A longitudinal study of the turning points and trajectories of therapeutic relationship development in occupational and physical therapy

Robot-assisted gait training in patients with various neurological diseases: A mixed methods feasibility study

BACKGROUND

Walking impairment represents a relevant symptom in patients with neurological diseases often compromising social participation. Currently, mixed methods studies on robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) in patients with rare neurological diseases are lacking. This study aimed to explore the feasibility, acceptability, goal attainment and preliminary effects of RAGT in patients with common and rare neurological diseases and understand the intervention context and process.

METHODS

A mixed-methods feasibility study was conducted at an Austrian rehabilitation centre. Twenty-eight inpatients after stroke in the subacute and chronic phases, with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, spinocerebellar ataxia, acute/chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and motor neuron disease were included. Patients received RAGT for 45 minutes, 4x/week, for 4 weeks. Baseline and post-intervention assessments included gait parameters, walking and balance, and questionnaires. Semi-structured observations were conducted twice during the intervention period and analysed using thematic analysis. Descriptive statistics within the respective disease groups and calculation of effect sizes for the total sample were performed. Triangulation was employed to develop a deeper understanding of the research topic.

RESULTS

Data from 26 patients (mean age 61.6 years [standard deviation 13.2]) were analysed. RAGT was highly accepted by patients and feasible, indicated by recruitment, retention, and adherence rates of 84.8% (95% confidence interval, CI 0.7-0.9), 92.2% (95% CI 0.7-1.0) and 94.0% (95% CI 91.4-96.2), respectively. Goal attainment was high, and only mild adverse events occurred. Improvements in walking speed (10-Metre Walk Test, effect size r = 0.876), walking distance (6-Minute Walk Test, r = 0.877), functional mobility (Timed Up and Go, r = 0.875), gait distance (r = 0.829) and number of steps (r = 0.834) were observed. Four themes were identified: familiarising with RAGT; enjoyment and acceptance through a trusting therapeutic relationship; actively interacting; and minimising dissatisfaction.

DISCUSSION

Sufficiently powered randomised controlled trials are needed to validate our results.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00027887.

The development of working alliance in early stages of care from the perspective of patients attending a chiropractic teaching clinic

BACKGROUND

The clinician-patient relationship has consistently been found to predict treatment success in both physical and mental health settings. This relationship has been operationalised in the literature as "Working Alliance," which consists of three key components: patient-clinician agreement on the goals of care, agreement on the tasks required to achieve those goals, and the establishment of a strong bond. While research has demonstrated the impact of working alliance in physical health settings, it often measures working alliance early in patients' care journeys. However, no primary research has investigated how early working alliance develops between patients and chiropractors. Evidence suggests that musculoskeletal practitioners may require further training to feel confident in establishing working alliance. Therefore, this study aims to explore the development of working alliance in the early stages of chiropractic care from the patients' perspective to inform evidence-based practice.

METHODS

Participants for this qualitative study were recruited from a teaching clinic at a specialised healthcare professions training university in the United Kingdom between September 2022 and April 2023. A total of 25 adult patients completed semi-structured interviews during the early stages of their care. The interview transcripts were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis, from a critical realist stance.

RESULTS

The findings highlight that an early working alliance entails the gradual development of patients' confidence in their decision to seek help from trainee chiropractors to alleviate their symptoms. The four themes describe the impact of the clinical context on patients' expectations, the trainee chiropractors' qualities that participants considered important for early working alliance, the role of explanations, and the interplay between pain and early working alliance.

CONCLUSIONS

Establishing an early trainee chiropractor-patient working alliance involves a process of building patients' confidence in the trainee chiropractors' expertise, identifying the correct goals of care, and recognising the value of the proposed treatment plan. Factors shaping this process include the context of the care journey, patients' perceptions of trainee chiropractors' qualities, their bodily sensations, their expectations, their past experiences, and their satisfaction with trainee chiropractors' explanations.

Exploring Therapeutic Relationships in Pediatric Occupational Therapy: A Meta-Ethnography

Background. Developing strong therapeutic relationships with families is a crucial aspect of pediatric occupational therapy. However, building such relationships is complex as they involve multiple directions of interaction. Purpose. To provide a thorough interpretation of children's, caregivers', and occupational therapists' experience of the therapeutic relationship. Method. A meta-ethnography was realized to synthesize qualitative studies. A systematic search was carried out using five databases from 2005 to 2022. The CAPS checklist was used to appraise included studies' quality. The analysis was completed using a constant comparison of findings. Findings. Three themes emerged from the 14 studies synthesized. The first theme illustrates that the therapeutic relationship can have different meanings depending on the perspective of children, caregivers, or occupational therapists. The second theme explores the components impacting the experience of the relationship. These include the power dynamics, the communication, and respect for diversity. Finally, the third theme illustrates how the relationship can empower positive change. Implications. Children, caregivers, and occupational therapists each have a perspective that ought to be heard. Occupational therapists should actively ask for children's and caregivers' perspectives to encourage power sharing and effective communication. By doing so, occupational therapists can strengthen the therapeutic relationship, which, in turn, promotes positive change.

Concept Mapping to Define Components for an Occupation-Based Intervention for Parkinson's Disease and Anxiety

BACKGROUND

Anxiety, a common symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD), results in reduced life quality, reduced participation in meaningful roles and daily activities, and increased health burden. There are no evidence-based interventions to reduce the impact of anxiety in PD on participation.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify the key components required for the co-production of an occupation- and community-based intervention for people with PD-related anxiety.

METHODS

A participatory mixed-methods research study was conducted using online Group Concept Mapping methodology that included five stages: brainstorming, idea synthesis, sorting activity, rating activity, and analysis. A cluster map, pattern match, and 'go-zone' charts were created through multivariate statistical analysis based on participants' responses. The stages were guided by questions generated by the research team working with stakeholders.

RESULTS

Eighty-three people participated, with 64 taking part in more than one activity. Participants included people with PD (n = 72), care partners (n = 6), and occupational therapists (n = 5). The final map contained 119 statements with eight clusters (stress value 0.252): exercise, lifestyle changes, self-help, coping, access to information, professional help, peers and groups, support from others. Significant agreement existed between the importance and feasibility rating activities (r = -0.07). 'Go-zone' charts highlighted the priority statements for intervention development.

CONCLUSIONS

This novel participatory study highlighted priority components that provide starting points for future development of an occupation- and community-based intervention for people with PD-related anxiety.

Person-centered care for musculoskeletal pain: Putting principles into practice

Person-centered care specifically focuses on the whole person and is an important component of contemporary care for people with musculoskeletal pain conditions. Evidence suggests however, that some clinicians experience difficulties with integrating person-centered care principles into their clinical practice. Therefore, the purpose of this masterclass is to provide a framework that enables clinicians to incorporate person-centered principles in their management of people with musculoskeletal pain conditions. To support clinicians in overcoming some of the reported obstacles, we provide practical recommendations aimed at putting principles of person-centered care into practice. The framework supporting clinicians' delivery of person-centered care in practice consists of three key-principles: A) a biopsychosocial understanding of the person's experience; B) person-focused communication; and C) supported self-management. The framework includes three phases: 1) identification and goal setting, 2) coaching to self-management, and 3) evaluation. Building a therapeutic relationship underpins these phases and is an overarching element that weaves through the key-principles and phases of the framework. We use a clinical case to illustrate the practical implementation of these recommendations.

Looking at Both Sides of the Coin: Addressing Rupture of the Therapeutic Relationship in Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy/Physiotherapy

As physical therapists, we may have all experienced tense moments in our therapeutic relationships with patients. Whether small or large, implicit or explicit, relational breakdowns are a normal part of human interactions. Within the clinical encounter, these tensions are called "ruptures." In psychotherapy, ruptures have been associated with increased dropout rates and poor clinical outcomes. To increase the likelihood that physical therapists establish, maintain, and strengthen therapeutic relationships with their patients, recognizing and repairing ruptures would seem logical. However, we contend that relational tensions, although inevitable, are most often avoided by physical therapists, potentially to the peril of the therapeutic relationship. A responsive approach that involves adjusting our mind-set, being aware, and taking appropriate action could facilitate rupture repair. We provide clinical examples of rupture and repair and discuss the opportunities that "the other side of the coin" presents for professional and personal growth. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2022;52(8):500-504. Epub: 19 June 2022. doi:10.2519/jospt.2022.11152.

