Physiotherapy最新文献

{"title":"A qualitative study exploring influencers on metropolitan and regional physiotherapy practice in prostate cancer","authors":"Alesha M. Sayner ,&nbsp;Clarice Y. Tang ,&nbsp;Kellie Toohey ,&nbsp;Chennelle Mendoza ,&nbsp;Irmina Nahon","doi":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101811","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101811","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Physiotherapists play a crucial role in managing symptoms that can arise from treatments for prostate cancer. Despite the benefits, limited evidence exists on physiotherapists’ self-perceived capabilities, enablers, and barriers in service provision. This qualitative study employed a phenomenological approach to explore the experiences of physiotherapists providing supportive care to patients with prostate cancer in metropolitan and regional Victoria, Australia. Two online focus groups were conducted, one with metropolitan and the other with regional physiotherapists. Reflexive thematic analysis identified three key themes: 1) the need for accessible professional development, 2) the impact of public system operational constraints on service access, and 3) the importance of rapport building within the multidisciplinary team and with patients. Positive enablers included online learning opportunities and effective multidisciplinary collaboration. Recommendations highlight the importance of bolstering professional development opportunities, fostering mentorship programs, and dismantling systemic barriers to enhance access to physiotherapy services. This study identifies the necessity for targeted support for physiotherapists in delivering optimal care for patients with prostate cancer across different geographical contexts.</div></div><div><h3>Contribution of the Paper</h3><div><ul><li><span>•</span><span><div>This study provides valuable insights into the experiences of physiotherapists providing supportive care to people with prostate cancer (PCa).</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>It highlights critical areas requiring attention, such as enhancing professional development, the constraints of systems operations, the value of multi-disciplinary collaboration and unique challenges faced by regionally located physiotherapists.</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Addressing these challenges will enhance the ability to provide accessible and evidence-based care to patients with PCa, ultimately improving treatment outcomes and quality of life.</div></span></li></ul></div></div>","PeriodicalId":54608,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy","volume":"129 ","pages":"Article 101811"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144921055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Normal saline instillation before suctioning and respiratory physiotherapy: moving the evidence base forward","authors":"George Ntoumenopoulos","doi":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101809","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101809","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54608,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy","volume":"129 ","pages":"Article 101809"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144889503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Work related well-being in the UK physiotherapy workforce: Part 2. Documentary analyses of the qualitative data from the YOURvieWS cross-sectional e-survey","authors":"C.J. Minns Lowe ,&nbsp;M. Donovan ,&nbsp;A. Herbland ,&nbsp;A. Moulson","doi":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101805","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101805","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To explore and understand the replies to the quantitative findings (Part 1) from the work related well-being e-survey, provide greater depth information about the topic and identify new issues/areas from respondents in Part 2 of this two part paper.</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>Cross-sectional, convenience, voluntary, open e-survey.</div></div><div><h3>Setting</h3><div>Online.</div></div><div><h3>Participants</h3><div>UK physiotherapy workforce, including physiotherapists, students, support workers across all workplace settings and across the UK.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Following development, pre-testing and ethics approval, the e-survey was widely advertised and ran from 08/03/2023 to 30/04/2023 via Bristol Online Survey. The open comments question in the e-survey was: ‘We are keen to hear your views, please type up to three key factors that you think impact most upon work-related well-being within physiotherapy’.</div></div><div><h3>Analyses</h3><div>Open comments analyses using content analysis to interpret meaning from the content of text data.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>612 respondents provided 1649 overall comments to. One overarching theme and three subthemes incorporating seventeen factors were developed from 138 initial codes. The overarching theme was moral distress and moral injury reducing work related well-being (WRWB) within the physiotherapy workforce. Subthemes were 1. Impact on me. 2. ‘You aren’t able to do your job properly’. 3. Management and support. Subthemes and factors fitted within the overarching theme.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Moral distress and injury explained the quantitative findings (Part 1) regarding poor work-related well-being, burnout and stress within the physiotherapy workforce. Moral injury is the consequence of organisational processes and broken health care systems, strategies to improve WRWB across all UK physiotherapy settings are urgently required.</div></div><div><h3>Contribution of the Paper</h3><div><ul><li><span>•</span><span><div>Provides evidence of worrying levels of moral distress and moral injury experienced by responding members of the physiotherapy workforce.</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Highlights the distress for members of the physiotherapy workforce and the impact upon patient care when organisations and health systems are not working well.