Abstract
Background
The physiotherapy profession has experienced a paradigm shift in recent years where mounting research evidence, indicating better patient outcomes, has led to an increase in popularity of a biopsychosocial model of care. In turn physiotherapists have begun to address psychosocial ‘obstacles’ to recovery, as means of improving outcomes for patients. To date, research has not examined how this change has affected the perceptions of physiotherapists about delivering care. The aim of this study was to explore these perceptions through exploratory interviews with physiotherapists in the UK.
Methods
A qualitative interview study using a purposive sample of physiotherapists (n=12), nested within a larger study, exploring the attitudes and behaviours of UK general practitioners and physiotherapists about managing patients with low back pain. Interview transcripts were coded by the lead researcher and independently validated by a further team member. Transcripts were coded thematically using the constant comparative method to identify similarities and differences between the data and to determine fit and relevance.
Results
The findings demonstrate that a combination of traditional physical therapy with a biopsychosocial approach presented significant challenges for professionals during the consultation. Physiotherapists perceived a number of ‘obstacles to recovery’ and responded to these through adoption of ‘health corrective’ strategies and by imposing limits around the management of these concerns with patients.
Conclusion
A model of care combining a biopsychosocial approach with traditional physiotherapy can increase pressure on physiotherapists to use consultation strategies which appear to be patient-centred but may fail to shift from a professional-led agenda.
Conflicts of interest
None
Sources of funding
Arthritis Research UK and the North Staffordshire Primary Care Research Consortium
We confirm that this abstract has not been previously published in whole or part nor has it been presented at a national meeting.
