BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Balint group training (BGT) is a method widely used for enhancing understanding of the relationship and communication between health professionals and their patients. Participants meet in small groups, on a regular basis, with a tutor to discuss their experiences of problem cases. The method was originally developed in the 1950s for enhancing understanding of the doctor-patient relationship. Few studies have focused on BGT and physiotherapists. The aim of the present study was to describe and analyse physiotherapists' experiences of participation in BGT as a means of learning and understanding the physiotherapist-patient relationship. METHOD: Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with three physiotherapists working in private practice, all participating in BGT. The interviews were transcribed and subjected to a qualitative analysis. RESULTS: The results are presented in a sequential model, featuring eight themes in which the physiotherapists' experiences of the training process are portrayed. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that BGT and sharing the experiences of others may be considered a way of enhancing understanding of the patient encounter in clinical practice, possibly to the benefit of physiotherapists and their patients.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Balint group training (BGT) is a method widely used for enhancing understanding of the relationship and communication between health professionals and their patients. Participants meet in small groups, on a regular basis, with a tutor to discuss their experiences of problem cases. The method was originally developed in the 1950s for enhancing understanding of the doctor-patient relationship. Few studies have focused on BGT and physiotherapists. The aim of the present study was to describe and analyse physiotherapists' experiences of participation in BGT as a means of learning and understanding the physiotherapist-patient relationship. METHOD: Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with three physiotherapists working in private practice, all participating in BGT. The interviews were transcribed and subjected to a qualitative analysis. RESULTS: The results are presented in a sequential model, featuring eight themes in which the physiotherapists' experiences of the training process are portrayed. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that BGT and sharing the experiences of others may be considered a way of enhancing understanding of the patient encounter in clinical practice, possibly to the benefit of physiotherapists and their patients.