The experiences and preferences of individuals living with a musculoskeletal disorder regarding prognosis: A qualitative study

Question(s) What are the experiences and preferences of individuals living with a musculoskeletal disorder regarding prognosis? Design Exploratory phenomenological study. Participants Individuals aged 18‐year or older currently experiencing a musculoskeletal disorder and receiving treatment from a physiotherapist. Data Analysis Data were collected through semi‐structured interviews and analysed using inductive coding and thematic analysis. Results Five themes were identified. First, participants described seeking a cause for their pain. This influenced their experience of prognosis as they perceived a diagnosis was required to inform their prognosis. Second, whilst participants wished to receive a prognosis from their physiotherapist, this was often not their experience. Third, participants perceived that physiotherapists have the potential to impact prognosis through exercise prescription, management of conditions, and improving function. Fourth, receiving a prognosis can have both a positive and negative impact on the individual. Positive impacts include planning for the future, motivation, knowledge acquisition, and instilling hope. However, receiving a prognosis can be disheartening if a patient's expectations are unmet. Finally, participants have several preferences regarding receiving a prognosis including when and how often the prognosis is discussed, what prognostic information is provided, how the prognosis is presented, and what prognosis based on. Conclusion Individuals wish to receive a prognosis, although this is not always their experience. Individuals perceive that physiotherapists have the ability to provide a prognosis and impact their prognosis. Furthermore, receiving a prognosis has an impact on itself. To ensure patient‐centred care, physiotherapists should explicitly discuss the prognosis with patients and consider their preferences when providing a prognosis.