Patient Participation in Program Planning: A Manual for Therapists.

This short but comprehensive book is an excellent tool for clinicians, educators, and clinical internship advisers. The manual provides a plan for evaluating thought processes related to patient treatment, problem solving, and motivation in addition to providing a step-by-step guide for evaluating the treatment plans and goals themselves. The authors offer clear formulas to address specific questions and "walk" readers through the stages of program planning. In the planning process, readers explore specific concerns, select specific goals, and review outcomes. Readers are then asked to review the means by which the goals are to be accomplished, thereby developing an actual plan. The authors encourage physical therapists and other rehabilitation professionals to involve patients in the decision-making process, so that the therapist does not merely treat the patient but engages the patient in the rehabilitation program. The models described in the manual provide an excellent framework for patient involvement.

In the first section of the manual, the authors cover patient concerns about specific problems and conditions. The authors suggest that the patient list his or her concerns and choose the primary concern. I believe this is an effective process, one in which the therapist can explore various problems. The authors not only developed a system for helping therapists clearly articulate and rank patient concerns, they addressed some of the primary ways to confirm them with the patient. The authors covered the different types of questions (open-ended, closed-ended, and multiple choice) that can be used to develop patient information. The authors then translated the answers to these questions into actual orders for the patient.

The second section of the book focuses on the clinician and continuing education problems, growth and development, academic courses, and inservice training. The model used by the authors is extremely helpful, not only because of the review sheets provided, but because of the specific examples provided with each review sheet. For physical therapy practitioners and academicians who have concerns about involving patients, writing better notes, helping students focus on ideas more clearly, or becoming more involved in planning a program, this is an excellent text that is quick and easy to read.