The aim of the research was to explore the views of physiotherapist managers on the requirements to build capacity of physiotherapy placements across the public healthcare system in Ireland and the enablers and barriers to the provision of placements.
A quantitative research approach was followed with physiotherapist managers completing an anonymous online survey to explore the requirements, enablers and barriers to build capacity of practice education placements. Forty physiotherapist managers completed the survey and provided information on workplace details, supply, demand and capacity of placements, knowledge of the National Health and Social Care Professions Quality Framework for Sustainable Practice Education, and requirements, enablers and barriers to build capacity of placements across the public healthcare system.
Demand for placements increased across all healthcare settings. Supply of placements across primary care increased but remained constant in acute care. Twenty-five percent of respondents provided placements under capacity. Respondents in acute care settings used multiple criteria to calculate placement capacity whilst respondents in primary care settings used one criterion. Across both acute and primary care settings, willingness of staff was the most reported criteria to calculate placement capacity. Across all healthcare settings there was no consistent physiotherapist to student ratio. The majority of respondents in primary care agreed that service delivery levels remain constant with students on placement while the majority of respondents in acute care disagreed. There was agreement with nine enablers to placement provision related to the healthcare setting and eight enablers related to practice educators providing student supervision. When the enablers were ranked differences were identified across acute and primary care. Staff shortages was the most reported barrier to placement provision across both acute and primary care. Whilst respondents were aware of the National Health and Social Care Professions Quality Framework for Sustainable Practice Education, 94% of respondents had not implemented it.
There is a requirement for placements to be provided at capacity across all healthcare settings and placement capacity calculated using robust data. A consistent physiotherapist to student ratio and a minimum number of placement days provided by registered physiotherapist must be considered. Healthcare settings must be supported to provide placements to support the future workforce projections and receive financial compensation for each placement week provided. The impact of students on service delivery levels and practice educator caseload should be calculated, with a flexible model of supervision used to support service delivery. Top ranked enablers across acute and primary care must be implemented and supported.
This research explored the views of physiotherapist managers on the requirements to build capacity of placements and the enablers and barriers to placement provision across the Irish public healthcare system in order to meet projected workforce demands.
workforce
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