{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,26]],"date-time":"2025-09-26T13:15:58Z","timestamp":1758892558932,"version":"3.37.3"},"reference-count":22,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,14]],"date-time":"2023-09-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1694649600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100011698","name":"Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Charitable Trust","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["PRF\/19\/A18"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PRF\/19\/A18"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100011698","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n<jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Cauda Equina Syndrome is a serious spinal pathology, which can have life changing physical and psychological consequences and is highly litigious. Litigation can have negative personal and professional effects on the healthcare professionals cited in a clinical negligence claim. There is an absence of research looking at the experience of the physiotherapist and as such, it is unknown the impact litigation is having on them. This study explored the lived experiences of UK physiotherapists in relation to Cauda Equina Syndrome litigation.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n<jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>A qualitative design, informed by Gadamerian hermeneutic phenomenology, using semi-structured interviews was used to explore participants\u2019 lived experiences of litigation. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Findings were analysed using an inductive thematic analysis framework. Nvivo software was used to facilitate analysis. The study is reported in accordance with the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative (COREQ) research.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n<jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>40 interviews took place online or over the phone, with physiotherapists and stakeholders. Four themes were found; \u2018litigation effects\u2019, \u2018it feels personal\u2019, \u2018learning from litigation\u2019 and \u2018support and training\u2019.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n<jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>This is the first study to investigate the lived experiences of litigation in UK physiotherapists. Involvement in clinical negligence affected physiotherapists\u2019 physical and mental wellbeing and impacted their clinical practice. Most physiotherapists felt litigation was a personal attack on them and their ability to do their job. Physiotherapists highlighted perceptions of a \u2018blame culture\u2019 and perceived stigma associated with the claim, which often led to a lack of sharing and learning from litigation. Physiotherapists emphasised the need for emotional support for those going through a legal claim and that training was needed to understand the process of litigation and range of potential outcomes.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0290882","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,14]],"date-time":"2023-09-14T17:27:03Z","timestamp":1694712423000},"page":"e0290882","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["The lived experiences of UK physiotherapists involved in Cauda Equina Syndrome litigation. A qualitative study"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3872-9799","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Gillian","family":"Yeowell","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Rachel","family":"Leech","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Susan","family":"Greenhalgh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Emma","family":"Willis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"James","family":"Selfe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,14]]},"reference":[{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0290882.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"832","DOI":"10.3171\/2019.12.SPINE19839","article-title":"What is the incidence of cauda equina syndrome? A systematic review","volume":"32","author":"I Hoeritzauer","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Neurosurg Spine"},{"journal-title":"National Suspected Cauda Equina Syndrome Pathway","year":"2023","author":"GIRFT","key":"pone.0290882.ref002"},{"key":"pone.0290882.ref003","article-title":"Did you know?","author":"NHS Resolution","year":"2020","journal-title":"Cauda equina syndrome."},{"key":"pone.0290882.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"339","DOI":"10.1007\/s11999-008-0636-2","article-title":"An introduction to medical malpractice in the United States","volume":"467","author":"BS Bal","year":"2009","journal-title":"Clinical orthopaedics and related research"},{"key":"pone.0290882.ref005","article-title":"NHS litigation reform. House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee. HC 740","author":"J. Hunt","year":"2022","journal-title":"UK Parliament"},{"journal-title":"A Roadmap to Practice.","article-title":"Health Education England. First Contact Practitioners and Advanced Practitioners in Primary Care: (Musculoskeletal)","year":"2021","key":"pone.0290882.ref006"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0290882.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"457","DOI":"10.1002\/msc.1550","article-title":"A scoping review protocol: investigating the extent and legal process of cauda equina syndrome claims for UK physiotherapists.","volume":"19","author":"RL Leech","year":"2021","journal-title":"Musculoskeletal Care."},{"issue":"7","key":"pone.0290882.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e060023","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2021-060023","article-title":"Medico-legal litigation of UK physiotherapists in relation to cauda equina syndrome: a multimethods study","volume":"12","author":"G Yeowell","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMJ open"},{"key":"pone.0290882.ref009","article-title":"For Second Victims\u2013\u201cTo err is human","author":"Second Victim Support (SVS).","year":"2021","journal-title":"Andrew Pope."},{"key":"pone.0290882.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1016\/j.midw.2015.10.005","article-title":"An exploration of the effects of clinical negligence litigation on the practice of midwives in England: A phenomenological study.","volume":"33","author":"JH Robertson","year":"2016","journal-title":"Midwifery."},{"key":"pone.0290882.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102558","DOI":"10.1016\/j.msksp.2022.102558","article-title":"Defensive medicine: A symptom of uncertainty?","volume":"60","author":"LM Finucane","year":"2022","journal-title":"Musculoskeletal Science and Practice"},{"key":"pone.0290882.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"593","DOI":"10.2147\/AMEP.S185912","article-title":"Second victims in health care: current perspectives.","volume":"12","author":"O Ozeke","year":"2019","journal-title":"Advances in Medical Education and Practice."},{"key":"pone.0290882.ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/1472-6939-14-42","article-title":"The practice of defensive medicine among hospital doctors in the United Kingdom.","volume":"14","author":"O Ortashi","year":"2013","journal-title":"BMC medical ethics."},{"article-title":"Learning from Litigation Claims: The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) and NHS Resolution best practice guide for clinicians and managers.","year":"2021","author":"J Machin","key":"pone.0290882.ref014"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0290882.ref015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"349","DOI":"10.1093\/intqhc\/mzm042","article-title":"Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups.","volume":"19","author":"A Tong","year":"2007","journal-title":"International journal for quality in health care"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0290882.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1177\/160940690300200303","article-title":"Hermeneutic phenomenology and phenomenology: A comparison of historical and methodological considerations.","volume":"2","author":"SM Laverty","year":"2003","journal-title":"International journal of qualitative methods"},{"key":"pone.0290882.ref017","article-title":"Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches.","author":"JW Creswell","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sage publications"},{"key":"pone.0290882.ref018","first-page":"1","article-title":"Successful qualitative research: A practical guide for beginners.","author":"V Clarke","year":"2013","journal-title":"Successful qualitative research."},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0290882.ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e121","DOI":"10.1016\/j.midw.2013.12.003","article-title":"A phenomenological study of the effects of clinical negligence litigation on midwives in England: The personal perspective.","volume":"30","author":"JH Robertson","year":"2014","journal-title":"Midwifery."},{"key":"pone.0290882.ref020","article-title":"Support for physiotherapy staff involved in patient safety incidents.","volume":"12","author":"Chartered Society of Physiotherapy","year":"2021","journal-title":"Frontline"},{"key":"pone.0290882.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"245","DOI":"10.1007\/s10111-009-0130-y","article-title":"Blame culture and defensive medicine","volume":"11","author":"M. Catino","year":"2009","journal-title":"Cognition, Technology & Work"},{"journal-title":"National patient safety syllabus 2.0: Training for every member of staff across the NHS","article-title":"Academy of Medical Royal Colleges","author":"P Spurgeon","key":"pone.0290882.ref022"}],"container-title":["PLOS ONE"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0290882","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,14]],"date-time":"2023-09-14T17:27:20Z","timestamp":1694712440000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0290882"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Shabnam","family":"ShahAli","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"editor","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,14]]},"references-count":22,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,14]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0290882","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"1932-6203"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,14]]}}}