Patient-Centered Practices in Physiotherapy Education

Contemporary physiotherapy education has increasingly embraced patient-centred practices as a core pedagogical principle. This shift reflects recognition that graduates must not only master biomechanical assessment and manual techniques but also cultivate empathy, communication skills and shared decision-making. Curricula now integrate the biopsychosocial model to ensure that students appreciate the interdependence of biological, psychological and social factors in health. Experiential learning methods—such as simulated patient encounters, service-learning placements and involvement of patient educators—provide authentic opportunities for learners to engage with diverse patient stories, develop reflective practice and foster collaborative goal-setting. Interprofessional education also encourages students to work alongside other health professions, promoting respectful partnership and holistic care planning. Across different regions, educators are exploring flexible assessments, peer-learning groups and digital platforms to reinforce patient autonomy and self-management support. Despite these advances, challenges remain in ensuring consistency of teaching, providing adequate mentorship and evaluating long-term outcomes of patient-centred training on clinical practice worldwide.

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Patient-Centered Practices in Physiotherapy Education publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in patient-centered practices in physiotherapy education across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Patient-centred care: An approach that prioritises individual patient values, preferences and active participation in all aspects of assessment and treatment.

Biopsychosocial model: A framework recognising that health and illness arise from the interplay of biological, psychological and social factors.

Self-management support: Educational and behavioural interventions designed to enhance a patient’s confidence, skills and motivation to manage their own health and daily activities.

References

1. Experiences, barriers and needs of physiotherapists with regard to providing self-management support to people with low back pain: A qualitative study. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice (2021).
2. Patient values in physiotherapy practice, a qualitative study. Environmental Quality Management (2020).
3. “How can we help you?”: results of a scoping review on the perceived needs of people living with chronic pain regarding physiotherapy. BMC Health Services Research (2024).