Psychologically informed physiotherapy.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation into newly qualified physiotherapists' use of psychology within physiotherapy practice in the National Health Service.
IRAS ID
274538
Contact name
Alison Ledger
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Are newly qualified physiotherapists able to apply psychology to their clinical practice, and if so to what extent?
The use of psychology in physiotherapy is beneficial for patients’ treatment and long-term management of a range of conditions including patient empowerment and pain management and is expected from physiotherapists’ regulatory body the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and governing body the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
The research aims to explore what psychology means to physiotherapists and if, how and to what extent they are able to apply their knowledge into clinical practice. Physiotherapists are likely to benefit from this research through the development of literature around psychologically-informed physiotherapy providing physiotherapy students and clinicians with an evidence-base from which to assess, treat and manage patients holistically in accordance with World Health Organisation and HCPC standards. Increased knowledge about physiotherapists’ learning is likely to have benefits for patients. By developing physiotherapists’ understanding and knowledge of psychology, they will be better placed to deliver psychologically-informed care. This may have positive benefits such as improving patients’ long-term self-management and help physiotherapists promote a preventative approach to healthcare.
Using multiple case studies, the six month study will explore newly-qualified physiotherapists’ understanding and application of psychology in practice. Physiotherapists with less than two years’ experience, working with adults in a clinical area new to them will be eligible for participation. Participants will be recruited from physiotherapy settings at Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust. Physiotherapists will be observed once for up to 4 hours across several patient interactions followed by one audio-recorded individual interview with the physiotherapist lasting 60 minutes to discuss their practice and understanding. Thematic analysis will be used, creating categories or themes to identify patterns, similarities and differences.
The research is part funded by the Private Physiotherapy Educational Foundation and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/0796
Date of REC Opinion
8 Jul 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion