The objective of this study was to establish a first reference framework with relevant stakeholders to build on further research on continuing professional development and the quality of physiotherapy care.
After completing an online survey, the selected experts from the professional organisations participated in online semi-structured interviews covering 8 themes (context, origin, adherence, incentives/ consequences, management, organisation, data collection, use of data). The verbatim transcriptions were reviewed and approved by the participants before using the data.
Thirty-seven countries participated of which 18 had a CPD system requiring mandatory engagement from physiotherapists. In 19 countries physiotherapists could opt to participate in a voluntary system of CPD. The reasons for voluntary CPD frameworks vary from a lack of compulsory regulation over cultural history to a means of negotiation with funders. CPD frameworks were established as early as the 1930’s with the latest mandatory framework initiated in 2022. Seven countries with a voluntary framework estimated upwards of 60% of physiotherapist engaging in CPD, 3 countries reported estimated engagement between 20 and 30%. The other 9 countries did not have engagement percentages available. Participating countries reported positive incentives, such as visibility on a public registry, lump sum payments or renewal of the license to practice amongst others for adherence and negative consequences such as paying a fine or suspending the license to practice for not meeting required benchmarks. Management of the CPD organisational frameworks was shared between professional organisations, regulatory bodies and the government who in some cases, appointed legal entities to act on its behalf. Almost all CPD frameworks are cycle-based systems in which physiotherapists need to acquire points. The data provided by participating physiotherapists is collected by the organising body. Collected data pertains to identifiable personal data and data related to the criteria of the framework. The collected data was not used for research, quality promotion or policy development. Surprisingly, not all organisations had data ownership policies in place.
The cycle-based voluntary or mandatory CPD frameworks require European physiotherapists to collect points. The data collected through the frameworks is not used for research or policy development. Some frameworks seem robust while others are only setup to enforce adherence.
This study presents a first European overview on CPD frameworks for physiotherapists. Follow-up research is necessary to mirror the framework elements to policy addressing quality of physiotherapy care.
Policy Development
Data collection