Patients' and professionals' perspectives on the consideration of patients' convenient therapy periods as part of personalised rehabilitation: a focus group study with patients and therapists from inpatient neurological rehabilitation

BACKGROUND

Research on the optimal period for administering health services, especially rehabilitation interventions, is scarce. The aims of this study were to explore the construct of patients' convenient therapy periods and to identify indicators based on the perspectives of patients and different health professionals from inpatient neurological rehabilitation clinics.

METHODS

This study was part of a larger project on patients' convenient therapy periods following a mixed methods approach. In the current study a grounded theory approach was employed based on the use of focus group interviews. Focus group interviews were conducted in three different inpatient neurological rehabilitation clinics. Patients and therapists from inpatient neurological rehabilitation clinics who were able to speak and to participate in conversations were included.

RESULTS

A total of 41 persons, including 23 patients and 18 therapists, such as music and occupational therapists, participated in a total of six focus group interviews. The analysis of the focus group interviews resulted in the identification of a total of 1261 codes, which could be summarised in fifteen categories. However, these categories could be divided into five indicators and ten impact factors of convenient therapy periods. Identified indicators were verbal and non-verbal communication, mental functions, physiological needs, recreational needs, and therapy initiation.

CONCLUSIONS

The results provide initial evidence that convenient therapy periods are clinically relevant for patients and therapists. Different states of patients' ability to effectively participate in a rehabilitation intervention exist. A systematic consideration of patients' convenient therapy periods could contribute to a personalised and more efficient delivery of intervention in neurological rehabilitation. To our knowledge, this study is one of the first attempts to research convenient therapy periods.

Measuring therapeutic relationship in physiotherapy: conceptual foundations

The "therapeutic relationship" in physiotherapy refers to the beneficial or healing relationship between the patient and physiotherapist. Interest in researching therapeutic relationships in physiotherapy is growing and there is a need for a measure of therapeutic relationship with a strong conceptual foundation. Body of paper:We begin with a general discussion of the state of therapeutic relationship measurement in physiotherapy research - notably, how current research is based on measures borrowed and adapted from psychotherapy. Then, we introduce Miciak's physiotherapy therapeutic relationship framework, discuss why it offers a solid foundation for measurement development, and describe the key concepts in the framework. We then discuss various approaches to measuring therapeutic relationship, illustrating how Miciak's framework could be used to inform their development. We end by discussing current challenges in measuring therapeutic relationship and how these could be addressed.

Italian Version of the Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Participation Scale: Psychometric Analysis of Validity and Reliability

Patient’s active participation in therapy is a key component of successful rehabilitation. In fact, low participation has been shown to be a prognostic factor of poor outcome; however, participation is rarely assessed in clinical settings. The Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Participation Scale (PRPS) is a validated, quick, and accurate measure of participation, relying on clinicians’ observation, and not requiring any self-report by patients. The aim of this study was to validate an Italian version of the PRPS. Following forward and back-translation of PRPS into Italian, the translated version was validated in a total of 640 therapy sessions, related to a cohort of 32 patients admitted to an Italian hospital. It was tested for concurrent validity, finding significant correlations with Barthel Index (R > 0.58, p < 0.001) and SF-36 Physical and Mental Health (R > 0.4, p < 0.02), for predictive validity, finding significant correlation with the effectiveness of rehabilitation (R = 0.358, p = 0.045), and for inter-rater and intra-rater reliability, computing an Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC = 0.926 and 0.756, respectively). These psychometric properties results were similar to those of the original version of this scale. The proposed PRPS can be helpful for Italian clinicians in the assessment of patient’s participation during rehabilitation.