Carole Watkins
School of Social Science and Public Policy
Physiotherapists’ experiences with older adults and their influence
on clinical practice: an exploratory single case pilot study
Evidence suggests that clinical placements influence the attitudes of physiotherapy
students towards older adults, and that clinical educators may be central to a positive
clinical experience. However there is minimal evidence exploring how clinical
educator experiences with older adults might influence the attitudes of physiotherapy
students. This pilot research adopted a single case study approach, using an indepth semi-structured interview to explore an experienced physiotherapist’s life
course experiences with older adults and how these experiences informed their
practice and education of physiotherapy students. Thematic analysis identified two
overarching themes: early life/career experiences, including encounters with
‘inspirational’ older adults exemplifying positive ageing and resilience in facing health
challenges, influencing the choice of a ‘caring’ career and a desire to care
holistically; diverse professional experiences leading to a view that acute hospitals
were the least suitable care environments for holistic management of older adults,
with less value placed on their rehabilitation compared to younger patients. These
experiences resulted in a clinical education emphasis on holistic management,
valuing individuals regardless of age; seeing the ‘person’, and ‘doing things right the
first time’. This study suggests experiences with older adults influence a clinical
educator’s career choice, clinical practice and education of physiotherapy students.
Postgraduate Conference 2016
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