"I need someone to keep an eye on me:" the power of attention in patient-practitioner interactions.

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to illuminate the importance of patient care and to explicate the impact of attention on my recovery from bilateral knee replacement surgery and a subsequent revision. The paper uses vignettes to illustrate attention in patient-practitioner interaction. Attention is a precursor to understanding the patient as a unique individual and the problems the patient brings to the therapy experience. The capacity of practitioners to attend to their patients has an impact on patient satisfaction and recovery. Implications for Rehabilitation Attention is the precursor to establishing positive therapeutic alliances with patients. It is essential to attend to the patient as a person with unique experiences, perspectives, and attitudes and to modify treatment based on the person's priorities and desires. Practitioners need to develop the interaction skills necessary to understand their patients as unique individuals.