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The clinical reasoning processes of extended scope physiotherapists assessing low back pain

The clinical reasoning processes of extended scope physiotherapists assessing low back pain
The clinical reasoning processes of extended scope physiotherapists assessing low back pain
The role of the extended scope physiotherapist has developed relatively recently within health-care. The extended role has utilised the skills of allied health professionals including physiotherapists, and given them autonomy to use knowledge and clinical acumen to request investigations such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as part of the diagnostic process. These requests and processes are delivered outside their traditional scope of practice. Further knowledge on how these practitioners clinically reason is therefore needed as there is little within the literature regarding reasoning in this specific group of clinicians. This research aids in the development of future roles, the governance of services, whilst supporting the training of clinical reasoning for new recruits to this work. This qualitative study has explored the processes by which extended scope physiotherapists clinically reason decisions regarding patients reporting low back pain. The study has used a multiple case study design informed by grounded theory methodology with focus groups and semi-structured interviews as a method to investigate these processes. The themes identified included prior thinking, patient interaction, formal testing, time, safety and accountability, external/internal and gut feeling. Subtle differences in clinical reasoning were seen in the focus group study between ESP and non-ESP clinicians. The processes of clinical reasoning are presented that suggests how these clinicians reason whilst highlighting how they differ to non-extended scope physiotherapists.
physiotherapy, reasoning, back, pain
Langridge, Neil John
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Langridge, Neil John
e5c66a16-c2f1-4064-ae8a-e48d05a70025
Kersten, P.
b5c4e49b-d73b-46f1-bdc4-266170562b67
Roberts, L.
0a937943-5246-4877-bd6b-4dcd172b5cd0

Langridge, Neil John (2013) The clinical reasoning processes of extended scope physiotherapists assessing low back pain. University of Southampton, Faculty of Health Sciences, Doctoral Thesis, 240pp.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

The role of the extended scope physiotherapist has developed relatively recently within health-care. The extended role has utilised the skills of allied health professionals including physiotherapists, and given them autonomy to use knowledge and clinical acumen to request investigations such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as part of the diagnostic process. These requests and processes are delivered outside their traditional scope of practice. Further knowledge on how these practitioners clinically reason is therefore needed as there is little within the literature regarding reasoning in this specific group of clinicians. This research aids in the development of future roles, the governance of services, whilst supporting the training of clinical reasoning for new recruits to this work. This qualitative study has explored the processes by which extended scope physiotherapists clinically reason decisions regarding patients reporting low back pain. The study has used a multiple case study design informed by grounded theory methodology with focus groups and semi-structured interviews as a method to investigate these processes. The themes identified included prior thinking, patient interaction, formal testing, time, safety and accountability, external/internal and gut feeling. Subtle differences in clinical reasoning were seen in the focus group study between ESP and non-ESP clinicians. The processes of clinical reasoning are presented that suggests how these clinicians reason whilst highlighting how they differ to non-extended scope physiotherapists.

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More information

Published date: June 2013
Additional Information: To be published in Manual Therapy
Keywords: physiotherapy, reasoning, back, pain
Organisations: University of Southampton, Faculty of Health Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 354124
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/354124
PURE UUID: 641373c8-e15b-402c-925e-06dcdd22888a
ORCID for L. Roberts: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2662-6696

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 08 Jul 2013 12:24
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 02:53

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Contributors

Author: Neil John Langridge
Thesis advisor: P. Kersten
Thesis advisor: L. Roberts ORCID iD

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