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. 2014 Winter;66(1):15-23.
doi: 10.3138/ptc.2012-54.

Physiotherapy beyond Our Borders: Investigating Ideal Competencies for Canadian Physiotherapists Working in Resource-Poor Countries

Christina Cassady  1 , Rehana Meru  1 , Nga Man Carmen Chan  1 , Julie Engelhardt  1 , Michelle Fraser  2 , Stephanie Nixon  3
Affiliations

Physiotherapy beyond Our Borders: Investigating Ideal Competencies for Canadian Physiotherapists Working in Resource-Poor Countries

Christina Cassady et al. Physiother Can. 2014 Winter.

Abstract
in English, French

Purpose: To explore the perspectives of Canadian physiotherapists with global health experience on the ideal competencies for Canadian physiotherapists working in resource-poor countries.

Method: A qualitative interpretive methodology was used, and the Essential Competency Profile for Physiotherapists in Canada, 2009 (ECP), was employed as a starting point for investigation and analysis. Semi-structured one-on-one interviews (60-90 minutes) were conducted with 17 Canadian physiotherapists who have worked in resource-poor countries. Descriptive and thematic analyses were conducted collaboratively.

Results: The seven ECP roles-Expert, Communicator, Collaborator, Manager, Advocate, Scholarly Practitioner, and Professional-were all viewed as important for Canadian physiotherapists working in resource-poor countries. Two roles, Communicator and Manager, have additional competencies that participants felt were important. Three novel roles-Global Health Learner, Critical Thinker, and Respectful Guest-were created to describe other competencies related to global health deemed crucial by participants.

Conclusions: This is the first study to examine competencies required by Canadian physiotherapists working in resource-poor countries. In addition to the ECP roles, supplementary competencies are recommended for engagement in resource-poor countries. These findings align with ideas in current global health and international development literature. Future research should examine the relevance of these findings to resource-poor settings within Canada.

Objectif : Analyser ce que les physiothérapeutes du Canada qui ont de l'expérience en santé dans le monde pensent des compétences idéales des physiothérapeutes canadiens œuvrant dans des pays pauvres en ressources. Méthode : À partir d'une méthodologie d'interprétation qualitative et en nous fondant sur le Profil des compétences essentielles des physiothérapeutes au Canada, 2009 (CEP) comme point de départ de l'étude et de l'analyse, nous avons procédé à des entrevues personnelles et structurées (60 à 90 minutes) auprès de 17 physiothérapeutes du Canada qui ont travaillé dans des pays pauvres en ressources. Des analyses descriptives et thématiques ont été réalisées en collaboration. Résultats : Les sept rôles reliés aux CEP—expert, communicateur, collaborateur, gestionnaire, promoteur, érudit et professionnel—ont tous été considérés comme importants pour les physiothérapeutes canadiens qui travaillent dans des pays pauvres en ressources. Deux rôles, soit ceux de communicateur et de gestionnaire, comportent des compétences supplémentaires que les participants ont jugées importantes. Trois rôles nouveaux—apprenant en santé dans le monde, penseur critique et invité respectueux—ont été créés de façon à décrire d'autres compétences liées à la santé dans le monde jugées cruciales par les participants. Conclusions : Il s'agit de la première étude qui porte sur les compétences dont ont besoin les physiothérapeutes canadiens travaillant dans des pays pauvres en ressources. Outre les rôles reliés aux CEP, d'autres compétences sont recommandées pour travailler dans des pays pauvres en ressources. Ces constatations concordent avec les concepts que véhiculent des publications courantes sur la santé dans le monde et le développement international. Des recherches futures devraient porter sur la pertinence des constatations pour les contextes pauvres en ressources au Canada.

Keywords: competency-based education; developing countries; qualitative research; world health.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Participant demographics.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Perspectives of Canadian physiotherapists regarding roles for working in resource-poor countries (developed based on the CanMEDS Diagram).(p.2–3)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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