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Clinical Guidance of Community Physiotherapists Regarding People with MS: Professional Development and Continuity of Care
Author(s) -
Normann Britt,
Sørgaard Knut W.,
Salvesen Rolf,
Moe Siri
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
physiotherapy research international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.509
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1471-2865
pISSN - 1358-2267
DOI - 10.1002/pri.1557
Subject(s) - perspective (graphical) , action (physics) , medicine , medical education , nursing , qualitative research , clinical practice , psychology , sociology , social science , physics , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , computer science
Background and Purpose Clinical guidance to community physiotherapists (cPTs) is an integral part of physiotherapy service offered in hospital outpatient (OP) clinics for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). There is currently a lack of knowledge on the significance of such guidance. The aims of this study were 1) to identify the features that cPTs perceive to be significant in clinical guidance and 2) how this guidance may affect the cPTs' subsequent treatment of PwMS. Methods A phenomenological–hermeneutical framework was selected, and qualitative research interviews were performed and complemented with non‐participating observations of a strategic sample of nine cPTs who received clinical guidance for their patients. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, and content analysis was conducted by using systematic text condensation, using theories of practice knowledge as analytic perspectives. Results The results indicate that cPTs identify participation in authentic movement analysis of a familiar patient as significant for professional development. Vital features are evaluation of the interplay between body parts, exploration of improvement of movement embedded in the OP clinic physiotherapist's explanations, followed by discussion. These elements provide access to dynamic elements in practice knowledge that are available only through first‐hand experience and promote clinical reasoning through enhanced reflection during action as well as following action. Such guidance suggests direction for subsequent treatment and may enhance the continuity of care, particularly if the cPTs are experienced. Mutual information flow implementing the cPTs' perspective is requested, as are the use of plain language and supervision of the cPTs handling skills. Professional guidance for cPTs in OP clinics for PwMS should be considered when programmes aiming to develop competency in neurological physiotherapy are designed and when continuity of care for PwMS is discussed. More research regarding potential long‐term impact of professional guidance in these clinics is requested. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.