Shared Decision Making in Physical Therapy: a Cross-sectional Observational Study

Detailed Summary

Shared decision making (SDM) is increasingly recommended in health care and reduces the unbalanced power between physical therapists and patients. There is an increased focus on communication between physical therapists and their patients during the goal setting process in current research. This study will focus on SDM in physical therapy goal setting. The SDM Process includes a problem definition and different goal options. Good communication between physical therapists and patients during the goal setting process with an explicit agreeing on both sides regarding treatment goals and options improves patient satisfaction, treatment adherence and health outcomes. Patients generally prefer to be actively involved in the shared decision making process. However, the preferred level of involvement of patients regarding decisions differs. Therefore, physical therapist should consider about patients' preferred level of involvement in shared decision making. Previous research observed SDM behaviours of physical therapists only in private practice settings. Research in other settings like the rehabilitation setting are recommended. It is unknown whether there are differences between settings in the SDM behaviours of physical therapists during first consultation.

Study Details

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Interventions