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NCT Number: NCT03266796

Shared Decision Making in Physical Therapy: a Cross-sectional Observational Study

Shared decision making (SDM) is increasingly recommended in health care and reduces the unbalanced power between physical therapists and patients. There is an increased focus on communication between physical therapists and their patients during the goal setting process in current research. This study will focus on SDM in physical therapy goal setting.

The SDM Process includes a problem definition and different goal options. Good communication between physical therapists and patients during the goal setting process with an explicit agreeing on both sides regarding treatment goals and options improves patient satisfaction, treatment adherence and health outcomes.

Patients generally prefer to be actively involved in the shared decision making process. However, the preferred level of involvement of patients regarding decisions differs. Therefore, physical therapist should consider about patients' preferred level of involvement in shared decision making. Previous research observed SDM behaviours of physical therapists only in private practice settings. Research in other settings like the rehabilitation setting are recommended. It is unknown whether there are differences between settings in the SDM behaviours of physical therapists during first consultation.

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Key information

Conditions

Shared Decision Making

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Kliniken Valens

Valens, 7317, Switzerland

About this study

Background

Shared decision making (SDM) is increasingly recommended in health care and reduces the unbalanced power between physical therapists and patients. There is an increased focus on communication between physical therapists and their patients during the goal setting process in current research. This study will focus on SDM in physical therapy goal setting.

The SDM Process includes a problem definition and different goal options. Therefore, SDM may be especially important during the goal setting process in the first consultation, where a problem definition and several goal options are of interest.

An increased involvement of patients in SDM is based on clear information, empathy, two-way communication and respect for patients' beliefs and concerns. Therefore, patients are more willing to reveal information. Good communication between physical therapists and patients during the goal setting process with an explicit agreeing on both sides regarding treatment goals and options improves patient satisfaction, treatment adherence and health outcomes.

During the shared goal setting several topics should be discussed including patient's expectations and concerns, different possible goals and their pros and cons. The quality of this communication during the goal setting process can be evaluated by the OPTION Scale.

Patients generally prefer to be actively involved in the shared decision making process.

Previous research observed SDM behaviours of physical therapists, the patient's preferred level of involvement and the agreement between the patient's preferred level of involvement and the physical therapists' perception of the patient's preference during different therapy consultations in private practice settings.

Communication between physical therapists and patients may be affected by patient's self-efficacy and educational background and physical therapist's education and working experiences. These factors will therefore be evaluated in the planned study. In addition, therapists should consider patients individual preferences regarding their preferred level of involvement in the goal setting process. The control preference scale measures patients' preferred level of involvement and physical therapists' perception of this level.

It is unknown whether there are differences between settings in the SDM behaviours of physical therapists. SDM may be different in rehabilitation and private practice settings. As in private practice one physical therapist is treating the patient, there are several physical therapists treating the patient in rehabilitation setting.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

musculoskeletal disorders First treatment German speaking

Exclusion criteria

n/a

Treatment and study plan

goal setting process

Behavioral

goal setting process during the first consultation

Primary outcomes

  1. OPTION scale

    Time frame: day 1 (e.g. "through study completion, an average of 1 year")

    The OPTION scale measures physical therapists behaviour in shared decision making. It is a measurement that evaluates the involvement of patients in shared decision making and was shown to be reliable (Elwyn et al., 2003). The OPTION scale includes items looking at communication between physical therapist and patient, especially an identified problem, patient's beliefs and concerns, different goal and treatment option and their pros and cons, patient's preferred level of involvement, possibilities for patient's to ask questions and a review of the physical therapist at the end.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Control Preference Scale (CPS)

    Time frame: day 1 (e.g. "through study completion, an average of 1 year")

    The Control Preference Scale (CPS) measures physical therapists perception about their patient's preferences and patient's preference in SDM. The CPS is valid and reliable in healthcare decision making, easy to conduct and clinically relevant (Degner et al., 1997).

Other outcomes

  1. General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE)

    Time frame: day 1 (e.g. "through study completion, an average of 1 year")

    The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) measures self-reported self-efficacy. The GSE is valid and Cronbach's alpha of internal reliability is between .76 and .90. Positive correlations to emotion, optimism, work satisfaction and negative correlations to depression, stress, health complaints, burnout and anxiety are examined. (Luszczynska et al., 2005) The GSE is potentially associated with SDM preference.

  2. Characteristics of patients and physical therapists

    Time frame: day 1 (e.g. "through study completion, an average of 1 year")

    The following characteristics will be assessed because of their possible influence on SDM preferences.

    Patients: age, sex, previous therapy for current problem, profession Physiotherapists: age, sex, work experiences in years, education

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Klinik Valens

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2018
Study completion
2018
First posted
Aug 30, 2017
Registry last updated
Mar 6, 2018

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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