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Conceptions of physiotherapy knowledge among Swedish physiotherapists: a phenomenographic study

Larsson, Ingalill LU and Gard, Gunvor LU (2006) In Physiotherapy 92(2). p.110-115
Abstract
Objectives and design Knowledge in physiotherapy is based on both scientific evidence and clinical practice. Different perspectives of knowledge generate different implications for theory development. The aim of this qualitative, phenomenographic study was to describe physiotherapists' conceptions of physiotherapy knowledge. Intervention and participants Open, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 physiotherapists working in different sectors of physiotherapy. The transcribed material was analysed according to phenomenographic analysis. Results The physiotherapists' conceptions of various aspects of physiotherapy knowledge are described by four qualitatively different categories: (a) interaction, i.e. the ability to create... (More)
Objectives and design Knowledge in physiotherapy is based on both scientific evidence and clinical practice. Different perspectives of knowledge generate different implications for theory development. The aim of this qualitative, phenomenographic study was to describe physiotherapists' conceptions of physiotherapy knowledge. Intervention and participants Open, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 physiotherapists working in different sectors of physiotherapy. The transcribed material was analysed according to phenomenographic analysis. Results The physiotherapists' conceptions of various aspects of physiotherapy knowledge are described by four qualitatively different categories: (a) interaction, i.e. the ability to create opportunities for patients and develop patients' competencies, equally influenced by both theoretical and practical knowledge, with a patient-oriented perspective conceiving the physiotherapist as a coach; (b) personal competencies, i.e. the ability to provide good therapy influenced more by practical knowledge oriented towards the physiotherapist: (c) professional demands. i.e. the ability to be professional according to rules and scientifically proven interventions, influenced more by theoretical knowledge oriented towards the physiotherapist; and (d) scientific areas, i.e. the ability to use different knowledge, as an expert. in the interaction with the patient, strongly influenced by theoretical knowledge and oriented towards the patient. Conclusions The results can contribute to physiotherapy students* understanding of the multi-dimensional nature of physiotherapy. The paradigm of physiotherapy must be studied further in order to understand and explain its complexity. (c) 2005 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (Less)
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and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
phenomenographic, practice, theory, physiotherapy, knowledge
in
Physiotherapy
volume
92
issue
2
pages
110 - 115
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000238493600007
  • scopus:33748057169
ISSN
1873-1465
DOI
10.1016/j.physio.2005.12.001
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Division of Physiotherapy (Closed 2012) (013042000)
id
b96f5eab-a9c7-4787-ae58-862df42cee5d (old id 404783)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 17:04:41
date last changed
2022-04-23 02:31:54
@article{b96f5eab-a9c7-4787-ae58-862df42cee5d,
  abstract     = {{Objectives and design Knowledge in physiotherapy is based on both scientific evidence and clinical practice. Different perspectives of knowledge generate different implications for theory development. The aim of this qualitative, phenomenographic study was to describe physiotherapists' conceptions of physiotherapy knowledge. Intervention and participants Open, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 physiotherapists working in different sectors of physiotherapy. The transcribed material was analysed according to phenomenographic analysis. Results The physiotherapists' conceptions of various aspects of physiotherapy knowledge are described by four qualitatively different categories: (a) interaction, i.e. the ability to create opportunities for patients and develop patients' competencies, equally influenced by both theoretical and practical knowledge, with a patient-oriented perspective conceiving the physiotherapist as a coach; (b) personal competencies, i.e. the ability to provide good therapy influenced more by practical knowledge oriented towards the physiotherapist: (c) professional demands. i.e. the ability to be professional according to rules and scientifically proven interventions, influenced more by theoretical knowledge oriented towards the physiotherapist; and (d) scientific areas, i.e. the ability to use different knowledge, as an expert. in the interaction with the patient, strongly influenced by theoretical knowledge and oriented towards the patient. Conclusions The results can contribute to physiotherapy students* understanding of the multi-dimensional nature of physiotherapy. The paradigm of physiotherapy must be studied further in order to understand and explain its complexity. (c) 2005 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Larsson, Ingalill and Gard, Gunvor}},
  issn         = {{1873-1465}},
  keywords     = {{phenomenographic; practice; theory; physiotherapy; knowledge}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{110--115}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Physiotherapy}},
  title        = {{Conceptions of physiotherapy knowledge among Swedish physiotherapists: a phenomenographic study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2005.12.001}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.physio.2005.12.001}},
  volume       = {{92}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}