Shifting roles: physiotherapists’ perception of person-centered care during a pre-implementation phase in the acute hospital setting - A phenomenographic study

Abstract

Background: Person-centered care (PCC) is an acknowledged health care practice involving increased patient influence regarding decisions and deliberation. Research indicates that physiotherapists (PTs) embrace patient participation, but that PCC is difficult to grasp and fully implement. Objective: To contribute to knowledge about how PCC influences physiotherapy by eliciting PTs’ experiences from the acute care setting, this study aims to describe and illuminate variations in perceptions of PCC during a pre-implementation phase, among PTs in acute hospital care. Methods: Phenomenological approach: individual interviews with PTs in acute care (n = 7) combined with focus group interviews (n = 3). Findings: The analysis yielded two main categories: 1) Physiotherapists perceived a transformed patient role involved in the transition from patient to person; and 2) Physiotherapists perceived a challenged professional role when departing from the expert role, and entailed restrictions to prescribing the best treatment and, instead, meant aiming for a collaborative and equal relationship with the patient. Conclusion: Although the interviewed PTs embraced PCC in principle, PCC does seem to challenge the professional roles of patient and PT. The findings indicate that theories of power relations need to be considered, and further reflection may facilitate implementation. More research is needed to deepen the knowledge of how PTs perceive PCC during all implementation phases.