The development of a framework for the education and training of undergraduate physiotherapy students

Higher education and health care have undergone profound changes over the past decade, world-wide but particularly in South Africa. Physiotherapy as a profession cannot stand apart from this, and therefore the education and -training of professional physiotherapists need to be taken under scrutiny. The purpose of this research was to develop a framework with a view to making a contribution to physiotherapy education and training and health care. The research comprised a literature survey (examining educational and health requirements, needs and trends), interviews with physiotherapy educators in the United Kingdom, (to investigate aspects of their education and training), and departmental workshops in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State (to reflect on and brainstorm the physiotherapy curriculum of the Department of Physiotherapy of this University). The physiotherapy curricula of a number of institutions offering physiotherapy education and training were studied as well. The literature survey paid attention to the transformation of the health care system in South Africa, the transformation of higher education and academic and educational requirements in South Africa, national and international trends in physiotherapy education, and the physiotherapy requirements of the population of South Africa. Based on the results of these exercises, a measuring instrument for the education and training of professional physiotherapists was compiled. The Delphi technique was employed as research method to test the measuring instrument. The Delphi technique is used to gain expert opinions on a matter or research problem. Delphi comprises submitting a questionnaire/research instrument to a panel of experts to elicit opinions and ideas. The instrument is implemented over a number of rounds until an acceptable degree of consensus is reached regarding the questions that were asked. In this study the instrument was converted into a checklist, comprising statements which were to be rated on a 5-point rating scale, and an opportunity for respondents comment on the statements. Seven domain experts were selected as respondents. Two rounds of the Delphi technique were required before acceptable consensus was reached and a final framework for the development of a physiotherapy education and training programme could be compiled. In short this framework comprises a vision and a mission for professional physical therapy, the objectives of physiotherapy education and training and definitions of physiotherapy as a profession and the physiotherapist as a qualified, registered professional health care worker. This is followed by the exit level outcomes of a physiotherapist education and training programme, as well as the specific and critical (non-context specific) outcomes that should be achieved to obtain a qualification. The themes that ought to be covered in order to be able to reach the outcomes are described, as well as requirements for the education and training progress and structure, in which aspects such as teaching and training approaches, student selection, recognition of prior learning, mobility and portability are attended to. This framework, which is the result of an in-depth and comprehensive study of higher education demands and requirements, the history of physiotherapy as health care profession and current needs of and trends in the profession, and the demands and requirements of health care in South Africa with special emphasis on physiotherapy, has the potential to be used over the wide front of physiotherapy education and training. The framework has been designed in a way which will enable institutions offering physiotherapy education and training to use it in developing innovative curricula. Through this a contribution can be made to physiotherapy education and training specifically, but also to health care.