What are the views of musculoskeletal physiotherapists and patients on person-centred practice? A systematic review of qualitative studies

Naylor, John; Killingback, Clare; Green, Angela

Abstract

Purpose
There is a growing expectation of physiotherapists to adopt a person-centred approach to their practice. Person-centredness for musculoskeletal physiotherapy, however, remains an under-researched area. A synthesis of the findings from qualitative studies exploring perceptions of person-centredness in musculoskeletal physiotherapy was conducted to inform future clinical practice.
Methods
ENTREQ and PRISMA guidelines were used to develop a protocol for a qualitative systematic review registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42020170762). Five electronic databases were searched to identify relevant primary studies. Studies were assessed for quality and data extracted. Data were analysed using thematic synthesis.
Results
A total of 3250 studies were identified and screened. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Four main themes emerged from the data: treating each patient as a unique person, the importance of communication for achieving a therapeutic alliance, necessary physiotherapist traits for person-centredness, and supporting patient empowerment.
Conclusion
Empowerment of patients in musculoskeletal physiotherapy contexts might be improved through a more narrative approach to assessment, with clinical bravery recognised as a specific person-centred physiotherapy trait able to facilitate this. Physiotherapists should also consider the meaningfulness of any treatment activities they provide to maximise the person-centredness of their approach.
IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION
Empowerment of patients in musculoskeletal physiotherapy contexts might be improved through a more narrative approach to assessment.
Clinical bravery is a person-centred physiotherapy trait that facilitates certain conversational freedom to elicit the true patient narrative.
Person-centred physiotherapists should reflect on how meaningful their treatment activities are for individual MSK outpatients.

Citation

Naylor, J., Killingback, C., & Green, A. (in press). What are the views of musculoskeletal physiotherapists and patients on person-centred practice? A systematic review of qualitative studies. Disability and Rehabilitation, https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2055165

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 13, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Mar 29, 2022
• Deposit Date: Mar 30, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 30, 2022
• Journal: Disability and Rehabilitation
• Print ISSN: 0963-8288
• Electronic ISSN: 1464-5165
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2055165
• Keywords: Person-centred practice; Physiotherapist; Musculoskeletal; Metasynthesis; Qualitative research
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3958616
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=idre20; Received: 2021-08-02; Revised: 2022-03-10; Accepted: 2022-03-13; Published: 2022-03-29