What Do You Let the Patient Tell You?

• Published in: Physiotherapy Vol. 82; no. 10; pp. 558 - 565
• Main Author: Martlew, Barbara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 01.10.1996; Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; communication; evaluating physiotherapy; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Quality of life; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); United Kingdom; Europe; evaluating physiotherapy; communication; Quality of life; Handicap; Human; Evaluation; Terminal stage; Malignant hemopathy; Malignant tumor; Psychological effect; Physical rehabilitation; Care; Quality; Kinesitherapy; Palliative care; Rehabilitation; Day hospital; Communication
• ISSN: 0031-9406; 1873-1465
• DOI: 10.1016/S0031-9406(05)66298-0

The new Macmillan day hospice serving north-west Hertfordshire aims to provide care for dying patients to enhance their quality of life. A physiotherapist (the researcher) attends three days weekly and used this client-centred action research to evaluate on-site physiotherapy. Patients' perceptions of the problems caused by their terminal illness, the relevance and benefit of physiotherapy, and factors contributing to quality of life were investigated, using taped interviews to gather data. The goal of palliative care, and of physiotherapy with this client group, is to improve quality of life. Physiotherapy received on site was therefore evaluated by quality-of-life indicators identified at interview. The two main factors which were revealed as contributing to quality of life were positive psychological support, and the ability to do things for oneself, or an improvement in function. It was found that physiotherapy had improved the quality of all the interviewees' lives through offering positive psychological support; and 80% also had improved quality of life through improved function. Some recommendations have been made, but further research is required to develop quality of life outcome measures which will demonstrate the quality of patient care.