To avoid bias when describing a patient's functional goals, which approach is recommended?

• A. Use general goals like 'improve function'
• B. Use specific, measurable, patient-centered goals (e.g., walk 100 meters with a cane)
• C. Focus on deficits
• D. Rely on clinician-imposed milestones

Answer: (B)

Using specific, measurable, patient-centered goals aligns the plan with what matters to the person receiving therapy and makes progress observable, which reduces bias. When goals are specific and measurable—such as the patient walking 100 meters with a cane—they reflect the patient’s own priorities and provide a clear target to work toward and track over time. This shared, concrete focus helps ensure that progress is evaluated against outcomes that matter to the patient, rather than against vague or clinician-driven expectations.

General goals like “improve function” are vague and open to interpretation, which invites the clinician’s own assumptions to shape the plan. Focusing on deficits centers attention on what the clinician perceives as lacking, potentially overlooking the patient’s strengths and priorities. Relying on clinician-imposed milestones shifts control away from the patient and can bias the goals toward what the clinician thinks is appropriate rather than what the patient values and can realistically achieve.

By contrast, patient-centered, specific, and measurable goals invite collaboration, support meaningful engagement, and provide clear criteria for success, such as “walk 100 meters with a cane.”