Abstract.[Purpose] This review aimed: (1) to obtain all the facts regarding existing goal-setting methods in physical therapy; (2) to clarify the application status of the methods for stroke patients; and (3) to put forth a suggestion for the development of a format prepared by collaboration between stroke patients and physical therapists.[Methods] A systematic search was performed to identify the existing goal-setting methods and to obtain the relevant literature. We reviewed a total of 165 reports. [Results] We identified 8 types of goal-setting methods: Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS), the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), goal forum intervention, and others. GAS was evaluated for its validity, reliability, and sensitivity for physically disabled children and the elderly, but there were no reports on the applicability of GAS to stroke patients. The COPM, which is a subjective measurement method using self-reporting, was evaluated for validity, reliability, and sensitivity for occupational therapy patients and physically disabled children. The goal forum intervention is a goal-setting method involving the collaboration of patients and physical therapists with the use of a check-list, but this method was developed for rheumatoid arthritis patients. [Conclusion] We recommend further studies on the development of a goal-setting method using a checklist for stroke patients and the evaluation of the validity and reliability of GAS for stroke patients.

The purpose of this study was to examine differences between stroke outpatients and physical therapists in terms of understanding the goals of physical therapy. In this study, sixty physical therapy goal items and the Q-technique (factor analysis) were used. Twenty-nine pairs of stroke outpatients and physical therapists participated in this study. The results indicated the following: 1) most stroke outpatients believed that improvements in the movement functions and gait functions were their own physical therapy goals; 2) most physical therapists believed that improvements in the gait functions were goals for convalescent stroke outpatients, and that realizing a community and social life were goals for chronic stroke outpatients; and 3) therefore, there were differences between stroke outpatients and physical therapists understanding of the goals of physical therapy. These results suggest that stroke outpatients and physical therapists need a system for involving patients in the establishment of physical therapy goals.

ABSTRACT:The purpose of this study was to establish physical therapy goal items for stroke outpatients. First, rehabilitation medicine goal items for stroke outpatients were established by medical doctors (n=3), physical therapists (n=5), occupational therapists (n=4), nurses (n=2) and others (n=4). Then, physical therapy goals were selected from the rehabilitation medicine goal items by the five physical therapists. Next, other physical therapy goal items were added by five patients and references in the literature. Following that, a number of these items were grouped together. These items were close in meaning. Sixty physical therapy goal items for stroke outpatients were established as a result of the above processes. Lastly, a preliminary study was carried out using these sixty physical therapy goal items. This study confirmed that these items were useful for further studies.