Sally Davis

First steps towards an interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation

This article examines how a change in working practices at a rehabilitation centre was implemented by moving from a multidisciplinary to an interdisciplinary approach. The issues raised, problems encountered, and part solutions are described. A client orientated method of goal planning is proposed incorporating a user-friendly method of setting goals. Guidelines and recommendations for goal planning are outlined. Future steps include developing a valid measure of handicap for evaluation purposes.

Physical intervention: a review of the literature on its use, staff and patient views, and the impact of training

As a principal control measure, physical intervention is intended to be a skilled manual, or hands-on, method of physical restraint implemented by trained individuals, with the intention of controlling the aggressive patient, to restore safety in the clinical environment. Physical intervention is however a contentious practice. There have been reports in the literature of negative psychological views from staff and patients on the procedure. Although formal structured training was introduced in response to concerns around patient safety during restraint, concerns remain that PI is sometimes construed as a stand-alone violence prevention initiative. Its potential for misuse, and overuse, in corrupted cultures of care has emerged as a social policy issue. The following paper critically explores the literature on training in physical intervention in the United Kingdom.

Outcome measures for adherence to home exercises among patients with chronic low back pain: a systematic review

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate what outcome measures are reliable in the evaluation of adherence to home exercises among patients with chronic low back pain. [Methods] A systematic review on articles related to adherence to home exercises for patients with chronic low back pain was conducted, and outcome measures and psychometric properties were extracted and evaluated in terms of validity and reliability. [Results] A total of 4,583 articles were identified, and eight articles were finally included after screening. The identified outcome measures were self-reported frequency, duration and intensity of home exercises and Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire results. Although the internal consistency and criterion validity of the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire results have been proven in the literature, none of the included articles validated the self-reported frequency, duration, and intensity of the home exercises. [Conclusion] Only the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire results were found to be a reliable measure, and further research to validate self-reported outcome measures is required.