Relación terapéutica e influencia de la formación en la calidad de la misma en fisioterapeutas españoles: estudio observacional

Abstract

Objective The therapeutic relationship (RT) is determinant for the development and therapeutic results in physiotherapy. Training of health personnel in methods to carry it out is required. No publications have been found on the impact of this type of training on the RT between physiotherapists and patients. To evaluate the competencies of Spanish physiotherapists in establishing RT and to determine whether specific training in RT influences this relationship. Methods Cross-sectional descriptive study by means of an electronic survey of registered physiotherapists in Spain. We included sociodemographic data, the Working Alliance Inventory-Short (WAI-S) questionnaire composed of three subscales: establishment of the BOND and agreement on OBJETIVES and TASKS between physiotherapist and patient, and a dichotomous question on specific training in RT of more than 5h duration. Results A total of 264 physical therapists participated. The highest score was obtained in the subscale BOND, the lowest in GOAL. Women obtained higher scores on the BOND subscale. Physiotherapists with training scored higher on all subscales, and significantly higher on the GOAL subscale. A higher proportion of women undertook specific training. There was a direct association between experience and the subscales BOND and TASK. No significant differences were found in WAI-S scores as a function of any of the work variables analyzed. Conclusions Spanish physiotherapists have difficulties in establishing joint objectives. Specific training in RT improves all the components of the WAI-S, especially the joint establishment of objectives. More professional experience and being a woman have a positive influence on a better RT.