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Addressing patient concerns early

By starting with what matters most to the patient and addressing their main concerns, we create a foundation of trust and open communication. Recognising and addressing patient concerns early allows us to provide reassurance, and guide patients toward evidence-based understandings.

What are common patient concerns in practice?

Patients often have worries or uncertainties about their condition, treatment, or prognosis. These concerns can shape their expectations, influence their engagement with treatment, and impact their care. Here are some common concerns patients express in clinical practice:

  • Ambiguity regarding how and when they can return to, or engage in, work, sport or other social requirements.
  • Concerns about whether their condition is serious or not, and if they may recover.
  • Fear of causing further damage. Patients often worry that movement or activity will make their condition worse.
  • Concerns about long-term outcomes. Many patients fear that their pain or condition will never improve.
  • Confusion from conflicting advice. Patients may have received different or contradictory explanations from various healthcare providers, family, or online sources.
  • Worries about treatment effectiveness. Some patients may be sceptical about physiotherapy or other management approaches, seeking advice about what their best options are for management.
  • Frustration with slow progress. Recovery can take time, and patients may feel discouraged if they don’t see immediate improvement.
  • Financial or time constraints. Practical concerns such as the cost of treatment or time required to see improvements in their condition can influence engagement.

Recognising and directly addressing these concerns allows us to tailor our education, provide reassurance, and guide patients toward perspectives that are more accurate and positive.

Let’s look at some strategies for addressing patient concerns

Address them directly.

Example: “In the interview you outlined the main concerns that you have. Let’s address these first”.

Acknowledge emotional responses.

Example: “It sounds like this has been really frustrating for you. It’s understandable to feel this way when progress seems slow, but let’s talk about what we can do to keep moving forward.”

Address misinformation without dismissing patient beliefs.

Example: “I can see why that would be concerning. What we now know from research is that movement is actually really important for recovery, and I can show you how to do this safely.”

Use simple, evidence-based and reassuring language.

Example: “The discomfort you’re feeling at the moment doesn’t mean you’re causing any further damage. Let’s go over what is happening and work through some strategies to help you move more comfortably.”

Recognise cultural and personal influences.

Example: “Different people have different experiences with pain. Can you tell me a bit about how you usually manage the pain?”

Addressing misconceptions early and effectively

It is increasingly unusual for patients to consult a physiotherapist without having already developed ideas or beliefs about their condition or how it should be managed, whether these ideas are helpful, accurate or appropriate or not. Some patients may present with pre-existing beliefs shaped by personal experiences, social influences, or misinformation, especially from online sources. If left unaddressed or not addressed early, these misconceptions can become, at best, barriers to engagement, adherence, and recovery. At worst, by not addressing misconceptions, we may inadvertently reinforce them. Addressing misconceptions early allows us to gently correct misinformation while validating the patient’s concerns. We will look specifically at how to navigate and address misinformation in a later section.

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Patient Education Essentials for Physiotherapy Copyright © 2025 by The University of Queensland is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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