Physiotherapy new graduate self-efficacy and readiness for interprofessional collaboration: a mixed methods study

ABSTRACT

Effective interprofessional collaboration is a required competency for all health professionals including physiotherapists. Little is known about new graduate physiotherapists’ self-efficacy and readiness for interprofessional collaboration. A sequential mixed-methods design was used to examine and explore (a) new graduate self-efficacy and (b) new graduate perception of the role and influence of curricular activities on their readiness for interprofessional collaboration. New graduate physiotherapists completed a self-efficacy measure based on the Interprofessional Care Core Competencies Global Rating Scales, and semi-structured interviews were undertaken and subjected to framework analysis. 150 surveys were completed (response rate 91%). Less than one quarter of all participants agreed or strongly agreed that they were confident in relation to all interprofessional competencies. New graduates attributed their self-efficacy to being directly exposed to interprofessional collaboration in a clinical setting during their placement year. The results demonstrate that new graduate physiotherapists have high self-efficacy communicating with other professionals and understanding their roles, however they have low self-efficacy with interprofessional conflict resolution and providing feedback to others. This study has implications for supporting new graduates in practice, and for preparing physiotherapy students for interprofessional collaboration.

KEYWORDS:

• Physiotherapy
• education
• students
• training
• interprofessional Education

Acknowledgments

This research did receive any grants from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The research team would like to acknowledge all participants.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Abraham Jones

Abraham Jones is a musculoskeletal physiotherapist in Rockhampton, Queensland. He has special interests in physiotherapy education and interprofessional practice.

Meg E. Ingram

Meg E. Ingram is a physiotherapist in Queensland Health, located in Brisbane, Queensland. She has interests in neurological physiotherapy and has undertaken research in new-graduate readiness for pain management.

Roma Forbes

Roma Forbes is a titled musculoskeletal physiotherapist and teaching-focused lecturer in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The University of Queensland. She has expertise in teaching and learning, particularly simulation and graduate readiness for practice initiatives.