Goal-setting in rehabilitation: report of a workshop to explore professionals' perceptions of goal-setting

Objective: To explore the views of therapists, nurses and doctors working i n a variety of rehabilitation settings on the goal-setting process. Methods: Sixteen rehabilitation staff from three different settings attende d a goal-setting workshop in which the difficulties associated with goal-se tting were described with their potential solutions. Results: Five difficulties with goal-setting were identified. (1) Formal go al-setting was felt to be an activity unusual for many of the patients alth ough intrinsic to the activity of many professional groups. (2) Goal-settin g is often insensitive to people's roles in the community. (3) Goal-setting in the hospital environment does not transfer easily to the community. (4) External factors (e.g. staff turnover) over which staff felt they had litt le control were important in the success of a goal-setting programme. (5) G oals tend to be formulated and owned by the team, rather than the patient. Conclusions: Goal-setting is a very satisfactory activity for the team but to be as successful for the patient their needs must be acknowledged. Peopl e with mild disability and a short inpatient stay have different needs to t hose with acute onset severe permanent disability and those with chronic or progressive disability admitted from the community. Comparison of both pro cess and outcome effects of different types of goal-setting is an area for future study.