</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Evidences a clear call for action.</div></span></li></ul></div></div>","PeriodicalId":54608,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy","volume":"129 ","pages":"Article 101805"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144979063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring physiotherapist experiences and beliefs about psychologically informed practice to inform development of a training programme","authors":"Diarmuid Denneny ,&nbsp;Rebecca McLoughlin ,&nbsp;Francis J. Keefe ,&nbsp;Christine Price ,&nbsp;Jackie Walumbe ,&nbsp;Claire Copland ,&nbsp;Anna Mathieson ,&nbsp;Tim David Noblet","doi":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101808","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101808","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To explore physiotherapists' experiences, beliefs, and opinions about psychologically informed practice (PIP) in order to design a training programme for non-psychologist clinicians to enhance their PIP skills.</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>This study adopted an interpretive description qualitative methodology using focus groups and consistent with the aim of generating knowledge relevant to applied health and to inform the design of a training programme.</div></div><div><h3>Participants</h3><div>Phase one included musculoskeletal physiotherapists (n=18) who were purposively sampled to take part in two focus groups. A third focus group consisted of pain specialist physiotherapists (n=6) recruited from a specialist network in the UK called the Physiotherapy Pain Association (PPA) to explore further topics identified in phase one and to inform training development.</div></div><div><h3>Data analysis and synthesis</h3><div>Qualitative content analysis was used as a framework for data analysis and consisted of subjective interpretation of textual data through a systematic classification process of coding and identifying themes or patterns.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Three interconnected themes that provide insights into the perceptions and experiences of physiotherapists concerning PIP were constructed: 1) Professional Roles and External Influences on PIP, 2) Interpersonal Aspects of PIP, and 3) Support Needs to Enhance PIP Application.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The findings provide an understanding of the multifaceted nature of PIP and its impact within healthcare settings. They will inform development of training to address gaps and provide practical strategies for enhancing PIP for non-psychologists.</div></div><div><h3>Contribution of the paper</h3><div><ul><li><span>•</span><span><div>Our findings concur with existing literature regarding application of psychologically informed practice; that physiotherapists recognise that there are challenges in applying knowledge and skills relating to psychologically informed practice.</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>With increasing complexity and numbers of people living with multiple long-term conditions it is important for physiotherapists to increase their confidence in order to ensure they are considering the psycho-social aspects of care for this population.</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>A desire for training in psychologically informed practice was expressed and in addition supervision and mentorship was recognised as essential in supporting clinicians to embed skills and increase confidence.</div></span></li></ul></div></div>","PeriodicalId":54608,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy","volume":"129 ","pages":"Article 101808"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144890669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Are beliefs about low back pain associated with central sensitization inventory in patients with low back pain? A cross-sectional study","authors":"Larissa Bragança Falcão Marques ,&nbsp;Leandro Martins Diniz ,&nbsp;Leandro Alberto Calazans Nogueira ,&nbsp;Marcia R. Franco ,&nbsp;Julia Beatriz Rodrigues ,&nbsp;Bruna Christinna Marques Santana ,&nbsp;Lucas Rodrigues Arruda ,&nbsp;Lucas André Costa Ferreira ,&nbsp;Ana Flávia Guimarães ,&nbsp;James H. McAuley ,&nbsp;Rafael Zambelli Pinto","doi":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101803","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101803","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The Central Sensitization Inventory is a tool used to identify patients with central sensitization (CS) symptoms. The Central Sensitization Inventory has shown to be associated with psychosocial and cognitive factors commonly thought to contribute to and sustain the mechanism of central sensitization. Another potential factor that might play a role in central sensitization is beliefs about low back pain (LBP).</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To investigate whether beliefs about LBP are associated with Central Sensitization Inventory in patients with chronic LBP.</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>A cross-sectional study.</div></div><div><h3>Participants</h3><div>119 patients with nonspecific chronic LBP seeking physical therapy care in outpatient clinics.</div></div><div><h3>Main outcome measures</h3><div>Demographic data and clinical characteristics such as pain intensity, disability, back pain beliefs (i.e., measured with Back Beliefs Questionnaire) and CS-related symptoms (i.e., measured with Central Sensitization Inventory) were collected. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used in the analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Most participants (60%) were classified as having subclinical or mild severity levels according to the Central Sensitization Inventory. Multivariable regression analysis showed that LBP beliefs not aligned with the current evidence were associated with higher scores of Central Sensitization Inventory, after controlling for sex, pain intensity and disability.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Patients with LBP beliefs not aligned with the current evidence were more likely to present with higher scores on the Central Sensitization Inventory.