What Messages Do Patients Remember? Relationship Among Patient Perception of Physical Therapist's Messages, Patient Characteristics, Satisfaction, and Outcome.

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What Messages Do Patients Remember? Relationship Among Patient Perception of Physical Therapist's Messages, Patient Characteristics, Satisfaction, and Outcome.

Phys Ther. 2015 Jul 16;

Authors: Overmeer T, Boersma K

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Based on a behavioural medicine perspective, modern recommendations for physical therapists treating patients with spinal pain include performing a trustworthy physical examination, conveying the message that back pain is benign, and stressing that activity is a key to recovery. However, little evidence is available on how patients perceive these biopsychosocial messages and how a patient's perceptions of these messages relate to their recovery.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between perceptions of treatment delivery that are related to an evidence-based approach and psychological factors, treatment outcome and treatment satisfaction.
DESIGN: Cohort study with 3 measurement points METHODS: Data on a total of 281 patients was collected.
RESULTS: High catastrophizing and lower mood in patients were correlated to "Not perceiving the bio psychosocial message" measured 6 weeks after treatment start. Patients who didn't perceive the biopsychosocial message were at higher risk for disability and had lower treatment satisfaction 6 months after treatment start even when controlling for pretreatment pain intensity. "Not perceiving the biopsychosocial message" was not a mediator for treatment outcome and treatment satisfaction. Physical therapist's treatment orientation or attitudes were not related to the perception of the message by the patients.
LIMITATIONS: There was no measure of actual practice behaviour.
CONCLUSIONS: Maladaptive cognitions and negative emotions seem to affect the way information provided during treatment is perceived by patients. The way information is perceived by patients, influences treatment outcome and treatment satisfaction. Physical therapists are advised to check that patients with higher levels of catastrophizing and lower mood perceived and interpreted a biopsychosocial message in the way it was intended.

PMID: 26183588 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]