Patient compliance in physical therapy : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

Abstract

Compliance in health care refers to the patient's adherence to a prescribed medical regimen. With the shift in emphasis of health care from direct medical supervision to patient self-management, more of the responsibility of the success of treatment is placed on the patient. Health professionals are realizing of the impact patient compliance or noncompliance on health outcomes, and are thus increasing their attention to the issue of patient compliance. Some physical therapists believe that patient adherence to therapy programs is one of the most serious problems affecting their profession today. It is estimated that somewhere between one-third and two-thirds of patients are noncompliant with their therapy program. A number of factors influence a patient's compliant or noncompliant behavior, such as: characteristics of the patient, characteristics of the patient's illness, pain, characteristics of the patient regimen, and patient's attitudes. A patient's motivation and education concerning their illness and the therapy program prescribed to them affect the level of patient compliance to their therapeutic program. In the questionnaire developed for this research project, physical therapists reported a lack of formal knowledge concerning patient compliance and a strong belief in the significance of patient compliance in the physical therapy profession. They suggested using education, monitoring a patient's progress, giving positive feedback, and shifting the responsibility of therapy to the patient as methods of increasing patient compliance. If information and methods concerning patient compliance are explored and shared among health care professionals, the level of patient compliance in physical therapy has the potential to rise. More patients can be rehabilitated and accurate assessments can be made concerning the quality of therapy provided. As a future physical therapist, I feel that the knowledge and insight gained from this research project will help to prepare me for upcoming challenges in the profession.