Physiotherapists perceived role in managing anxiety in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a mixed-methods study.
Lauren Lucas, Jack Parker
PMID 35012683WHAT IT FOUND
Physiotherapists said anxiety affects RRMS rehabilitation, but were less comfortable acting on disclosures.
They used goal setting, relaxation and listening, and wanted more training and MDT support.
Key findings
01Physiotherapists felt confident asking about mental health, but responses were spread about acting on disclosures.
02In the survey, goal setting was used by 91% of respondents, relaxation by 82%, and reflective listening by 73%.
03Interview themes described anxiety blocking treatment progression and physiotherapists feeling less competent when it arose.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The sampling was not random, so the findings were not intended to generalise to all physiotherapists. Only 190 physiotherapists were invited and 11 completed the survey, so the quantitative part is small. The survey questions were written by the researcher and may have been unclear, which could affect validity. All participants were female, and most had long clinical experience or MS therapy centre experience, so findings may not reflect male or less experienced physiotherapists. Five interviews were analysed mainly by one researcher, with no respondent validation. The study reports perceptions and practices, not patient outcomes or treatment effects.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these percentages as evidence that any technique improves anxiety in people with RRMS. The study reports physiotherapist perceptions from 11 survey respondents and 5 interviews, with no patient outcomes or comparison group.