Entry-level physiotherapists' strategies to lower occupational injury risk in physiotherapy: A qualitative study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify entry-level physiotherapists perceptions of workplace injuries in private practice and the strategies they may use to reduce occupational injury risk in physiotherapy. Seventy-nine final year physiotherapy students were presented with a private practice workplace scenario, recent injury statistics, and common job risk factors in physiotherapy and were required to choose between the options of being a salaried employee or contractor and to discuss self-management strategies. This question was part of a substantive written examination that is a compulsory aspect of the final assessment for these students. Students identified nine categories for self-management and reducing injury risk with the majority of students choosing the option of being a contractor in preference to being a salaried employee. Regardless of the preferred employment option, students tended to select self-management strategies that would have a negative impact on income and service delivery and may be reflective of the relative inexperience of these students in private sector workplace settings. Given the high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) in the 5 five years postgraduation, the findings from this study highlight the need for educational institutions and employers to address occupational health and risk factors in physiotherapy, which would include education on prevention as well as appropriate self-management strategies within each workplace.

Using technology to enhance physical therapy students’ problem-solving skills around safe patient handling

“…The statements were related to undertaking a patient risk assessment prior to undertaking a handling/ transfer task, selecting appropriate patient handling technique, and selecting appropriate patient handling equipment (Table 1). Each item was scored on a 10-cm visual analogue scale anchored from strongly disagree (0) to strongly agree (10). The internal consistency of these three items was strong (Cronbach's alpha50.85).…”

“…Students were asked to rate the statements: The SBLi scenarios about people handling developed my problem solving skills in this area; the SBLi scenarios about people handling have prepared me for clinical placement; and, I am satisfied with the SBLi scenarios as a learning experience. Each item was scored on a 10-cm visual analogue scale anchored from strongly disagree (0) to strongly agree (10).…”

Strategies to overcome size and mechanical disadvantages in manual therapy

“…A survey of final-year physical therapy students, however, cited alternate manual techniques as a preferred strategy to lessen their risk of injury upon entering practice. 79 Additionally, the experiences of the authors during MT instruction is that practitioners and students report perceiving less physical strain and exertion when performing techniques such as these. Practitioners small in stature or with other physical challenges of their own have spontaneously reported greater comfort in performing MT using these approaches during classroom and postgraduate clinical instruction by the authors.…”

Contemplating change: a focus on manual handling in higher education

“…Students are also likely to have different levels of risk taking behaviour, physical capacity, and belief of own expertise. 35 However, the majority of students at the entrance to first year could arguably be considered to be in the Pre-contemplative stage of behaviour change.…”