Physiotherapy students' professional identity on the edge of working life

Abstract

Market expectations of physiotherapists reflect changing demands of health care for client centred, community based management of chronic disease in an ageing population. This study forms a component part of a longitudinal study of students' socialization throughout their education programme examining the outcome of professional identity throughout professional socialization processes. The aim of this study was to explore characteristics of graduating physiotherapy students' professional identity before leaving the University. An interview guide, agreed between the Swedish and UK researchers, was used to focus the semi-structured interviews. The phenomenon of professional identity of 18 students was studied through their perceptions of their role, practice, vision, beliefs and scope of practice as physiotherapists. A phenomenographic approach was taken to analysis and identified three qualitatively different categories of professional identity as a physiotherapist which are described as the Empowerer, the Educator and the Treater. A variation of concepts in professional identity at graduation questions the extent to which educators consider how they guide the development of professional identities which fit the expectations of stakeholders and which are able to respond to promotion and development of the profession of physiotherapy in the changing fields of health care over future years.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ingrid Lindquist

INGRID LINDQUIST is a Lecturer in Physiotheraphy and the Program Director of Physiotherapy Education, Karolinska Institutet. She is involved in quality assessment and development of the program curricula at undergraduate level. Her longstanding pedagogical interest developed research interest with a qualitative approach in the field of professional development and learning.

Margareta Engardt

MARGARETA ENGARDT is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, Neurotec Department, Karolinska Institutet, with a clinical affiliation to the Department of Rehabiliation Medicine, Danderyd. Her interest lies in bridging the gap between theory and practice in the undergraduate physiotherapy clinical courses.

Liz Garnham

LIZ GARMHAM is a lecturer practitioner in Occupational Therapy and Head of Therapies and Primary Care for Norfolk Learning Difficulties Services. She provides clinical and professional leadership for allied health professionals and is interested in how students are prepared for the working environment of health and social care.

Fiona Poland

FIONA POLAND is Senior Lecturer Therapy Research and Director of Research in the School of Allied Health Professions at the University of East Anglia with longstanding research interests in care working, elder care, community based and qualitative research methods.

Barbara Richardson

BARBARA RICHARDSON is a Reader in Physiotherapy at the University of East Anglia and a Fellow of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, who is involved with education and research at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Her research interests lie in development of professional knowledge, professionalisation and professional socialization.