FAQs

Yes, Gang et al. (2021) demonstrated that specific training to improve the understanding and skill about the therapeutic alliance was effective. After the course, doctoral students reported an improve perception in the following areas:

• High quality healthcare
• A strong patient-provider relationship
• Awareness of self
• Awareness of others
• Non verbal and verbal communication
• Emotional responsiveness

Gang, G. R., Wilson, C. A., Garcia, H. A., Daher, N. S., & Johnson, E. G. (2021). The Art of Connection: A Model for Teaching Therapeutic Alliance to Doctoral Physical Therapy Students Within an Acute Care Course. Journal of Physical Therapy Education.

As demands continue to increase, healthcare providers are dealing with an increased sense of burnout. Providers often "down-regulate" empathy as a self-protection mechanisms (Vaes & Muratore, 2013). which in turn leads to poor quality relationships.  

This cycle can be improved by learning the structure of compassion fatigue and developing emotional regulation skills to gain new perspectives on the best way to "stay safe" in the patient-provider engagement. 

Vaes, J., & Muratore, M. (2013). Defensive dehumanization in the medical practice: A cross-sectional study from a health care worker's perspective. British Journal of Social Psychology, 52(1), 180-190.

This is one of the most important questions we will address in this course. First, we need to understand the different between "compliance" and "adherence". We want to move patients from complying with our instructions toward adhering to a plan that we create together.

This process must be collaborative. As you will learn, we must use the "patient's map" of their situation to create a plan that the patient will more likely "own".  

Patients decide not to do their home exercises for a number of reasons (Campbell et al., 2001), we will learn the skills to understand the patient's reasons BEFORE we prescribe a treatment plan. 

Our aim in a relationship-centered process is to establish a therapeutic alliance. In this course we will review the exact formula for increasing the chances that your patients will adhere to the treatment plan. 

Campbell, R., Evans, M., Tucker, M., Quilty, B., Dieppe, P., & Donovan, J. L. (2001). Why don't patients do their exercises?

Understanding non-compliance with physiotherapy in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 55(2), 132-138.