“Ready for goal setting? - From a patient-specific instrument to an integrated method in physiotherapy”

The aim of this dissertation was to improve the goal-setting process (i.e. clarifying the request for help, defining the problem, formulating treatment goals, deciding which treatment to give and evaluating the outcome) in physiotherapy. In collaboration with patients and physiotherapists, the researcher developed the Patient-Specific Complaints Questionnaire (PSK), a frequently-used measurement instrument in physiotherapy in the Netherlands, into a Patient-Specific Goal-Setting Method (PSG). In this method, patients are explicitly informed and encouraged to help thinking and deciding about their treatment. The PSG was tested and evaluated in primary care physiotherapy settings. Patients and physiotherapists were generally positive about the PSG, particularly about the more active role patients were given. However, it was concluded that more behavioural changes are needed to fully utilise the possibilities for goal setting offered by the PSG and to actually involve patients in decision-making.