We are continually reminded of the importance of building patient rapport through out the theory component of our course, but I have only developed a real appreciation of its value since beginning practical work this year.
Although it is only one line on our blue assessment sheet at mid and end placement, all of my tutors have placed great emphasis on developing rapport with our patients, one tutor even referencing a research article stating 40% of an effective treatment is based on the relationship you build with your patient before you even place your hands on them. Yes- this shocked me too.
A 46 yo female MS patient I am currently treating as an inpatient at SCGH has revealed the significance of a good relationship between therapist and patient over this past week. She was first admitted for a trial of intrathecal baclofen to treat her lower limb muscle spasms and chronic pain. This trial was unsuccessful, so the surgeons decided to trial a spinal electrical stimulation device without fully describing this procedure to the patient. Prior to the surgery she expressed her confusion as to the exact procedure and her consequent anxiety for the surgery scheduled for the next day. She broke down in tears during our treatment session, so I ceased the trunk stability exercises to allow her to discuss her emotions. After listening to her situation, I put my rather basic empathetic skills to the test to console her, then resumed the exercises. On completion of the session, I took her back to her room then liaised with the medical team to discuss the possibility of further educating the patient on the procedure of the surgery. They agreed and explained to the patient what was to be done.
Two days later I had my mid placement assessment, and the tutor chose this particular patient to observe. Prior to the treatment session I read in her inpatient notes that she had been in extreme pain the since the surgery and was quite emotional. As I took her down to the gym, I was thinking of the best way to deal with the situation as to how her emotional state could possibly affect the treatment session. I was very surprised when she gave me a big hug and thanked me for all my help, stating that I made her feel like it was possible to keep going when she felt like giving up. Needless to say, my tutor was quite impressed (as was I!)
I learned a great deal from this situation on the importance of developing listening skills and building a relationship with a patient, as physios are the members of the health team that spend a majority of time with inpatients on some wards. In the future I hope to further develop these skills in a variety of clinical settings as they do impact on the success of a treatment.
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2 comments:
Well done! It’s really amazing how a treatment session can be much more successful when you’ve built that rapport with a patient. The session can also be rewarding and enjoyable for both the patient and the therapist. At my current placement, I found out that by building the rapport, the patient was very likely to comply with the treatment and push themselves to work harder during treatment sessions.
Good job ange! I'm really impressed by the way you handled the situation. What I've found is that during a treatment session if the patient gets emotional it is good to let them express what they are feeling to a sympathetic ear. even if this treatment session is waisted (in terms of actual physiotherapy treatment given) subsequent treatment sessions will be more productive and the outcome for the patient will be better in the long term.
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