Developing an international competency and capability framework for advanced practice physiotherapy: a scoping review...

Area of Science:

• Physiotherapy
• Healthcare Policy
• Professional Competencies

Background:

• Growing demand for healthcare and physician shortages necessitate evolving physiotherapy roles.
• Advanced practice physiotherapy is expanding globally but lacks standardized frameworks.
• Current practice variations hinder consistent education and training for advanced physiotherapists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and map existing advanced practice physiotherapy competencies in the literature.
• To develop a comprehensive competency and capability framework for advanced practice physiotherapy.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review utilizing the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA methodology.
• Searches conducted across CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE Ovid, PubMed, and Scopus databases.
• Narrative synthesis employed to develop the competency and capability framework.

Main Results:

• Nineteen documents (13 grey literature, 6 research papers) from five countries were included.
• Twenty-seven competencies and capabilities were identified and organized into seven domains.
• The review predominantly focused on musculoskeletal physiotherapy, with some coverage of cardiorespiratory and pelvic health.

Conclusions:

• This study presents the first integrated competency and capability framework for advanced practice physiotherapy across multiple countries.
• The developed framework is a foundational step towards international recognition and standardization of advanced physiotherapy practice.
• This framework will support consistent education, training, and practice for advanced physiotherapists worldwide.