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. 2020 Winter;72(1):34-42.
doi: 10.3138/ptc-2018-0060.

Physiotherapy's Place in a Rapidly Changing World: A Pan-Canadian Perspective of Threats Facing Practice from the Physio Moves Canada Project, Part 2

David M Walton  1
Affiliations

Physiotherapy's Place in a Rapidly Changing World: A Pan-Canadian Perspective of Threats Facing Practice from the Physio Moves Canada Project, Part 2

David M Walton. Physiother Can. 2020 Winter.

Abstract
in English, French

Purpose: In the latter half of 2017, a qualitative exploration of innovations, threats, opportunities, educational priorities, and research needs was conducted by directly engaging 117 physiotherapy (PT) clinicians across Canada. The Physio Moves Canada project was set up to explore, capture, and synthesize the perspectives of academics, front-line clinicians, and administrators on the future of the profession. Method: Participants provided their perceptions of and ideas about the threats expected to face PT practice in the next 5-15 years. The data were collected from a series of nominal-group-technique-based focus groups and one-on-one interviews and then analyzed to condense the ideas generated into themes. Results: Eight themes and 28 sub-themes were identified and are described in a series of three articles. This article, the second, describes the findings identified by the participants on the threats with the following themes: the disruptive role of technology, the influence of changing funding models, and the rapidly changing values and characteristics of PT's consumer base. These themes and their 9 sub-themes suggest that physiotherapists expect a dramatic shift in their practice settings, roles, and patients in the coming years - an outlook for which the profession may not be prepared. Conclusions: The presentation of these perspectives derived from members of the professional community is expected to enable leaders, educators, and regulators to begin to position PT to address the threats to the profession, identify opportunities for professional growth, and ensure the profession remains relevant in a changing society.

Objectif : pendant la deuxième moitié de 2017, les chercheurs ont procédé à l’analyse qualitative des innovations, des menaces, des occasions, des priorités d’enseignement et des besoins de recherche en interpellant directement 117 cliniciens en physiothérapie au Canada. Le projet Physio Moves Canada a été créé pour explorer, saisir et synthétiser les points de vue d’universitaires, de cliniciens de première ligne et de leurs clients au sujet de l’avenir de leur profession. Méthodologie : les participants ont fourni leurs points de vue et leurs idées relativement aux menaces qu’affrontera l’exercice actuel de la physiothérapie d’ici cinq à quinze ans. Les chercheurs ont colligé les données à partir d’une série de groupes de travail nominaux portant sur les techniques d’entrevues individuelles, puis les ont analysées pour condenser les idées en thèmes. Résultats : les chercheurs ont dégagé huit thèmes et 28 sous-thèmes, qui sont décrits dans une série de trois articles. Ce deuxième article décrit les observations des participants à l’égard des menaces que posent les thèmes suivants : le rôle perturbateur de la technologie, l’influence de la mutation des modèles de financement et les valeurs et caractéristiques en rapide évolution de la base de consommateurs de services de physiothérapie. Selon ces thèmes et leurs neuf sous-thèmes, les physiothérapeutes s’attendent à un changement spectaculaire de leur lieu d’exercice et de leurs rôles, ce qui constitue une perspective à laquelle la profession n’est peut-être pas prête. Conclusions : on prévoit qu’en présentant ces points de vue des membres de la profession, les leaders, les professeurs et les régulateurs pourront commencer à positionner la physiothérapie pour réagir aux menaces et trouver des occasions de croissance professionnelle.

Keywords: Canada; forecasting; qualitative research; rehabilitation.

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