Patient participation in physical therapy goal-setting

<p><strong>Background and Purpose.</strong> An important part of treatment planning in physical therapy is effective goal-setting. The Guide to Physical Therapist Practice recommends that therapists identify the patient’s goals and objectives during the initial evaluation as a way to maximize treatment outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine whether therapists seek patient participation in goal-setting and, if so, with what methods. We also examined therapists’ attitudes toward participation and patient satisfaction with the evaluation encounter.</p> <p><strong>Subjects and Methods</strong>. Twenty-two physical therapists audiotaped the initial evaluation of 73 elder patients. The audiotaped evaluations were then scored using the Participation Methods Assessment Instrument to determine the frequency of attempts made by therapists to involve patients in goal-setting. Therapists and patients completed opinion surveys following the evaluations.</p> <p><strong>Results.</strong> Therapists’ use of participation methods during evaluations ranged from a minimum of one to a maximum of 19 out of 21 possible items (x=T0.1). Therapists believe that it is important to include patients in goal-setting activities and that outcomes will be improved if patients participate. Patients indicated that participation in goal-setting is important to them.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion.</strong> In most cases, therapists are not fully utilizing the potential that exists for patient participation in goal-setting. Patient and therapist education is needed to maximize the benefits of collaboration in rehabilitation.</p> <p><strong>Key Words:</strong> Patient participation, Collaboration, Goal-setting, Geriatric rehabilitation.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral Project

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Allied Health Studies

Year

1999

Author dc:creator

• Baker, Susan M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Gail T. Rice
• Helen H. Marshak
• Grenith Zimmerman

• Physical Therapy
• Physical Therapy; Patient Participation

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/562

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-1666