Client-centred practice from the perspective of Danish patients with hand-related disorders

The objectives of this study were to investigate perceptions of client-centred practice among Danish patients with hand-related disorders engaged in rehabilitation at outpatient clinics, and to decide on domains to serve as a conceptual foundation for item generation in the development of a new, standardized questionnaire to evaluate the experience of client-centredness among patients with hand-related disorders.

Focus group interviews were held with 25 patients with hand-related disorders from six outpatient hand clinics in Denmark. Deductive content analysis was used to decide on domains for item generation.

Patients found that information was paramount in understanding their situation and to feel empowered and motivated. They attached importance to participation in decision making so that rehabilitation was considered meaningful. Moreover, they thought rehabilitation should be individualized by taking their life situations and personalities into account. Six domains were found to be central to client-centred practice: patient participation in decision making, client-centred education, evaluation of outcomes from patient's perspective, emotional support, cooperation and coordination, and enabling occupation.

The domains can be used in the further development of a Danish questionnaire to evaluate the experiences of client-centredness among patients engaged in rehabilitation at outpatient clinics for hand-related disorders. Implications for rehabilitation Patients with hand-related disorders wish for rehabilitation to be tailored to individual needs. The patient's life situation and personality, including coping ability, are important factors to consider in rehabilitation planning, interventions, and evaluations. Patients with hand-related disorders attach importance to information and require health professionals' support to manage their activities of everyday life. Patients with hand-related disorders ask for participation and shared decision making in rehabilitation planning.