</div></div><div><h3>Contribution of the Paper</h3><div><ul><li><span>•</span><span><div>Beliefs about LBP might also be considered a construct correlated with the Central Sensitization Inventory.</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Patients with chronic LBP and higher scores on the Central Sensitization Inventory are more likely to present negative beliefs about LBP.</div></span></li></ul></div></div>","PeriodicalId":54608,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy","volume":"129 ","pages":"Article 101803"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144878447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diagnosis and management of shoulder pain by New Zealand physiotherapists: a national survey","authors":"Brooke Craig ,&nbsp;Romi Haas ,&nbsp;Rachelle Buchbinder ,&nbsp;Daniel Cury Ribeiro","doi":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101807","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101807","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Physiotherapists commonly manage patients with shoulder disorders. The primary aims of this study were to (1) determine current assessment and management of patients with shoulder disorders by physiotherapists in New Zealand and compare it to evidence-based recommendations; and (2) assess their confidence in making a diagnosis.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We performed a cross-sectional online survey of New Zealand registered physiotherapists who self-report that they treat patients with shoulder disorders. The survey was distributed electronically via professional physiotherapy networks and social media. Physiotherapists were asked about four common shoulder disorders (rotator cuff tendinopathy, acute rotator cuff tear, early and later presentation of adhesive capsulitis) presented as vignettes.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>234 physiotherapists completed the survey. Most (78%) work in private practice and 73% have a shoulder caseload of <span><math><mo>≥</mo></math></span>5 patients per week. Participants commonly included physical examination of shoulder and cervical joints. Investigations and referral to other healthcare professionals varied between vignettes. Advice, education about exercise, manual therapy and activity/work modification were the most prevalent interventions. Electrotherapy was a common intervention for rotator cuff tendinopathy. Most physiotherapists were moderately or extremely confident in their diagnosis across all vignettes. There was no difference in correct diagnosis between physiotherapists with a high versus low shoulder caseload for 3 vignettes, with a slight difference favouring those with a high shoulder caseload for acute rotator cuff tear (90% vs 80%, Fisher's <em>p</em> = 0.047).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Physiotherapists self-reported management of patients with shoulder disorders partially accord with evidence-based recommendations. They have confidence in their diagnoses which are mostly correct.</div></div><div><h3>Contribution of the Paper</h3><div><ul><li><span>•</span><span><div>Physiotherapists in New Zealand managed patients with shoulder disorders partially accord with evidence-based recommendations.</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Physiotherapists in New Zealand have confidence in their diagnoses, which are mostly correct.</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>For 3 out of 4 clinical vignettes, we found no differences in correct diagnosis between participants with low and high shoulder caseload.</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>A greater proportion of clinicians with low shoulder caseload would request MRI for a clinical vignette describing an early presentation of adhesive capsulitis.</div></span></li></ul></div></div>","PeriodicalId":54608,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy","volume":"129 ","pages":"Article 101807"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144890668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Work related well-being in the UK physiotherapy workforce: Part I. Quantitative findings from the YOURvieWS cross-sectional e-survey","authors":"C.J. Minns Lowe ,&nbsp;M. Newman ,&nbsp;A. Herbland ,&nbsp;N. Heneghan ,&nbsp;A. Moulson ,&nbsp;N. Owusu ,&nbsp;K. Beeton","doi":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101806","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101806","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To explore burnout, professional fulfilment, work related stress, well-being and working patterns within the physiotherapy workforce.</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>A cross-sectional, convenience, voluntary, open e-survey.</div></div><div><h3>Setting</h3><div>Online.</div></div><div><h3>Participants</h3><div>UK physiotherapy workforce, including physiotherapists, students, support workers across all workplace settings and across the UK.</div></div><div><h3>Intervention</h3><div>Following development and pre-testing, the e-survey was widely advertised and ran from 08/03/2023 to 30/04/2023 via Bristol Online Survey.</div></div><div><h3>Main outcome measures</h3><div>Stanford Professional Fulfilment Index (SPFI), a score for work related and private life related stress, work-life balance, WHO 5 well-being questionnaire and questions to capture working patterns, diversity and inclusivity questions and demographic data.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Following data cleaning, 666/764 (87%) female and 92/764 (12%)male respondents. SPFI: burnout prevalence was 49%(376/764). 436/564 respondents (57%) reported feeling stressed “often” or “very often” (past month). WHO 5 scores had a median of 45 (IQR: 30–60) indicating many have score ≤50 indicating poor wellbeing. 45%(340/764) respondents reported their work-life balance over the previous 2 weeks as unbalanced/very unbalanced.</div><div>57%(435/764) reported that they worked full time and 43%(329/764) part-time. 78%(598/764) reported having one physiotherapy role, 18%(139/764) reported having two roles, 3%(23/764) having four roles and 1%(4/764) having five roles and unpaid hours were raised as problematic. 