Exploring experiences of physiotherapy in N Wales for people with MS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the experiences of physiotherapy in North Wales for people with Multiple Sclerosis; informing service development and practice.
IRAS ID
148138
Contact name
Leigh Campbell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Glyndwr University
Research summary
The National Health Service has made a commitment to engage people who use the service about how best to provide healthcare services. Qualitative health research aims to provide an understanding of people’s experiences of either a health condition, or health service experience, that can lead to better informed, more empathetic practice. The Chartered society of Physiotherapy advises that research involving people that use physiotherapy services should form part of the evidence through which practice is shaped.
Literature review highlights the current paucity of physiotherapy research that uses in-depth, interpretive research methods that explore patients’ perceptions and experiences of Physiotherapy.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common neurological conditions affecting adults, and leads to variable physical symptoms which can improve with physiotherapy intervention.
No qualitative research has been found that explores the specific experiences of people with MS regarding physiotherapy. This research aims to explore the experiences and perceptions of physiotherapy for people in North Wales who have MS using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) of interviews.
The interviews will include participants experiences of physiotherapy and rehabilitation services that they have received,(or services that they may want to experience and receive), and about how physiotherapy has affected their lives as examples. The interview participants will be people with MS who have accessed physiotherapy services within North Wales. Interviews will be recorded following consent, and transcripts will be analysed by the interviewer.
It is important for such research to be carried out to better understand peoples’ experiences and needs, and to inform physiotherapy clinical practice and service development. This research will make an original contribution to knowledge, contribute to the growing body of qualitative research that engages service users within physiotherapy, and progress this research technique within physiotherapy research.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
14/WA/1088
Date of REC Opinion
4 Aug 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion