A New Process Model for Relationship-Centred Shared Decision-Making in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Settings.

INTRODUCTION: We present a relationship-centred shared-decision-making (RCSDM) process model to explicate factors that shape decision-making processes during physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) encounters among patients, their care partners and practitioners. Existing shared decision-making (SDM) models fall short in addressing the everyday decisions routinely made regarding persons with chronic disabilities who require high levels of support, their care partners and rehabilitation practitioners. In PMR, these everyday decisions are small scale, immediate and in service to a larger therapeutic goal. They can be thought of as micro-decisions and involve multiple practitioners, care partners and patients. How micro-decisions are made in this context is contingent on multiple roles and relationships among these relevant parties. Our model centres on micro-decisions among patients, their care partners and practitioners based on our disorders of consciousness (DoC) research. METHODS: To develop our model, we examined peer-reviewed literature in SDM in PMR, chronic disability and person-centeredness; formed collaborations and co-created our constructs with rehabilitation practitioners and with care partners who have lived experience of caring for persons with DoC; analysed emerging empirical data and vetted early versions with expert scientific and clinical audiences. Our model builds from the core tenets of relational autonomy, and scholarship and activism of disability advocates. FINDINGS: Our model conceptualizes four non-hierarchical levels of analysis to understand the process of micro-decision-making in chronic disability and medical rehabilitation: social forces (historical and sociological); roles and relationships (multiple and intersecting); relational dimensions (interactional and contextual) and micro-decision moments (initiation, response and closure). DISCUSSION: Relationships among patients, their care partners and practitioners are the intersubjective milieu within which decisions are made. Our conceptual model explicates the process of micro-decision-making in PMR. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Care partners (or caregivers) and rehabilitation practitioners are active members of our team. We work together to develop research projects, collect, analyse and disseminate data. The conceptual model we present in this manuscript was co-created-input from care partners and practitioners on previously collected data became the impetus to develop the RCSDM process model and share co-authorship in this manuscript.

Comparative performance of artificial intelligence models in physical medicine and rehabilitation board-level questions.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the performance of artificial intelligence models ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4, and Google Bard in answering Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation board-style questions, assessing their capabilities in medical education and potential clinical applications. METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted using the PMR100, an example question set for the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Part I exam, focusing on artificial intelligence models' ability to answer and categorize questions by difficulty. The study evaluated the artificial intelligence models and analyzed them for accuracy, reliability, and alignment with difficulty levels determined by physiatrists. RESULTS: ChatGPT-4 led with a 74% success rate, followed by Bard at 66%, and ChatGPT-3.5 at 63.8%. Bard showed remarkable answer consistency, altering responses in only 1% of cases. The difficulty assessment by ChatGPT models closely matched that of physiatrists. The study highlighted nuanced differences in artificial intelligence models' performance across various Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation subfields. CONCLUSION: The study illustrates the potential of artificial intelligence in medical education and clinical settings, with ChatGPT-4 showing a slight edge in performance. It emphasizes the importance of artificial intelligence as a supportive tool for physiatrists, despite the need for careful oversight of artificial intelligence-generated responses to ensure patient safety.

[The National Competency-Based Catalogue of Learning Objectives for Medicine 2.0 for the subject Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Naturopathic Medicine. Consensus of Scientific Medical Societies]. / Der Nationale Kompetenzbasierte Lernzielkatalog 2.0 für das Fach "Physikalische und Rehabilitative Medizin, Naturheilverfahren". Konsentierte Ergebnisse beteiligter Fachgesellschaften der AWMF.

BACKGROUND: The learning objectives in the current cross-sectional subject "Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine, Naturopathic Medicine" have been revised as part of the further development of the National Competency-Based Catalogue of Learning Objectives for Medicine (NKLM) to its new version 2.0. Since the NKLM is designed as an interdisciplinary catalogue, a subject assignment seemed necessary from the point of view of various stakeholders. Thus, the German Association of Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF) and the German medical faculties initiated a subject assignment process. The assignment process for the subject "Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Naturopathic Medicine" (PRM-NHV; according to the subject list of the first draft of the planned novel medical license regulations from 2020) is presented in this paper. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The AWMF invited its member societies to participate in the assignment of learning objectives of chapters VI, VII, and VIII of the NKLM 2.0 to the individual subjects to which they consider to contribute in teaching. For "PRM-NHV", representatives of the societies for rehabilitation sciences (DGRW), physical and rehabilitation medicine (DGPRM), orthopaedics and traumatology (DGOU), as well as for naturopathy (DGNHK) participated. In a structured consensus process according to the DELPHI methodology, the learning objectives were selected and consented. Subsequently, subject recommendations were made by the AWMF for each learning objective. RESULTS: From the NKLM 2.0, a total of 100 competency-based learning objectives of chapters VII and VIII for the subject "PRM-NHV" were consented by the representatives of the involved societies for presentation on the NKLM 2.0 online platform. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of the revision process of medical studies in Germany and under the umbrella of the AWMF and the German medical faculties, a broad consensus of competency-based learning objectives in the subject "PRM-NHV" could be achieved. This provides an important orientation for all medical faculties both for the further development of teaching in the cross-sectional subject "Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine, Naturopathic Medicine" according to the 9th revision of the medical license regulations, which has been valid for twenty years, and for the preparation of the corresponding subjects in the draft bill of the novel license regulations.

A physiatrist's role in managing unique challenges in pregnancy and delivery in a patient with incomplete lumbar SCI: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Women of childbearing age make up around 5-10% of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and may face unique medical and functional complications during pregnancy, including prolonged hospitalization and increased risk of early rehospitalization due to falls. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we discuss a case of a young ambulatory woman with a lumbar motor incomplete spinal cord injury who underwent successful delivery via cesarean section and the role of the physiatrist in the management of the patient's antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum complications. The patient faced significant antepartum challenges secondary to her neurogenic bladder and pelvic floor weakness, resulting in increased use of her manual wheelchair. The physiatry team assisted with the co-development of a multidisciplinary bladder plan for increased urinary frequency and urinary tract infection prevention with the patient's obstetrics physician (OB). In addition, the physiatry team assisted with the procurement of a new wheelchair suited for the patient's pregnancy and childcare needs in anticipation of decreased mobility during this time. Regarding intrapartum challenges, the physiatry team worked with the patient and her OB to develop a safe birth plan considering the method of delivery, epidural usage, and the need for pelvic floor therapy before and after childbirth. DISCUSSION: The patient had a successful cesarean section delivery, with return to independent mobility soon after childbirth. In summary, this case demonstrates that there is a need for a multidisciplinary approach to patients with SCI during pregnancy and that the role of physiatry is critical to optimizing medical and functional outcomes.

[Contribution of physical and rehabilitation medicine to primary care medicine]. / Apport de la médecine physique et de réadaptation à la médecine de premier recours.

Physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM) is an independent medical specialty, little known in Switzerland. This specialty, strongly linked to the holistic approach of the International Classification of Functioning, will be increasingly solicited by the epidemiology of disability and the imperatives of "ageing better". Its skills in prescribing human and material resources for rehabilitation provide added value in terms of loss of autonomy. Based on a biopsychosocial model, PRM has a high role to play in prevention and primary healthcare, as well as in the management and prevention of the consequences of functionally limiting diseases. There are, however, financial (pricing) and demographic (lack of representation) obstacles to effective action on behalf of the population and the healthcare system.

La médecine physique et de réadaptation (MPR), discipline indépendante, est peu connue en Suisse. Cette spécialité, liée à l'approche holistique de la classification internationale du fonctionnement, sera de plus en plus sollicitée par l'épidémiologie du handicap et les impératifs du « vieillir mieux ¼. Ses compétences de prescription des moyens humains et matériels en réadaptation apportent une plus-value sur la perte d'autonomie. Basée sur un modèle biopsychosocial, la MPR trouve sa place dans la prévention et les soins de santé primaires ainsi que dans la prise en charge et la prévention des conséquences des maladies induisant une limitation fonctionnelle. Il existe toutefois des obstacles financiers (tarification) et démographiques (insuffisance de représentation) pour une action efficace au service de la population et du système de santé.

A qualitative study of strategies to improve occupational well-being in physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians.

BACKGROUND: Physiatry is a specialty with high rates of burnout. Although organizational strategies to combat burnout are key, it is also important to understand strategies that individual physiatrists can use to address burnout. OBJECTIVE: To identify changes that resulted in improvement of occupational well-being of physiatrists over a 6- to 9-month period. DESIGN: We employed two quantitative surveys spaced 6 to 9 months apart to identify physiatrists who experienced meaningful improvement in occupational burnout and/or professional fulfillment between the two survey timepoints. These physiatrists were subsequently recruited to participate in a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews to identify changes that respondents felt contributed to improvements in burnout and professional fulfillment. SETTING: Online surveys and interviews. PARTICIPANTS: Physiatrists in the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) Membership Masterfile. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Burnout and professional fulfillment were assessed using the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index. RESULTS: One hundred twelve physiatrists responded to the baseline and follow-up surveys. Of these, 35 were eligible for interviews based on improvements in the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index, and 23 (64%) agreed to participate. Themes from the qualitative interviews highlighted the importance of personal lifestyle choices, approaches to improve professional satisfaction, and strategies to foster work-life harmony. Personal lifestyle strategies included investing in wellness and mental health. Efforts to improve professional satisfaction included decreasing work intensity, prioritizing meaningful aspects of work, and building relationships with colleagues. Fostering work-life harmony also included making trade-offs in both domains, setting boundaries at work, setting expectations at home, and overcoming personal challenges. CONCLUSION: Our findings illustrate that, in addition to organizational strategies demonstrated to be effective, there are actions that individual physiatrists can take to recover from burnout and foster professional fulfillment.

A Qualitative Study of Strategies to Improve Occupational Well-being in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians.

BACKGROUND: Physiatry is a specialty with high rates of burnout. Although organizational strategies to combat burnout are key, it is also important to understand strategies that individual physiatrists can use to address burnout. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to identify changes that resulted in improvement of occupational well-being of physiatrists over a 6- to 9-mo period. DESIGN: We employed two quantitative surveys spaced 6-9 mos apart to identify physiatrists who experienced meaningful improvement in occupational burnout and/or professional fulfillment between the two survey time points. These physiatrists were subsequently recruited to participate in a qualitative study using semistructured interviews to identify changes that respondents felt contributed to improvements in burnout and professional fulfillment. SETTING: Online surveys and interviews. PARTICIPANTS: Physiatrists in the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) Membership Masterfile. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Burnout and professional fulfillment were assessed using the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index. RESULTS: One hundred twelve physiatrists responded to the baseline and follow-up surveys. Of these, 35 were eligible for interviews based on improvements in the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index, and 23 (64%) agreed to participate. Themes from the qualitative interviews highlighted the importance of personal lifestyle choices, approaches to improve professional satisfaction, and strategies to foster work-life harmony. Personal lifestyle strategies included investing in wellness and mental health. Efforts to improve professional satisfaction included decreasing work intensity, prioritizing meaningful aspects of work, and building relationships with colleagues. Fostering work-life harmony also included making trade-offs in both domains, setting boundaries at work, setting expectations at home, and overcoming personal challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings illustrate that in addition to organizational strategies demonstrated to be effective, there are actions that individual physiatrists can take to recover from burnout and foster professional fulfillment.

AAPM&R consensus guidance on spasticity assessment and management.

BACKGROUND: The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) conducted a comprehensive review in 2021 to identify opportunities for enhancing the care of adult and pediatric patients with spasticity. A technical expert panel (TEP) was convened to develop consensus-based practice recommendations aimed at addressing gaps in spasticity care. OBJECTIVE: To develop consensus-based practice recommendations to identify and address gaps in spasticity care. METHODS: The Spasticity TEP engaged in a 16-month virtual meeting process, focusing on formulating search terms, refining research questions, and conducting a structured evidence review. Evidence quality was assessed by the AAPM&R Evidence, Quality and Performance Committee (EQPC), and a modified Delphi process was employed to achieve consensus on recommendation statements and evidence grading. The Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) guided the rating of individual studies and the strength of recommendations. RESULTS: The TEP approved five recommendations for spasticity management and five best practices for assessment and management, with one recommendation unable to be graded due to evidence limitations. Best practices were defined as widely accepted components of care, while recommendations required structured evidence reviews and grading. The consensus guidance statement represents current best practices and evidence-based treatment options, intended for use by PM&R physicians caring for patients with spasticity. CONCLUSION: This consensus guidance provides clinicians with practical recommendations for spasticity assessment and management based on the best available evidence and expert opinion. Clinical judgment should be exercised, and recommendations tailored to individual patient needs, preferences, and risk profiles. The accompanying table summarizes the best practice recommendations for spasticity assessment and management, reflecting principles with little controversy in care delivery.

Geographic Proximity of Medical Students to PM&R Residency Programs Is Associated With Increased Match Rates Into PM&R.

ABSTRACT: Despite the growing popularity of physical medicine and rehabilitation as a specialty among medical students, meaningful experiences and mentorship can be challenging to obtain and may significantly vary depending on opportunities available to interact with physiatrists. This study explores the association between the geographic proximity of physical medicine and rehabilitation residency programs to medical schools and the match rate of medical students into physical medicine and rehabilitation from 2019 to 2021. Data on US medical schools, graduates, and physical medicine and rehabilitation residency programs were collected from publicly available sources, and a sample of 1193 physical medicine and rehabilitation residents from US medical schools was analyzed using a one-sample proportion test. The proportion of physical medicine and rehabilitation residents originating from medical schools with physical medicine and rehabilitation residency programs in the same metropolitan area was significantly greater than the corresponding proportion of expected residents based on medical school graduates, even when controlling for medical school affiliations with physical medicine and rehabilitation residency programs. These findings suggest that exposure and opportunities provided by physical medicine and rehabilitation residency programs may influence nearby medical students and that expanding residency programs into geographic regions without existing physical medicine and rehabilitation programs may foster interest and promote growth in the field of physiatry.

Frailty recommendations and guidelines: an evaluation of the implementability and a critical appraisal of clinical applicability by the ISPRM Frailty Focus Group.

INTRODUCTION: Aging is associated with an increased burden of multi-morbidity and disease related functional loss and disability, widely impacting patients and health care systems. Frailty is a major actor in age-related disability and is an important target for rehabilitation interventions, considering that is a reversible condition. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A working group of members of the ISPRM, responding to WHO 2030 call for action to strengthen rehabilitation, was established to assess the quality and implementability of the existing guidelines for the rehabilitation of frailty. Guidelines were retrieved using a systematic search on Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science and from the reference lists of screened articles. The included guidelines were evaluated using the AGREE II to assess their quality and using the AGREE-REX to assess their clinical credibility and implementability. Guidelines with a score >4 in the AGREE II item evaluating the overall quality of the guideline were considered for endorsement. Finally, nine external reviewers evaluated the applicability of each recommendation from the endorsed guidelines, providing comments about the barriers and facilitators for their implementation in their country. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Ten guidelines were retrieved and evaluated by the working group, of which four guidelines, i.e. the WHO Guidelines on Integrated Care for Older People, the FOCUS guidelines, the Asia-Pacific Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Frailty and the ICFSR International Clinical Practice Guidelines for Identification and Management of Frailty, were considered for endorsement. All these guidelines were rated as of adequate quality and implementability. CONCLUSIONS: The WHO Guidelines on Integrated Care for Older people (24) the ICFSR International Clinical Practice Guidelines for Identification and management of Frailty (15), the FOCUS guidelines (25) and the Asia Pacific Clinical Practice Guidelines (14) for the Management of Frailty have the best quality and applicability of the existing guidelines on the management of frailty, we suggest that should be employed to define the standards of care for patients with frailty. There are barriers for their implementation, as stated by our experts, to take into account, and some of them are country- or region-specific. Screening for frailty, exercise, nutrition, pharmacological management, social and psychological support, management of incontinence, and an overall comprehensive clinical management are the best tools to face upon frailty.