Emergency department physiotherapists: consideration of perceived barriers and facilitators to help optimise their role in the Australian emergency department
Dublin Core
Title
Emergency department physiotherapists: consideration of perceived barriers and facilitators to help optimise their role in the Australian emergency department
Subject
Physiotherapy, Emergency department, Emergency physiotherapist
Description
Abstract
Questions What are the current barriers and facilitators to the role of ED physiotherapists? How do ED
physiotherapists believe their role may be optimised within the context of the ED?
Design Mixed methods study using a cross sectional survey.
Participants Australian physiotherapists currently providing services to patients within an Australian emergency
department.
Intervention N/A.
Outcome measures The survey included questions related to the level of integration of ED physiotherapy into
emergency department teams and wider health system, and open answer questions to identify the factors which
impact and influence ED physiotherapy practice, and the future of ED physiotherapy.
Results 1 - Organisational culture, 2 - training and credentialling, 3 - governance, legislation and policies, 4 - funding,
and 5 - advocacy and research were the five major themes generated from participant comments on existing
facilitators and barriers to their role and the role of ED physiotherapists nationally. Six themes were generated from
participant comments regarding the strategies to overcome barriers and facilitate an increased contribution by ED
physiotherapists in the future: 1 - Training opportunities and specialisation pathways, 2 - Organisational culture, 3 -
Governance, legislation and policies, 4 - Funding, 5 - Advocacy, 6 - Medicolegal Risks.
Conclusion Australian emergency department physiotherapists perceive their roles and emergency physiotherapy
service provision to be impacted by complex and multi-factorial influences. The overall contribution of ED
physiotherapy is susceptible to influence from non-linear interactions of various agents and factors which span all
levels of the health system.
Trial registration N/A.
Key Messages
What was already known on this topic
Very little was previously known regarding the perceptions of ED physiotherapists and how to increase their
contribution to emergency department care. ED staff understanding of ED physiotherapy role was previously
identified as the main barrier to the ED physiotherapist’s role.
What this study adds
This study demonstrated and details the complex and multifactorial influences which are perceived to impact ED
physiotherapists currently and into the future. This research may be used to better inform healthcare redesign and
innovation to improve ED physiotherapist’s ability to respond to ED workforce shortages and increased demand.
Keywords Physiotherapy, Emergency department, Emergency physiotherapist
Questions What are the current barriers and facilitators to the role of ED physiotherapists? How do ED
physiotherapists believe their role may be optimised within the context of the ED?
Design Mixed methods study using a cross sectional survey.
Participants Australian physiotherapists currently providing services to patients within an Australian emergency
department.
Intervention N/A.
Outcome measures The survey included questions related to the level of integration of ED physiotherapy into
emergency department teams and wider health system, and open answer questions to identify the factors which
impact and influence ED physiotherapy practice, and the future of ED physiotherapy.
Results 1 - Organisational culture, 2 - training and credentialling, 3 - governance, legislation and policies, 4 - funding,
and 5 - advocacy and research were the five major themes generated from participant comments on existing
facilitators and barriers to their role and the role of ED physiotherapists nationally. Six themes were generated from
participant comments regarding the strategies to overcome barriers and facilitate an increased contribution by ED
physiotherapists in the future: 1 - Training opportunities and specialisation pathways, 2 - Organisational culture, 3 -
Governance, legislation and policies, 4 - Funding, 5 - Advocacy, 6 - Medicolegal Risks.
Conclusion Australian emergency department physiotherapists perceive their roles and emergency physiotherapy
service provision to be impacted by complex and multi-factorial influences. The overall contribution of ED
physiotherapy is susceptible to influence from non-linear interactions of various agents and factors which span all
levels of the health system.
Trial registration N/A.
Key Messages
What was already known on this topic
Very little was previously known regarding the perceptions of ED physiotherapists and how to increase their
contribution to emergency department care. ED staff understanding of ED physiotherapy role was previously
identified as the main barrier to the ED physiotherapist’s role.
What this study adds
This study demonstrated and details the complex and multifactorial influences which are perceived to impact ED
physiotherapists currently and into the future. This research may be used to better inform healthcare redesign and
innovation to improve ED physiotherapist’s ability to respond to ED workforce shortages and increased demand.
Keywords Physiotherapy, Emergency department, Emergency physiotherapist
Creator
Tina Vickery1*, Lindsey Brett2
and Taryn Jones3
and Taryn Jones3
Source
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-024-00714-1
Date
2024
Contributor
Peri Irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Collection
Citation
Tina Vickery1*, Lindsey Brett2
and Taryn Jones3, “Emergency department physiotherapists: consideration of perceived barriers and facilitators to help optimise their role in the Australian emergency department,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12439.