A team of Lecturers from University of Liverpool led by Dr Cliona McRobert have launched an important research study based on the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy’s four pillars of practice. The research team share a diverse background that spans advanced clinical practice, research and under and post-graduate physiotherapy university education and are passionate about using robust research to inform critical decisions regarding their forthcoming physiotherapy programme redesign.
Considering the pre-registration physiotherapy programme from the perspectives of the evidence-base, clinical reality and curriculum design, Dr Cliona McRobert highlights the gaps and absence of absolute certainty in many clinical areas. The team also acknowledge the common challenge shared by physiotherapy degree programmes; designing curricula that encompass both best evidence and contemporary clinical practice.
The team at University of Liverpool aim to identify what approaches/modalities are currently being (i) used by UK-based musculoskeletal physiotherapists in practice and (ii) taught by UK-based lecturers in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, including the important questions of why and why not. It is hoped that findings of this study will inform not only programme design at University of Liverpool but programme design nationally.
A study such as this requires a substantial sample size in order to reflect diversity as well as identify key trends to act upon. Therefore, we invite and encourage you to add your voices to this important research: https://liverpool.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/mskcurriculumsurvey
Please distribute this invitation widely amongst your colleagues and professional peers.
If you have any questions about this study or would like to notified of the results, please contact Dr Cliona McRobert via email on or via Twitter.