Teaching Physiotherapy Skills in Culturally-Diverse Classes
Author Information
Author(s): Bialocerkowski Andrea, Wells Cherie, Grimmer-Somers Karen
Primary Institution: University of Western Sydney
Hypothesis
How can physiotherapy education accommodate the cultural needs of a diverse student body?
Conclusion
A framework was developed to provide equitable physiotherapy education opportunities for all students, which can be applied to other health professions.
Supporting Evidence
- Cultural competence is essential for effective physiotherapy practice.
- Students from diverse backgrounds may have specific cultural needs that impact their learning.
- Educators need to adapt teaching methods to accommodate cultural differences.
Takeaway
This study shows that when students come from different cultures, teachers need to find ways to help everyone learn together, even if they have different beliefs about things like touching or changing clothes.
Methodology
The study involved identifying cultural issues faced by first-year physiotherapy students and developing a framework to address these issues in teaching.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in addressing cultural needs may arise if educators do not fully understand or respect the diverse backgrounds of students.
Limitations
The study may not address all cultural issues that could arise in future cohorts of students.
Participant Demographics
The cohort included 59 first-year physiotherapy students, with 47% identifying as being from a non-Australian background, representing 16 different cultures.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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