The experiences of patients attending the emergency department who were managed by physiotherapists: a person-centred perspective

Naylor, John; Killingback, Clare; Green, Angela

Abstract

Purpose: The expectation for all clinicians to deliver person-centred practices extends to the growing number of primary contact physiotherapists based in United Kingdom emergency departments (ED). Research on ED patients’ experience of this physiotherapy role has yet to consider this through the lens of person-centredness. A qualitative exploration of person-centredness among ED physiotherapists through the experiences of attending patients targeted this knowledge gap to inform future clinical practice.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews with thematic analysis.
Results: 13 interviews were completed with four overarching themes generated: (1) patient experience of the ED; (2) the importance of connection, competence, and time; (3) recognising the benefits of being seen by a physiotherapist in ED; and (4) patient experience of the ED physical environment.
Conclusion: Novel contributions from the patient perspective, here, reflected a cognisance of certain environment limitations to PCP, as well as institutional challenges to their personhood, with a suggestion that ED patients anticipated a validation of their visit and valued the educational aspects that the physiotherapists provided. Considering this new knowledge can help ED physiotherapists to be more person-centred.

Citation

Naylor, J., Killingback, C., & Green, A. (in press). The experiences of patients attending the emergency department who were managed by physiotherapists: a person-centred perspective. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2024.2382311

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 13, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jul 23, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jul 26, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 26, 2024
• Print ISSN: 0963-8288
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 1-13
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2024.2382311
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4745391
• 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: 2023-12-15; Accepted: 2024-07-13; Published: 2024-07-23