Patient values in physiotherapy practice, a qualitative study.
Carla M Bastemeijer, Johannes P van Ewijk, Jan A Hazelzet and 1 others
PMID 32918372WHAT IT FOUND
Patients with musculoskeletal pain value being seen as unique individuals rather than cases.
They expect physiotherapists to be technically skilled, morally conscientious, and compassionate. Treatment should foster partnership and empowerment, respecting autonomy and addressing vulnerability in personal and physical boundaries.
Key findings
01Participants valued being recognized as unique individuals, expecting physiotherapists to understand their personal context and life choices rather than treating them as a list of symptoms.
02Patients identified four key professional attributes: technical skill, conscientiousness (moral and financial integrity), compassion, and responsiveness to individual needs.
03Interaction was valued through partnership and empowerment, where patients wanted to contribute to decisions but expected the physiotherapist to lead based on expertise.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study focused only on patients with spinal or shoulder pain, which may not represent the values of patients with other musculoskeletal conditions. Participants were recruited from practices judged to be high-quality, which may skew results toward positive experiences. The sample size was small (17 participants) and from a specific geographic location (Rotterdam), limiting transferability.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these findings as evidence that specific interventions improve outcomes. This study describes what patients value in the therapeutic relationship and professional behavior, not the effectiveness of any treatment technique.