Clinical Specialists and Advanced Practitioners in Physical Therapy: A Survey of Physical Therapists and Employers of Physical Therapists in Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Purpose: Opportunities to expand the role of physical therapists (PTs) have evolved to include clinical specialists and advanced practitioners, although the literature on these roles is limited. We examined perceptions of PTs and PT employers in Ontario regarding clinical specialization and advanced practice. Methods: Using a modified Dillman approach, a cross-sectional survey was conducted with 500 PTs and 500 PT employers in Ontario. Questionnaires were tailored to address specific issues related to each cohort. Results: Sixty percent of PTs and 53% of PT employers responded to the survey. Thirty-three percent of PT respondents already considered themselves ''clinical specialists'' (CS), and 8% considered themselves ''advanced practitioners'' (AP), although neither role is yet formally recognized in Canada. Both groups had substantial interest in pursuing formal recognition of CS and AP status. Respondents indicated that their primary motivation to pursue such roles was to enhance clinical reasoning skills with the goal of improving client outcomes (82% for the role of CS, 71% for the role of AP). Respondents supported the involvement of academic institutions in the process (60% for CS, 70% for AP). Conclusion: PTs and PT employers are supportive of the roles of the CS and AP within the profession, even though there is currently no formal recognition of either role in Canada. RÉ SUMÉObjet : Les possibilité s d'é largir le rô le des physiothé rapeutes ont é volué pour inclure les physiothé rapeutes ayant une spé cialisation clinique ou de pratique avancé e, bien que la documentation sur ces rô les soit limité e. Nous avons examiné les perceptions des physiothé rapeutes et de leurs employeurs en Ontario pour ce qui est de la spé cialisation clinique et de la pratique avancé e. Me´thodologie : À l'aide d'une approche Dillman modifié e, une enquê te ponctuelle a é té effectué e auprè s de 500 physiothé rapeutes et de 500 employeurs en Ontario. Les questionnaires ont é té formulé s spé cialement en vue d'aborder des questions pré cises lié es à chaque cohorte. Re´sultats : Soixante pour cent des physiothé rapeutes et 53 % de leurs employeurs ont ré pondu à l'enquê te. Trente-trois pour cent des ré pondants physiothé rapeutes se considé raient dé jà comme des « spé cialistes cliniques » (SC) et 8 % se considé raient comme des « praticiens avancé s » (PA), bien qu'aucun de ces rô les ne soit encore reconnu au Canada. Ces deux groupes é taient vivement inté ressé s à obtenir la reconnaissance officielle de leur statut 224de SC et de PA. Les ré pondants ont indiqué que leur premier motif dans la poursuite de ces rô les é tait de perfectionner les compé tences de raisonnement clinique afin d'amé liorer les ré sultats pour les patients (82 % pour le rô le des SC, 71 % pour le rô le des PA). Les ré pondants soutiennent la participation des é tablissements d'enseignement universitaire dans le cadre de ce processus (60 % des SC, 70 % des PA). Conclusion : Les physiothé rapeutes et leurs employeurs soutiennent les ...

The Distribution of Physiotherapists in Ontario: Understanding the Market Drivers

“…31 For example, the professional association and the regulatory college might provide additional opportunities for physiotherapists to expand their skills and thus potentially influence their personal practice preferences to align with areas of identified short supply. As is recommended from time to time for dealing with uneven distribution of physicians, 4,5,32 such an approach could be supplemented by increasing the numbers of physiotherapists available for practice and investigating how properly trained and clinically prepared assistants may be able to extend the reach of physiotherapists to greater numbers of patients.…”

Attitudes toward Master's and Clinical Doctorate Degrees in Physical Therapy

“…The primary investigators developed the questionnaire based on similar research 16 and consultation with academic experts. The conceptual framework of Threlkeld and colleagues helped guide the development of subcategories and the questions within each subcategory.…”

Ordering Diagnostic Imaging: A Survey of Ontario Physiotherapists' Opinions on an Expanded Scope of Practice

“…We developed the questionnaire on the basis of previous literature 13,20,28 and in consultation with two advanced practice physiotherapists experienced in ordering DI under medical directives. A pilot questionnaire was completed by six physiotherapists in different practice areas and with varying levels of experience.…”

“…Positive outcomes of these expanded roles include improved wait times for surgery, decreased health care costs, earlier diagnoses, fewer duplicate referrals, and increased patient satisfaction. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Physiotherapists practising beyond their regulated entry-level scope of practice-that is, those who have undertaken formal continuing education programs to gain additional knowledge and skills that are formally recognized 13 -are known as advanced practitioners in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand; the United States and the United Kingdom use the terms extended scope physiotherapist or consultant. 14 In this article, we use advanced practitioners to describe physiotherapists practising in this capacity.…”