A challenge that presents itself from time to time in the clinic with our patients is identifying the main motivator of the patient.
Let me explain.
Most of the time, patients come in because they are in pain… but after questioning, what we uncover is that it’s not necessarily the pain in isolation, but rather the impact the pain is having on them and their lives.
For example – it makes them feel helpless, disempowered and weak OR it has stopped them from doing something important to them like playing with their kids or being able to work.
So is it really about the pain? Or is it about the restoration of normal function and feeling?
Well, in the clinic, we find that this depends on the person and their context at the time of the consult.
In the clinic, we think about our patients being on a scale of “processed focused” to “outcomes-focused”
An outcomes-focused person is:
Focused on their goals. Their goals being: restoring the function that they lost OR progressing to a new and improved level of functioning
There is a lot less focus on the type of treatment – they tend not to really mind whether they get needling, massage, rehab or whatever – but rather they care the most about the result
They want a plan and know what the steps are towards a goal
They want tools they can use to self-manage their problem and a program to move them forward
A processed focused person is:
Focused on their pain and symptoms
Has a preference on how to treat the area of attention
Can tend to be quite emotional about their pain and really feels they need hands on care
Doesn’t really want to spend time understanding the problem until after they are out of pain
The reality is that most patients are somewhere in between on a scale biasing either outcomes or processed.
It’s really important that as clinicians, we are accurate in meeting the person’s expectations.
There is nothing more frustrating than wanting a plan as a patient but being given a massage and some dry needling. The same goes for people overwhelmed by pain, who don’t want to sit there listening to the plan and being given a rehab program.
It is reasonable to assume that an outcomes-focused approach is going to result in better long-term results, but it is not always feasible. Sometimes people who are focused on their goals and restoring function can have painful days, and on those days they need some processed focused support.
It’s up to us to make a difference by knowing the difference and asking you the right questions at the time of each consult.
If you would like to work with us, book an appointment below!