Does palliative care education lead to a change in the attitudes and beliefs of pre-registration Physiotherapy students about palliative care: a literature review

Abstract

Background

Worldwide, over 61 million people suffer from symptoms caused by conditions which could be helped by Palliative Care. Physiotherapy is increasingly utilised as part of the multi-disciplinary team in providing Palliative Care, but this is not widely accepted by physiotherapists whose attitudes and beliefs towards it may be framed by the absence of the topic in their undergraduate education.

Objectives

To evaluate the literature relating to the effect of Palliative Care education interventions on the attitudes and beliefs of Physiotherapy undergraduate students.

Methods

A structured search on Academic Search Ultimate, MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL Complete, APA PsycInfo, Education Source, Communication Source, SPORTDiscus with Full Text, Business Source Ultimate, SocINDEX with Full Text, and Regional Business News was conducted in October 2020. Articles were limited to peer-reviewed journals published in English and involving an educational intervention delivered to pre-qualification Physiotherapy students.

Results

Four papers were included which all measured change in attitudes and beliefs. Three papers showed a significant positive change in students’ attitudes and beliefs towards PC, and one showing a positive but non-significant change. There was no consensus on the ideal curriculum content, delivery method or time.

Conclusion

PC content within the curriculum is still in its formative stages within Physiotherapy education. While there is currently no consensus on the ideal method and format of how it should be delivered, there is some evidence to suggest that it can have a positive impact on Physiotherapy students’ attitudes and beliefs towards PC.

Keywords:

• Palliative care
• education
• curriculum
• attitudes
• beliefs

Disclosure statement

There are no conflicts of interest to be declared.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David Cabrini-Back

David Cabrini-Back was an undergraduate student at Bournemouth University undertaking a BSc in Physiotherapy and is currently a rotational Physiotherapist with University Hospitals Dorset, based at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Carol Clark

Carol Clark is Professor in Physiotherapy in the department of Rehabilitation and Sport Sciences at Bournemouth University (BU). She has contributed to physiotherapy education at BU since 2005 including as Head of Department (2015-2021). She supervises UG research dissertations, masters and PhD students. Her funded research is aimed at improving the lives of those who experience pain in a variety of situations and conditions. With reference to understanding and using nonpharmacological approaches including rehabilitation. Her research interests are broadly aimed at empowering people to lead healthier lives by informing the design of strategies that better support self-management. She is committed to supporting the careers of physiotherapists and is a BU representative on the NIHR ARC Wessex Training committee which aims to build research capacity and promote leadership. She has presented her work nationally and internationally.