Client-Centred Rehabilitation - Arthritis Community Research ...

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3.2 Focus Group Results
Table 1 summarizes the demographics of the
focus group participants. The main themes
that emerged from the focus groups were:
individualization; participation in goal
setting and decision-making, lack of
preparation for life in the real world, the
need for emotional support, and systems
issues.
Individualization vs routinized group work
When participants were talking specifically
about client-centred care they were usually
talking about their rehabilitation programs
being individualized and tailored to their
particular needs.
“but she (therapist) was very much
into what was wrong with me and
how she could tailor her help to
make me better. So I felt she was
very client-centred” ARTH #1
“Well, I think they were very clientcentred.
They were specific to me
and specific to the need at the
particular time” HIP/KNEE
This theme of individualization applied not
only to each person’s individual goals and
needs but also to a consideration of the
person’s condition.
“As wonderful place as it is, I think
that they have a very set way of
doing things whereas they have
physiotherapy, they have
occupational therapy, they have pool
therapy, they’ve got everything set
up and it’s kind of for everybody.
It’s very open. It’s not specifically
for this type of problem.” ARTH #2
In contrast, when they were talking about
programs not being client-centred, they were
often referring to routinized group work.
“…everybody is doing the same
thing, which is what they were doing
before….so obviously it’s not clientcentred
there. It’s management
centred. It’s easier for them if
everybody does the same thing then
they don’t have to worry, oh you’re
on that machine, you’re doing this.
Maybe the number of repetitions
change. But that’s obviously not
client-centred”. MS #1
“It’s not really patient based, it is
sort of organization based. They’ve
got the facility and they’re trying to
fit you into their program.” ARTH
#1
Clients felt that lack of individualization to
their specific condition was often related to
lack of expertise on the part of staff,
particularly for conditions such as ABI,
Arthritis and MS. There was little or no
questioning of the expertise of staff in SCI.
The problem with us is that (ABI) is
an unknown entity and it makes it so
much more difficulty to obtain the
correct treatment. How to get it.
Where to get it. When to get it.
How much to get – the whole thing.
The physicians ought to know. ABI
#1
So I didn’t have a good experience
with him because I don’t think he
was knowledgeable about
rheumatoid arthritis. HIPKNEE
You see the problem is there aren’t
enough professionals who have MS