K.M. Alvis1,2, E. Palacio1,3, A.C. Muñoz Garcia1,4, Y. Pinillos Patiño1,3, A.K. Antolinez Romero,5,2, A. Gómez Cárdenas1,6, J.A. Navarro Ortíz1,3, J.C. Paipa1,2, M.V. Solarte Sarria1,7
1Fisioterapia Colombia (ASCOFI-ASCOFAFI-COLFI-ACEFIT), Bogotá, Colombia, 2Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia, 3Universidad Simón Bolívar, Atlántico, Barranquilla, Colombia, 4Universidad de La Sabana, Cundinamarca, Chía, Colombia, 5Fisioterapia Colombia (ASCOFI-ASCOFAFI-COLFI-ACEFIT), BOGOTÁ, Colombia, 6Escuela Nacional del Deporte, Valle del Cauca, Cali, Colombia, 7Universidad Santiago de Cali, Valle del Cauca, Cali, Colombia
Background: Information and Communication Technologies, have been gradually incorporated in the health sector, and also have become one of the options for the provision of the Physiotherapy service in Colombia (Resolution No. 2654 of 2019). Given the situation generated by the pandemic Covid-19, Digital Physiotherapy (DP) services, became more relevant, because of practice in person is limited as a necessary measure to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. The World Confederation of Physiotherapy (WCPT) and the International Network of Physiotherapy Regulatory Authorities (INPTRA) published in 2020 the DP document which specified the general issues related to this practice. It is a challenge for the academy to generate the reflections and adaptations in the curricula, regulations, and in the development of digital competences in Colombia, to assure the quality of educational physiotherapy programs.
Purpose: Characterize Digital Physiotherapy (contents and scope) from the perception of the Colombian Physiotherapy academic programs.
Methods: A descriptive study, with the application of a survey online (that include informed consent). The survey was validated by experts and distributed to the academic physiotherapy programs in the country (35 programs), to collect information related to each of the variables proposed in the study. The instrument was designed by members of the four physiotherapy trade associations in Colombia that are part of DP Subgproup of the Covid-19 Physiotherapy Colombia Strategy and was distributed to the programs by the Colombian Association of Physiotherapy Faculties. The instrument includes conceptual categories related to General issues of DP, scope, and competences in DP in different contexts of practice (clinical, educational, community, recreation, leisure, and sports physiotherapy practice), and issues related to curriculum and educational programs.
Results: The instrument was completed online by 26 (74,28%) academic programs. According to the obtained data, PD is accepted as part of physiotherapy training. Likewise, it is found that despite accepting that PD can be used in all areas of performance, training programs in Physiotherapy, find difficulties fundamentally related to accessibility to technology and digital skills of both teachers and students. Likewise, there are gaps in regulatory aspects and the determination of forms of evaluation of practical competences, as well as the possibility of ensuring the development of all the competencies that a physiotherapy professional has to demonstrate in practice.
Conclusion(s): Participating programs consider that training in PD is a necessity for physiotherapy practice. This training includes the development of virtual content and the development of skills in DP in all areas of professional practice. However, including DP, implies a deep reflection on the definition of the objectives, scope, limitations of DP, and the strategies that can be implemented for the development of these competences. This also implies an effort by higher education programs and institutions to develop strategic alliances that allow impacting on the health of individuals and groups through these modalities. It is important to research to demonstrate the impact of DP in the implementation of professional practice.
Implications: It describes the DP scope and competencies that professionals have to develop, from the perception of the academic programs.
Funding, acknowledgements: Colombian Physiotherapy Association-ASCOFI, Colombian College Of Physiotherapists-COLFI, Colombian Association Of Physiotherapy Faculties -ASCOFAFI, Colombian Association Of Physiotherapy Students-ACEFIT) and CLADEFK-Colombia
Keywords: Digital Physiotherapy, Education, Physiotherapy Educational Programs
Topic: COVID-19
Did this work require ethics approval? No
Institution: N/A
Committee: N/A
Reason: This work addresses developments in digital practice and not implies experimental or invasive methods.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
