The identity of physiotherapy: language, values and practice

ISRCTN	ISRCTN00944532
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN00944532
Protocol serial number	PRF/09/04
Sponsor	Cardiff University (UK)
Funder	Physiotherapy Research Foundation (UK) (ref: PRF/09/04)

Submission date: 02/08/2010
Registration date: 16/08/2010
Last edited: 18/04/2017

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Other

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Ms Gwyneth Owen
Scientific

Physiotherapy Department
School of Healthcare Studies
Cardiff University
Ty Dewi Sant
Heath Park Campus
Cardiff
CF14 4XN
United Kingdom

Study information

Primary study design	Observational
Study design	Observational cross-section survey
Secondary study design	Cross sectional study
Study type	Participant information sheet
Scientific title	The identity of physiotherapy: a document analysis of text-based materials and biographical interviews with physiotherapists who have been practising since 1950s/1960s to assess the evolution of physiotherapy as a profession
Study objectives	Research objectives: 1. Using documents and oral histories, explore the values and identity that have shaped physiotherapy since its inception in 1894 2. Using oral histories and documentary evidence, assess the factors identified by that are viewed as having informed and influenced the evolution of physiotherapy as a profession in the private and public health system in the UK (i.e. internal and external drivers) 3. Explore, through oral histories and accounts, the lived experiences and understandings of the evolution of the profession of physiotherapy in the UK 4. Assess the choices available to physiotherapy for its ongoing evolution
Ethics approval(s)	Cardiff University School of Social Sciences Ethics Committee, 05/06/2008, ref: SREC/375
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Physiotherapy
Intervention	Two inter-related approaches will be used to collect data/generate analysis: document analysis of text-based materials, and biographical interviewing of physiotherapists who have been practicing since 1950s/1960s. The document analysis aims to uncover the various forces that have constructed and shaped the subjectivities and professional practices of physiotherapy. The search of text-based materials will focus on key events in physiotherapy's history from 1945 to present and will be informed by the content of the biographical interviews. A series of interviews will be conducted with up to 12 retired physiotherapists who have been practicing since the 1950s/1960s. The first interview invites the participant to share their experiences of physiotherapy - from the decision to enter the profession, through to the present day. This interview will be transcribed, shared with participant and will form the basis of the second interview which aims to relate the individual's story to the themes emerging from the document analysis, and to consider how the participant would like their story represented. The first interview will last between 1 - 2 hours (possibly longer - depending on the participant's story and story-telling style), while the second will run for about 1 - 1.5 hours. Further follow-up may be necessary - with participants' consent - depending on the themes emerging from the research.
Intervention type	Other
Primary outcome measure(s)	The outcome of the research will be an account of the evolution of physiotherapy as a profession - illustrated by documentary evidence and a series of biographies of up to 12 physiotherapists who have been practicing since the 1950s/1960s (the content and format of each biography will be negotiated with individual participants). The research will be presented as a PhD thesis, and other formats e.g. CD-ROM; academic papers.
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	No secondary outcome measures
Completion date	01/12/2011

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Health professional
Age group	Adult
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	12
Key inclusion criteria	1. Physiotherapists who qualified to practice during the 1950s and 1960s 2. Accessible within 4 hours travel of Cardiff 3. Male and female, aged 65 years and above
Key exclusion criteria	Physiotherapists who are practising within the National Health Service
Date of first enrolment	01/06/2010
Date of final enrolment	01/12/2011

Locations

Countries of recruitment

United Kingdom
Wales

Study participating centre

Cardiff University

Cardiff
CF14 4XN
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Participant information sheet	Participant information sheet	11/11/2025	11/11/2025	No	Yes

Editorial Notes

18/04/2017: No publications found, verifying study status with principal investigator.