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Veena Raigangar, Laura Rix, Simon Tomlinson, Libby Nash, Freya Mist
Purpose:
This study aims to explore the impact of clinical practice placements on physiotherapy student’s knowledge, understanding and ability to implement BPS approaches for patients with chronic pain, an area in which there is limited research.
Methods:
A qualitative design using semi-structured interviews was undertaken. Participants were physiotherapy students studying at a UK university. Six interviews were recorded via Microsoft Teams, and transcribed verbatim.
Reflexive thematic analysis was used to explore themes within the participants responses, whilst considering the influence of the researchers' interpretations.
Results:
Three main themes were identified; experiential learning, university education and factors influencing implementation of BPS approaches. Students felt underprepared by their university to implement BPS approaches, however, students' confidence and ability improved with experience and observation of others.
Conclusion(s):
Overall, students found authentic clinical experience beneficial to facilitate understanding and implementation of BPS approaches. Further research exploring physiotherapy students' ability to implement BPS approaches following comprehensive pain management training and focused learning within clinical settings may be beneficial.
Implications:
This project will help add BPS in the wider context of the school.
Funding acknowledgements:
This work was unfunded
Keywords:
biopsychosocial
clinical experience
starters
clinical experience
starters
Primary topic:
Education
Second topic:
Professionalism & ethics
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
Research Ethics committee, University of Brighton
Provide the ethics approval number:
N/A
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
Yes
