Patient’s Perspective on Influencing Factors on Goal Fulfilment in Treatment of Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders: A Thematic and Text Mining Study

Abstract

Background: Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders (SSRD) have a negative influence on the quality of life. The preferred treatment, cognitive behavioural therapy, is limited in achieving symptom reduction. Understand influencing factors on treatment goal fulfilment can improve treatment. Objective: This study aims to contribute a comprehensive overview of influencing factors from the perspective of patients. Goal fulfilment literature is evaluated and the clinicians’ perspective is compared. In clinical application, these factors can support shared decision making, optimise customised treatment and ultimately increase treatment effects for patients with SSRD. Method: Following Delphi procedure, 154 individual influencing factors are provided by patients (N = 12) and a card sorting task is fulfilled by patients (N = 2). Thematic analysis is applied on the sorted categories. Text mining analysis triangulates the method, selecting keywords from the statements. Results: Thirteen categories are specified in the card sorting task, sorted further into four themes: The treatment, therapist, social context and the client’s situation. Through text mining twelve regularly recurring words emerged, highlighting three keywords: health care, environment and therapist (frequency ≥ 14). Conclusion: The findings point out different areas to be cautious of during treatment. The findings comply goal striving theory. Multiple differences are brought to light with the clinicians’ perspective such as more awareness of the practical side of treatment and a nuance in the responsibility for treatment goal achievement. The constructed overview can form a base for further research to improve SSRD treatment.