Advanced Practice Physiotherapy in Canada: A Survey of Canadian Physiotherapists

Advanced practice physiotherapy (APP) represents an important development for the physiotherapy profession worldwide but few studies have documented these models in Canada and the physiotherapists working in such models. The objective of this study was to identify and describe Canadian physiotherapists in APP roles and their models of care (MoC) and identify barriers and facilitators of APP development in Canada.

An electronic survey was sent to Canadian physiotherapists with the collaboration of various professional organizations. The questionnaire included 37 questions about APP roles and MoC.

Fifty-seven physiotherapists identified themselves as APPs and completed the survey. Most practised in private clinics (58.1%) or outpatient orthopaedic clinics (27.9%) and provided care to adults (95.3%) with orthopaedics disorders (86.0%). Most APPs were involved in first-contact and leading overall care (52.3%) or triage roles where they identify surgical candidates (68.2%). APPs mentioned their roles were established to improve care efficiency (82.1%) and were viewed positively by medical teams (76.9%) and patients (76.9%). Professional regulations (32.4%) and funding of roles and models (24.3%) were identified as barriers.

Results of this study provide new original data regarding APP practice and MoC in Canada, acknowledging the various APP MoC and roles of respondents.