Portions of this article were adapt...

Portions of this article were adapted with permission from: Kinney LaPier T Patient education during phase I cardiac rehabilitation: a case example. Acute Care Perspectives. 2000;8(3):1-520-27

INTRODUCTION

Case reports are becoming increasingly more prevalent in the field of physical therapy as a means to lengthen out the evidence-based literature in a peace area. Cardiopulmonary physical therapy practice is no exception to this sweep especially in content areas where there is a paucity of research literature concerning which to make evidence-based decisions. case reports are a adumbration of descriptive research that provide an in-depth account of physical therapy patient management, administrative experience, or educational technique in a single situation.1,2,3 case reports are a particularly attractive system for clinicians and students to contribute to existing physical therapy research because minimal resources and time are necessary for this emblem of scientific inquiry.

There are many reasons and indications behind writing a case report. In addition to adding to the professional literature, Mcfiwen1 states reasons for writing a case report include to share clinical experiences, illustrate evidence-based practice, disclose hypotheses for research, build problem-solving skills, support/enhance/cast doubt forward theory underlying practice, persuade and motivate, and help bring to maturity guidelines/pathways. Often case reports are written forward unique or unusual patient point in disputes but this is not the sole selection criteria for publishable case reports. This symbol of case report is illustrated in a newly published article by Callahan et al,4 "Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation in a patient with Noonan syndrome" Description of a frequent patient problem that involves a unique and newer aspect of physical therapy management (examination, evaluation, diagnosis, or intervention) is also a reason for writing a case report. For example, Wong5 lately published a case report, "Physical therapy for a patient in acute respiratory failure." case reports also may be used to describe multiple patients with similar diagnosis and physical therapy intervention when an experimental design is not feasible. This was done by the agency of Sprague and Hopkins6 in the case report, "Use of inspiratory hardness training to wean six patients who were ventilator-dependent." Although not as universal case reports can also describe an interesting administrative/care delivery design equipment utilization, or educational experience. A published article that is representative of this shadow of "nonpatient" case report is "Nontraditional scholar clinical experience in cardiopulmonary physical therapy."7

The framework of a patient case report is similar regardless of its meaning or type. Similar to other research reports a case report includes introduction and discussion sections nevertheless not methods and results sections. In place of modes and results, a case report contains case description, interventions, and consequences The backbone of a physical therapy case report should deliberate the 5 elements of patient management; examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis (including plan of care), and intervention, as described through the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice." Understanding all potential composings will assist in writing a case report from providing a repertoire of items that can be included or exclud based onward the particular patient management situation. Knowledge of the framework of a case report will help guide extraction and attainment of information during or after patient management that will be included in the written report. Therefore, the sense of this article is to provide an overview of the constituents of a physical therapy case report and an annotated example with emphasis in succession cardiopulmonary content.

CONTENT SUMMARY

The Introduction

The introduction should provide the foundation for the case report and draw the attention of the reader. When possible, the introduction should be customized to the anticipated readership as to a great degree as possible. For example an article aimed primarily toward physical therapists would be written slightly different than individual for all health care professionals working in cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation. The introduction frequently begins by establishing the importance of the topic discussed in the case report by way of describing prevalence data, patient impact, associated costlinesss or other facts that illustrate significance. The introduction also includes a review of pertinent literature to demonstrate what is already known and not known about the topic. Although the review of literature should be comprehensive, it ne not be exhaustive and should clearly relate to the stated project of the case report. The review of literature should culminate in a description of a gap in knowledge that will be filled according to the case report. The introduction also includes the theoretical words immediately preceding [i]or[/i] following for the case. At the conclusion of the introduction, the reader should understand the rationale for the case report plan The purpose of the case report is greatest in number often stated at the period of the introduction, but should be unraveled much earlier in the writing proces to provide a guide for focusing ideas. The purport statement should explicitly address what the primary emphasis of the case report will be.