Conceptions of physiotherapy knowledge among Swedish physiotherapists: a phenomenographic study

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.