Patient-Centered Goal Setting in Rehabilitation

Patient-centred goal setting in rehabilitation is a collaborative process in which clinicians and patients jointly identify, prioritise and pursue meaningful functional objectives. It moves beyond standardised protocols to embrace individual preferences, life roles and personal values, thereby enhancing motivation, adherence and outcomes. Core elements include effective communication, shared decision-making and the translation of overarching aspirations into specific, measurable targets. This approach is underpinned by theories of self-determination and behaviour change, recognising that patients who actively shape their rehabilitation trajectories are more likely to engage in sustained effort and attain higher levels of independence. Globally, health systems are embedding patient-centred practices to address cultural diversity, varying resource contexts and the growing burden of chronic disability. Practical models integrate goal negotiation, action planning, regular review and feedback loops, supported by patient-held records or digital tools. While evidence demonstrates improvements in satisfaction, self-efficacy and functional gains, persistent barriers include time constraints, variability in clinician training and challenges in reconciling professional and patient priorities. Ongoing efforts focus on strengthening interdisciplinary teamwork, refining outcome measures and leveraging mobile health technologies to personalise goal setting and tracking across home, community and inpatient settings.

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Patient-Centered Goal Setting in Rehabilitation publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in patient-centered goal setting in rehabilitation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Patient-centred goal setting: A collaborative process through which individuals and clinicians negotiate and establish rehabilitation objectives that reflect personal values, life roles and preferences.

Shared decision-making: A joint deliberation approach in which professionals and patients consider options together, weighing clinical evidence alongside individual goals and circumstances.

Action planning: The formulation of detailed steps and strategies required to achieve defined goals, including identification of resources, responsibilities and timelines.

Coping planning: The anticipatory development of strategies to manage potential barriers or setbacks during goal pursuit, thereby supporting resilience and adherence.

References

1. Longitudinal Process of Setting and Achieving Activity- and Participation-Level Goals in Home Rehabilitation in Japan: A Qualitative Study Using Trajectory Equifinality Modeling. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2023).
2. Developing tailored theoretically informed goal-setting interventions for rehabilitation services: a co-design approach. BMC Health Services Research (2022).
3. Setting meaningful goals in rehabilitation: A qualitative study on the experiences of clients and clinicians in working with a practical tool. Clinical Rehabilitation (2021).