Different arenas--what significance does this have for physiotherapeutic practice?
Thornquist, E.
Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin Ny Raekke 111(17): 2098-2101
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-2001 PMID: 1871742 Document Number: 380438
What aspects of the patient's body, way of functioning and life situation fall within or outside the physiotherapists' field of inquiry? This is one of the main questions in a research project to analyse first encounters in physiotherapy practice, based on videotapes of the encounters and semi-structured interviews. The article focuses on the relation between the examination approach, communication, and the setting of the encounters. Data from two of the videotaped encounters are used as a basis for a more general presentation and discussion. One of the findings was that the setting of the encounters influenced the professional's attention in some way or other, and had a significant effect on the information acquired and on the relationship that developed between the two parties. It appears that the orientation and real practice of a professional need to be interpreted in the context of institutional and external factors and of the ongoing interaction developed in the situation.