54% (411/764) reported being absent from work/study in the last year and 10%(76/764) reported adjusted work/study. 9%(72/764) reported additional non-physiotherapy roles/jobs.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This e-survey obtained snapshot views from self-selecting participants. The positive workforce developments being experienced within the physiotherapy profession are threatened by poor work-related well-being, including burnout and stress. Action is required.</div></div><div><h3>Contribution of the Paper</h3><div><ul><li><span>•</span><span><div>Identifies important concerns, and urgent action needed, regarding work related well-being in the physiotherapy workforce.</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Provides evidence for policy makers and to inform policy and strategic planning.</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Profession specific strategies to measure and improve WRWB in the physiotherapy workforce should be implemented and monitored at national, local and departmental level.</div></span></li></ul></div></div>","PeriodicalId":54608,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy","volume":"129 ","pages":"Article 101806"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144979106","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Socio-cultural associates of pain, disability and health-related quality of life in 1350 primary care physiotherapy patients with non-specific musculoskeletal pain","authors":"Renske Annevelink ,&nbsp;Sanneke Don ,&nbsp;Jo Nijs ,&nbsp;David Beckwée ,&nbsp;Kelly Ickmans ,&nbsp;Wilfried Cools ,&nbsp;Lennard Voogt","doi":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101804","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101804","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objectives&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;To 1) describe the socio-cultural characteristics of people with non-specific musculoskeletal pain (NSMSP) visiting Dutch primary care physiotherapy, and 2) to determine associations between socio-cultural factors and pain intensity, disability, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in people with NSMSP visiting Dutch primary care physiotherapy.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Design&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Exploratory cross-sectional study.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Setting&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;35 Dutch primary care physiotherapy facilities.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Participants&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;1350 patients with NSMSP.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Main outcome measures&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Participants completed self-reported questionnaires on socio-cultural (e.g., migration background, living situation, education level), demographic (e.g., sex, age), health-related (e.g., smoking, Body Mass Index (BMI)), and pain-related (e.g., analgesics) factors, along with standardized measures for outcomes pain intensity, disability, and HRQoL.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;After controlling for covariates (sex, age, smoking, BMI, The Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5), co-morbidity, analgesics, and chronic widespread pain), socio-cultural variable migration background was associated with on average higher pain intensity (ß = .447, &lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; &lt; .001), higher disability (ß = 3.997, &lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; &lt; .001), and poorer mental HRQoL (ß = −1.475, &lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; &lt; .001). Unemployment was associated with higher pain intensity (ß = .279, &lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; .028) and lower physical HRQoL (ß = −1.709, &lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; .004). Overall, higher education levels were associated with better outcomes, with on average lower pain intensity found for university (ß = −.731, &lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; &lt; .001) and higher professional education levels (ß = −.358, &lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; .003) compared to no education.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusions&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Migration background, unemployment and lower education levels were on average associated with poorer pain intensity, disability and HRQoL in people with NSMSP visiting Dutch primary care physiotherapy. Due to the cross-sectional nature of this study, findings should be interpreted with caution.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Contribution of the Paper&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;•&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;div&gt;This exploratory study found that migration background was associated with on average higher pain intensity (ß = .447, &lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; &lt; .001), greater disability (ß = 3.997, &lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; &lt; .001), and poorer mental health-related quality of life (ß = −1.475, &lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; &lt; .001) in people with non-specific musculoskeletal pain visiting Dutch primary care physiotherapy.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;•&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;div&gt;Unemployment was associated with higher pain intensity (ß = .279, &lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; .028) and lower physical health-related quality of life (ß = −1.709, &lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; .004), while higher education levels were associated with overall better non-specific musculoskeletal pain outcomes.