![Sample our Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Allied Health journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5944/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Medicine-Dentistry-Nursing-Allied-Health.jpg"})
Abstract
This ethnographic study using a social constructionist framework explored how a team of physiotherapists in a National Health Service hospital negotiated the impact of the visit from the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection on their practice. All observations were followed up in a process of critical reflection with the therapists, in which taken-for-granted assumptions were challenged. A systematic recognized qualitative analysis was carried out. The activities related to audit, patient satisfaction and continuing professional development were the most representative of how the visit impinged upon and contributed to the team's practice. A process of persuasion, by the senior, was revealed of the benefits of the visit to the team. Several innovations decreased the threat of, what the juniors saw as, surveillance and replaced it with activities of inclusive growth. The preparations unearthed tensions between the delivery of a service to patients and the time given to continuing professional development. Charismatic leadership in physiotherapy was seen to be necessary in this study to bring about a change in practice and the strategies evident in this team could be useful to the profession generally. The key to this change is to foster conversations between the members to break down barriers and develop a shared vision, and together create purposeful action.
Notes
1. The junior 1 was more senior than the junior 2 having been qualified for longer.
2. The name of the patient, date of birth, address, hospital number, contact numbers, consent, who referred them, the explanation of contra indications, a subjective examination which had about 15 subheadings and finally the objective part of the examination which also had about 15 subheadings.