Communication and interpersonal Helping Skills: An Essential Component in Physiotherapy Education?

The rationale and content for an interdisciplinary communication and interpersonal helping skills programme taught to third year Physiotherapy students is described, noting in particular the need to integrate a general counselling model with specific interviewing and clinical skills required by Physiotherapists. A programme evaluation based on the participation of 97 students is described. Evaluation techniques included meetings of the independent evaluator with student representatives, and completion by students of several forms evaluating general and specific aspects of the programme. Overall, the results were positive and supportive of the rationale and content of the programme. A pre- and post-test design was used to assess outcome in terms of student priorities, results of which are discussed with reference to the measuring instrument's focus on ratings of performance as distinct from specific behaviours. Directives for the future development of the programme are highlighted.