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;•&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;div","PeriodicalId":54608,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 101804"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144979082","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"“We're stuck in recruitment, because we can't retain”: an interview study exploring physiotherapy recruitment and retention in rural Australia","authors":"Maddison McAlister ,&nbsp;Vivianne Phung ,&nbsp;Anusha Budehal ,&nbsp;Anna Terry ,&nbsp;Nimesh Arachchi ,&nbsp;Debra Virtue ,&nbsp;Tandy Hastings-Ison ,&nbsp;Ryan L. McGrath","doi":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101802","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101802","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Physiotherapy workforce shortages in rural Australia limit the profession's ability to meet community needs, resulting in the rationing of services. Recent research on recruitment and retention has primarily focused on medicine, nursing and allied health as a collective, leaving physiotherapy-specific factors underexplored.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To investigate what factors are perceived to influence the recruitment and retention of physiotherapists in rural Victoria, Australia.</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>Qualitative design using in-depth semi-structured interviews, analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Participants</h3><div>Fifteen participants currently working in the Hume region of Victoria, including physiotherapists, their employers, and managers.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Three themes were identified as key influences on recruitment and retention in Victoria's rural physiotherapy workforce. The first theme, ‘a chronically stressed and tired workforce’, reflected participants' perceptions of how persistent shortages perpetuate workforce instability, creating a vicious cycle. The second theme, ‘the concrete clinical ceiling’, highlighted limited career progression opportunities in rural areas, leading physiotherapists to seek opportunities in non-clinical roles. The third theme, ‘unrecognised and undervalued’, described how physiotherapists feel undervalued by the health system and society as clinicians.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The findings highlight a vicious cycle in which poor retention increases recruitment needs, placing further strain on the existing workforce. Breaking this vicious cycle requires stronger pathways for vertical career progression in clinical practice, including formal recognition of specialist generalist physiotherapists. Supporting senior physiotherapists in supervising students and new graduates is also crucial for effective recruitment. These targeted, discipline-specific strategies may help address the complex and interrelated issues impacting Australia's rural physiotherapy workforce.</div></div><div><h3>Contribution of the Paper</h3><div><ul><li><span>•</span><span><div>Addresses a gap in rural health workforce research by focusing specifically on the physiotherapy profession.</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Highlights the importance of senior staff supporting early-career physiotherapists vulnerable to workforce burnout.</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Builds on previous research indicating that rural physiotherapists desire recognition of rural generalism as a clinical specialty.</div></span></li></ul></div></div>","PeriodicalId":54608,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy","volume":"128 ","pages":"Article 101802"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144189943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Entry-level education for physiotherapists in Europe: a narrative on the relationship with professional autonomy","authors":"Tim Nemeth,&nbsp;Ilse Lamers,&nbsp;Raf Meesen","doi":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101801","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.physio.2025.101801","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To investigate if the length of entry-level education has an impact on the professional autonomy of European physiotherapists, and how professional organisations collaborate with educational facilities to shape the entry-level curriculum?</div></div><div><h3>Design and participants</h3><div>Mixed methods study using a survey and semi-structured interviews to explore perspectives from 37 policy experts from 37 European countries.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In Europe, the length of education required before attaining the title of ‘physiotherapist’ varies between countries (3, 3.5, 4 or 5 years). The current European framework allows for recognised entry-level physiotherapists with either a diploma, a Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree. Regardless of the length of entry-level education, 26 of 37 (70%) countries reported that professional autonomy is not legalised for physiotherapists. Most of these countries (58%) have an entry-level education that prepares the physiotherapist to be autonomous. Most professional organisations (23/37, 62%) reported structural collaboration to shape entry-level education. However, the professional organisations in nine of 23 (40%) countries reported that they have a minor level of influence on the curriculum.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The length of entry-level education programmes, ranging from 3 to 5 years, is directly associated with the graduates’ readiness to practice autonomously. These findings underscore the need for a more harmonised approach to physiotherapy education in Europe. There is a compelling need for ongoing feedback mechanisms between practising physiotherapists and educational institutions. This will ensure that the curriculum continuously integrates emerging evidence and real-world practice requirements, thereby enhancing employability and professional efficacy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54608,"journal":{"name":"Physiotherapy","volume":"128 ","pages":"Article 101801"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144170623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}