Personal Outcomes Communication Approach: A Realist Evaluation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Use of a Communications Based ‘Personal Outcomes Approach’ in an Outpatient Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Service: A Realist Evaluation
IRAS ID
249344
Contact name
Grant Syme
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Fife
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Physiotherapy services that treat bone and muscle injuries (musculoskeletal services) have by definition traditionally focused on service users with physical ailments. The healthcare environment is, however, changing rapidly with an aging population, increasing numbers of service users with multiple diseases and increased awareness of the impact of mental health related conditions. These changes have challenged outpatient physiotherapy services to deliver different and more effective types of care.
The Fife home visit physiotherapy service (ICASS) has been training physiotherapists on using different types of conversations with service users with long term conditions. The approach called a ‘Personal Outcomes Approach' more readily establishes what matters to service users during their healthcare consultation. The Fife Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Service has trialled the ‘Personal Outcomes Approach’ and similarly found it to be of positive benefit. For example, one service user attended musculoskeletal physiotherapy for six sessions for leg strengthening exercises to help climb the steps at the front of their home with little benefit. After a ‘Personal Outcomes’ conversation it emerged that what the service user really required was an additional hand rail, which when fitted resolved their access issues immediately. Despite the positive feedback from service users and staff, there remains scepticism from some e.g. staff who focus on the service user’s injured body part, rather than on the person as a whole. Similarly, some managers feel healthcare staff do not need additional communication training as staff are already ‘experts’ in conversations with patients. Whilst the use of a 'Personal Outcomes Approach' appears successful, there is lack of robust evidence to support its wider adoption.
This project aims to study how the adoption the 'Personal Outcomes Approach' to healthcare conversations an enhance the outcomes for service users and understand more fully how these types of service user-physiotherapist conversations work.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/EE/0356
Date of REC Opinion
7 Jan 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion