Abstract
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of physical therapists’ ways of communicating to motivate patients. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 37 inpatients (17 males, 20 females, aged 69.9 ± 12.6). We investigated and compared the effects of positive phrases with those of negative phrases, by survey, in the three situations: using the toilet, walking, and experience of pain. [Results] The results suggest that positive phrases used in the three situations were effective at increasing patients’ motivation, whereas negative phrases were not. [Conclusion] Physical therapists who encouraged patients with positive phrases effectively increased their motivation.
