A physiotherapist’s Guide To Challenges
ABSTRACT
In the course of providing patient care, challenging situations arise. This guide describes expectations of physiotherapists in managing challenging situations that arise with patients, a patient’s partner or family member or other health professional when providing patient care. The guide is a supplement to practice standards, code of ethics and other resources on the general ethics in patient management. In this article, efforts were made to identify reason(s) why challenging situations develop, responsibilities and expectations of the physiotherapist in such circumstances, and strategies for managing the situations.

In the course of providing patient care, challenging situations arise. For the purpose of this guide, a challenging situation is a situation that may interfere with a physiotherapist’s ability to deliver quality care culminating in achieving positive physiotherapy outcomes.
Many challenging situations involve interpersonal issues that arise in the healthcare system due to a variety of factors including the availability of resources, personal expectations and other environmental or contextual factors. Behaviour of professionals and/or patients and the healthcare setting where treatment is delivered or the service delivery model can all contribute to creating challenging situations. Regardless of the cause, physiotherapists are expected to manage each situation in a manner that promotes safe and respectful patient-centered care. This guide discusses:
+ Why challenging situations develop.+ Responsibilities and expectations of physiotherapists.+ Strategies for managing challenging situations.
The guide also provides supplementary information to assist with understanding and managing challenging situations and conflict.
Why Challenging Situations Develop
Most challenging situations develop between a