Beyond Acceptance: The Importance of Expanding on Grief and Loss Education in Physical Therapy Curricula

Grief can be understood as a natural and expected reaction to a loss, including loss of function or ability, that triggers a cognitive search for existential meaning as a way of adapting to a new reality. Although the concept of grief has been well defined in the realm of psychology, literature suggests that many health care practitioners do not have an educational foundation about grief, which affects their ability to provide support to grieving clients.

Thoughtfully integrating the topic of grief and loss into physical therapy curricula is essential. To underscore the importance of grief education, this article seeks to identify the importance of grief and loss in the profession, explore how these topics are approached in relevant health professions programs, and describe how physical therapy education programs can integrate contemporary educational approaches into their curriculums to best prepare future practitioners.

Given the high likelihood of physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) interacting with an individual experiencing grief, it is imperative that grief and loss be addressed in entry-level programs. Pedagogical approaches like simulation-based educational experiences have demonstrated efficacy in other health professions educational programs and should be considered for use in physical therapy education, while balancing time, resource, and cost constraints. Future research can clarify the impact of grief on physical therapy outcomes and how intentional efforts to improve grief literacy in physical therapy students may improve their confidence, positively affecting the client experience.