Intervention, Treatment, and Management
Core concepts
Intervention requires goal setting (patient-centred, measurable, time-bound - SMART), evidence-informed selection, safe application, and monitoring for response and adverse effects. Know contraindications and precautions, dose and progression principles (e.g., overload and recovery in rehabilitation), outcome measures, and modification criteria.
Understand multimodal management, patient education and adherence, self-management support, and escalation triggers. Document baseline, intervention, response, and plan. Recognise when to stop, modify, or refer.
Traps in questions
- Contraindication vs. precaution: a contraindication means do not proceed; a precaution means proceed with modification and monitoring.
- "More is better" fallacy: progression must respect tissue healing and recovery; overloading causes harm.
- Outcome measures: choose validated, condition-appropriate tools and re-measure to show change.
- Adherence: blaming the patient is rarely the right answer; explore barriers and simplify.
Rule of thumb
"Baseline, intervene, re-measure, document." If you cannot show change against a baseline, you cannot justify continuation.
Worked example
A patient's pain and function are measured before an exercise programme. After four weeks, the score is unchanged and pain has increased. The correct action is to reassess, modify the plan, and consider referral - not simply to increase intensity.