Patient Participation in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: A Concept Analysis

Abstract

Patient participation is crucial and has long traditions in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Despite that, there is a lacking coherent definition of patient participation in this context. By following the steps according to Walker and Avant a concept analysis of patient participation in rehabilitation has been conducted. Three attributes to patient participation in rehabilitation emerged: Active patient; Engagement and exchange from both the patient and the rehabilitation professionals; and Focus on the patient’s condition, needs, desires and preference. If the attributes are fulfilled; the patient is treated as a capable person and will have greater motivation for being active throughout the rehabilitation. Further consequences of patient participation include improved physical functioning, coping, self-management and satisfaction with care. This study gives a suggestion for a common language in physical medicine and rehabilitation with regard to what patient participation conceptually means.