Preliminary report on the patient motivation and adherence to exercise recommendations—The importance of medical communication in the rehabilitation process during and after hospitalization

Abstract

Medical communication plays very important role in rehabilitation process. It can support or hinder treatment, especially when we have to deal with patients with depression or low self-esteem. The right communication methods tell of professionalism of medical staff and result in success in therapy. The aim of the presentation is to show the research on medical communication in the rehabilitation process of patients during and after their hospitalization. We analyze and assess: –Communication methods used by doctors, nurses and physiotherapists; –Specific needs of patients due to their diseases and psychophysical condition (we examine patients: after various accidents, with neurological or musculoskeletal diseases, terminally ill, with good or bad prognosis, with or without depression etc.); –If patients understand their own condition and what can help them to recover; –Motivation and adherence to exercise recommendations during and after hospitalization; –How medical staff supports the patients in their specific condition. The research has been conducted in a group of 150 adult patients without cognitive disorders, by using original questionnaires, Rehabilitation Causality Orientation Scale, Self-Regulation Questionnaire for Rehabilitation, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, The Laitinen Modified Questionnaire Indicators of Pain and The Visual-Analogue Scale. The results were statistically analyzed. Patients are highly motivated to undertake rehabilitation during hospitalization. Their motivation gets lower with time afterwards, although, they understand that adherence to exercise recommendations would help them to recover. Patients feel safe in medical staff's presence, despite of some communication problems. Effective communication methods are very important in the rehabilitation process. They play a great role in motivating and realizing of the patients’ will. On the basis of the research will be created proper communication patterns for medical staff, which will have a positive effect on rehabilitation process and will improve the quality of patients’ life, as well as satisfaction of medical staff at work.