The Black Box of Patient Education: An Expert Consultation on Patient Education Interventions and Strategies for the Management of Subacromial Pain Syndrome

Abstract

Purpose: To identify patient education, interventions, and strategies to optimize the management of subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS) in physical therapy, based on the experiential knowledge of patient-partners and caregivers involved in the rehabilitation of this condition. Method: Using a semi-deductive approach building on the evidence extracted from the literature, an expert consultation using focus groups was conducted. The experts were physical therapists ( n = 5) and an occupational therapist with extensive clinical experience, as well as a patient-partner. Analysis followed the Framework method. Results: Two main themes emerged: (1) interventions directly related to patient education, consisting of nine sub-themes, including symptom self-management and pain phenomenon, and (2) patient education strategies to broadly frame the interventions, consisting of 10 sub-themes, including educational materials and clinical teaching approaches. Conclusion: The consultation confirmed and expanded the knowledge from the literature by adding knowledge that emerged from the experts’ practical experience. It resulted in the development of preliminary statements on structured patient education interventions and management strategies for SAPS. These emerging statements are, to our knowledge, the first to inform patient education specifically as it relates to the management of SAPS taking into account psychosocial and contextual factors.