New ways of working as a physiotherapist in the digital era: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background The digital transformation of health care is moving fast and development of ways of working take place in clinical practice. Objective The aim of this qualitative study was to explore how physiotherapists in primary health care describe their approaches to working in video-based digital physiotherapy. Methods The study was based on semi-structured in-depth interviews with ten physiotherapists with varying levels of experience in primary health care. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results The results show that adapting physiotherapy to a new digital arena is a demanding process. Five categories were identified: Reorientation of clinical reasoning for a digital setting, a substantial transformation of the healthcare system, the impact of professional identity on adaptability, managing unknown expectations, and working in a new arena brings new demands and opportunities. The physiotherapists described a shift that required the development of conversational skills, new methods for gathering assessment data, and the adaptation of interventions to fit digital environments. The study also highlights the need for targeted education, support, and research to guide the development and implementation of digital care. Conclusions The evolution of the professional role in digital physiotherapy should be recognised as a challenging process. To support individual physiotherapists, there is a need for a strong structural foundation in terms of education and technology.

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