Article

It is often observed that different rehabilitation practitioners
carrying out the same intervention can have a quite different impact on outcome.
The relationship or connection between the practitioner and patient, referred to
here as the therapeutic alliance (TA), is receiving growing attention as
potentially contributing to the disparate response to treatment observed. In this
paper, we discuss what we currently know about the TA in rehabilitation and its
impact on engagement (and what do we not know) and consider the ramifications of
not knowing. KEY MESSAGES: The TA is increasingly identified as an important
determinant of engagement in, and health outcome following, rehabilitation.
However, research identifying its core components is limited, with very little
exploring howpractitioners might develop a more positive TA with patients.
Further, what we do know/understand is limited by inadequate measurement tools.
Research aiming to better understand the key ingredients of the TA that
contribute to outcome and its role in rehabilitation is urgently required.
CONCLUSIONS: Arguably, if we fail to advance knowledge in this field and seek
answers to some of the questions we have raised, we may fail to tap into the true
potential of the TA as a covariate of rehabilitation outcome.

Langue : ANGLAIS