Why do patients cancel or miss Physical Therapy sessions?
The lack of attendance in Physical Therapy, either with or without prior notice, causes many losses of time and income to Rehabilitation professionals. Whether in a private clinic or in a public health service, in short, it is a waste of resources that we should not allow. Here are some ideas to try to understand the causes and possible solutions to this problem.
Failure to attend physical therapy sessions can be due to a variety of reasons, which may be physical, emotional, logistical or even financial. Some of the common causes include:
Most common causes of absenteeism:
Pain or discomfort: If the patient experiences pain or discomfort during physical therapy, he or she may avoid attending sessions to avoid additional discomfort.
Lack of motivation: Some patients may lose motivation to continue physical therapy treatment, especially if they do not see quick results or if the recovery process is long and challenging. Previous negative experiences with physical therapy or the health care system in general may play a role.
Transportation issues: Lack of access or difficulties with transportation may make it difficult for some patients to get to their physical therapy sessions, especially if they live far from the clinic or if they have mobility limitations. Lack of support from friends, family or caregivers can impact a patient’s ability to maintain their commitment to physical therapy.
Work or family responsibilities: Work or family obligations may interfere with some patients’ ability to attend scheduled physical therapy sessions.
Other factors that may influence the cancellation of physical therapy sessions:
Financial problems: The costs associated with physical therapy, such as consultation fees and co-payments, can be prohibitive for some patients, preventing them from regularly attending sessions.
Lack of information: Patients may not fully understand the importance of physical therapy in their recovery process or may lack information about how it can benefit their specific medical condition.
Underlying medical conditions: Some patients may have other underlying medical conditions that affect their ability to attend physical therapy sessions, such as mental health issues or chronic illnesses.
Emotional concerns: Anxiety, depression or other emotional concerns may cause some patients to avoid physical therapy or have difficulty committing to treatment.
How can we reduce the lack of attendance in Physical Therapy?
Reducing missed rehab attendance can be crucial to treatment success and patient recovery. Here are some ideas on how to achieve this:
Make it attractive
- Education about the importance of attendance: Educate patients about the benefits of regular attendance at rehabilitation sessions and how it can speed their recovery.
- Rewards programs: Implement reward programs to recognize and celebrate regular patient attendance, such as points redeemable for additional services or health-related products.
- Incorporate gamification: Using a physical exercise program with virtual reality makes the sessions more attractive, increasing adherence to treatment and active patient participation.
- Emotional support: Provide a supportive and understanding environment where patients feel comfortable and motivated to attend rehabilitation sessions.
- Family involvement: Involve the family and caregivers in the rehabilitation process to increase the patient’s support and responsibility. Share progress with the patient and family members by showing objective data on their evolution. Discover here how to make a physiotherapy report automatically.
Make it easy
- Effective communication: Maintain clear and regular communication with patients, reminding them of their appointments and providing automatic reminders via text messages, emails or mobile apps.
- Flexibility in schedules: Offer flexible rehabilitation schedules that adapt to the needs and schedules of patients, such as afternoon or half-day sessions.
- Accessible transportation: Help patients who have transportation difficulties by offering free or discounted transportation services to get to rehabilitation sessions.
- Telerehabilitation technology: Integrates telemedicine to enable patients to participate in virtual rehabilitation sessions when they are unable to attend physically.
- Individual barrier assessment: Identifiy and address individual barriers that may be preventing patients from attending rehabilitation sessions, such as mental health issues, financial concerns or lack of motivation.
By implementing these strategies, it is possible to improve rehabilitation care and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Rehametrics works with this goal in mind, that of helping you to increase patient adherence to treatment, thanks to gamification.
