Physical therapists' perspectives of patient values and their place in clinical practice: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: In physical therapy practice patients and therapists exchange their perspectives on musculoskeletal health problems and their meaning for both of them. However, literature indicates that physical therapists find it difficult to enquire about the patients' values during clinical encounters. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to gain deeper insight into the perspectives of physical therapists about patient values. DESIGN: Explorative qualitative focus group study. METHOD: Twenty-three physical therapists were interviewed in the Netherlands from March to May 2021. Two researchers analyzed the interviews and derived relevant codes. After an iterative process of comparing, analyzing, conceptualizing and discussing the codes, themes were identified through a thematic framework, illustrated with meaningful quotes. RESULTS: Three major themes were identified: Humane, Tacit, and Responsive. It appeared that patient values play unconsciously a major role in daily practice and are associated with humanity, not technical or procedural aspects of the encounter. Responsive denotes that all values require interaction in which aligning with the individual patient forms the basis of treatment. Barriers for being responsive are identified as subthemes: Choices, Trust, Diverseness, and Boundaries. CONCLUSION: The concept of patient values appeared to be implicit. The professional intuitively attunes as a fellow human being to values and expectations of the individual patient. This study contributes to finding a balance and mutual reinforcement of implicit and explicit knowledge. With all found experiences and insights the concept of patient values became more explicit in physical therapy to create a framework for education and research in the future.

Patient values in physiotherapy practice, a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: Physiotherapy is, like all healthcare professions, relational and value-laden. Patient-centred care, evidence-based practice and value-based practices are concepts in which patient values lie at the heart of high-quality healthcare practices. Nevertheless, physiotherapists have limited awareness of what patient values are in the physiotherapy encounter. The purpose of this study is to explore these patient values. METHODS: A qualitative study design using content analysis was used involving 17 adult participants with chronic or recurrent musculoskeletal pain. Data were collected during July 2015-July 2016 in three primary care physiotherapy facilities in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Two researchers analysed the interviews and derived relevant codes from the data. After an iterative process of comparing, analysing, conceptualizing, and discussing the data, a pre-existing analytic framework was refined in which distinct values were delineated. RESULTS: Emerging patient values were encompassed in three themes, each consisting of two to four elements: (1) values about oneself (uniqueness and autonomy), (2) values regarding actions of the professional (technically skilled professional, conscientious professional, compassionate professional, responsive professional) and (3) values regarding interactions between patients and the professionals (partnership and empowerment). CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the need for discussing patient values in the clinical encounter and helps physiotherapists to understand what deems to be important for patients with musculoskeletal pain in physiotherapy practice. The results of this study contribute to the existing body of knowledge of this important aspect of the quality of physiotherapy practice and may inspire clinicians and educators to actively implement patient values in clinical practice and the physiotherapy education.

What do patient values and preferences mean? A taxonomy based on a systematic review of qualitative papers.

OBJECTIVE: In order to deliver good healthcare quality, it should explicitly be taken into account what patients value in healthcare. This study reviews qualitative studies in which patients express what they value. Based on this body of literature a preliminary taxonomy is designed. METHODS: A systematic review of qualitative papers on what patients' value. RESULTS: 22 studies out of a total of 3259 met the inclusion criteria. After critical appraisal, data extraction was carried out by two researchers independently and revealed values related to 1) the individual patient; 2) the expected behavior of professionals and 3) the interaction between patients and professionals. Seven key elements were recognized on the bases of content analysis; 1) uniqueness, 2) autonomy, 3) compassion, 4) professionalism, 5) responsiveness, 6) partnership and 7) empowerment. CONCLUSION: This study gives a rich insight into what patients value in various contexts and provides a promising taxonomy in line with patient centered based theories. The taxonomy needs further empirical research for a deeper insight and clarifaction in its elements. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This review and preliminary taxonomy contribute to the conceptualization of patient values as a bases for guidelines, policy and daily practice.