Physical therapists' perspectives of patient values and their place in clinical practice: a qualitative study.
Carla M Bastemeijer, Johannes P van Ewijk, Jan A Hazelzet and 1 others
PMID 37862915WHAT IT FOUND
Experienced Dutch physical therapists said they often account for patient values without a written process, through the relationship.
They described this as tacit, humane and responsive, but choices, boundaries, diverseness and trust can make it harder.
Key findings
01Physical therapists described patient values as mostly tacit, humane and responsive.
02They described taking patient values into account as mainly implicit and intuitive, and as developing through experience.
03Barriers to responsiveness were grouped into choices, boundaries, diverseness and trust.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Participants were recruited through social media, telephone and nominations, so they may have been more interested in patient values than average therapists. The study was done with physical therapists in Dutch primary care, so the themes may not fit other practice settings, health systems or cultural settings. The paper reports therapists' views, not patient outcomes, so it cannot show that focusing on patient values improves care.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that a patient-values approach improves outcomes. It describes experienced Dutch physical therapists' views and barriers, not patient results.