Preferred Communication Strategies Used by Physical Therapists in Chronic Pain Rehabilitation: A Qualitative Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis.
Chelsea R Chapman, Nathan T Woo, Katrina S Maluf
PMID 35778939WHAT IT FOUND
Physical therapists use eight communication styles in chronic pain care, like building trust and setting agendas.
These are preferred behaviors, not proven techniques. They offer a framework for reflection and training, but evidence linking them to better patient outcomes is currently lacking.
Key findings
01The review identified eight themes of preferred communication behaviors: disclosure-facilitating, rapport-building, empathic, collaborative, professional accountability, informative, agenda-setting, and meta-communication.
02Evidence quality varies by theme, with moderate confidence for disclosure, rapport, empathy, and collaboration, but low confidence for accountability, information, agenda-setting, and meta-communication.
03The effectiveness of these communication behaviors on treatment outcomes has not been established; they are described as preferred by therapists and patients rather than proven to work.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The evidence base is small, with only 11 studies included. Most studies did not clearly define or operationalize communication behaviors, making it hard to replicate what 'good' communication looked like. The review is limited to English-language studies and mostly Western countries, so findings may not apply to other cultures. There is no direct evidence linking these communication themes to improved clinical outcomes like pain or disability. The quality of the primary studies was variable, with only two meeting all methodological criteria.
Declared interests
The study was supported by a National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The funders played no role in the design, conduct, or reporting of the study.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat these eight communication themes as evidence-based interventions that will improve patient outcomes. The review identifies behaviors that are 'preferred' by therapists and patients, but the authors explicitly state that the effectiveness of these behaviors on treatment outcomes has not been established.