and knowledge of the speciality of SEM and the NHS. An inductive thematic analysis approach was taken to analyse the data.

Results N=15 stakeholder interviews. The management of musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries (both acute and chronic) and concussion were highlighted as the two key services that SEM clinics can offer that would most benefit the NHS. MSK ultrasound was also mentioned by all stakeholders as a critical service that SEM clinics should provide. While exercise medicine is an integral part of SEM, SEM clinics should perhaps not have a heavy exercise medicine focus. The key barriers to setting up SEM clinics were stated to be convincing NHS management, conflict with other specialities and a lack of awareness of the speciality.

Conclusion The management of acute MSK injuries and concussion should be the cornerstone of SEM services, ideally with the ability to provide MSK ultrasound. Education of others on the speciality of SEM, confirming consistent ‘unique selling points’ of SEM clinics and promoting how SEM can add value to the NHS is vital. If the successful integration of SEM into the NHS is not widely achieved, we risk the NHS not receiving all the benefits that SEM can provide to the healthcare system.

  • Sports & exercise medicine
  • Ultrasound
  • Physical activity
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000888

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    Footnotes

    • Twitter Dane Vishnubala @danevishnubala and Steffan Griffin @SteffanGriffin.

    • Contributors All authors contributed to the final paper. DV, MKP and KE were involved in developing the concept and design. DV carried out all data collection. Analysis of the data was completed by DV and KM. Write-up was contributed to by all authors and further guidance and advice provided by SG, KE, AP, PB and GF.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests There are no competing interests. All associated costs of the study were self-funded by DV.

    • Patient involvement Given the nature of the study, no patient involvement was required.

    • Ethics approval Ethical approval was gained from Nottingham University.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Data availability statement The transcribed data are available from DV on request.