Patient Satisfaction in Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy

Patient satisfaction in musculoskeletal physical therapy represents a key indicator of service quality, reflecting both the interpersonal and technical dimensions of care. It encompasses patients’ perceptions of therapist competence, empathy, communication, clinic environment and logistical factors such as waiting times and accessibility. High satisfaction often correlates with greater adherence to prescribed exercise programmes, improved functional outcomes and enhanced patient engagement in self-management. Measurement has evolved from simple global ratings to multidimensional instruments capturing relational aspects (information provision, respect, shared decision-making) and functional aspects (facility comfort, cost, privacy). Across diverse health systems, satisfaction data inform quality improvement, influence reimbursement models and guide the implementation of patient-centred care. Emerging evidence highlights cultural and socioeconomic determinants of satisfaction as well as the role of digital health and telehealth in shaping patient experiences. A nuanced understanding of satisfaction within musculoskeletal practice supports clinical excellence, promotes therapeutic alliances and underpins value-based care delivery at a global scale.

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Patient Satisfaction in Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in patient satisfaction in musculoskeletal physical therapy across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Patient satisfaction: A multidimensional measure of how well healthcare services meet or exceed patient expectations in relational and functional domains.

Patient experience: The sum of all interactions and perceptions that shape a patient’s journey through healthcare delivery.

Patient-centred care: An approach that respects and responds to individual patient preferences, needs and values, ensuring that patient values guide all clinical decisions.

Therapeutic relationship: The collaborative and trust-based interaction between therapist and patient that supports treatment adherence and positive outcomes.

References

1. Patients’ perceptions with musculoskeletal disorders regarding their experience with healthcare providers and health services: an overview of reviews. Archives of Physiotherapy (2020).
2. Why Measure Patient Experience in Physical Therapy?. Archives of Physiotherapy (2021).
3. The influence of the environment on the patient-centered therapeutic relationship in physical therapy: a qualitative study. Archives of Public Health (2023).
4. Patient’s satisfaction in physiotherapy outpatient departments of Amhara regional comprehensive specialized hospitals, Ethiopia. BMC Health Services Research (2022).