Identifying the patient’s fears or concerns (Fears and concerns)

Patients’ concerns often shape how they engage with information. They may be worried about long-term disability, loss of function, returning to work, or the long-term impact of their condition.

Why this matters

Fear and uncertainty can impact recovery. Patients who feel anxious about their condition may avoid movement, disengage from rehabilitation, or struggle with adherence to their treatment plan.

Moreover, unaddressed concerns can lead to frustration or resistance. If a patient doesn’t feel their worries are acknowledged, they may disengage or seek conflicting advice elsewhere.

In contrast, building trust improves engagement. When a physiotherapist validates concerns and provides clear guidance, patients feel more supported and motivated.

Example questions to ask to explore fears or concerns:

• “Do you have particular concerns that you want to discuss today?”
• “Is there anything specific that you are worried about?”
• “What’s your biggest worry about your condition right now?”
• “Has what you’ve been told make sense, or is there something that’s been playing on your mind?”

Tip: If a patient is highly anxious about a particular concern, addressing this first can help them be more receptive to further discussion.

Tip: Patients often feel more comfortable discussing their concerns once they have formed trust with their clinician. If they seem reluctant at first, normalising concerns can help; “A lot of my patients with similar conditions have worries about this too, would you like to talk about it?”