First and final year physiotherapy students' expectations of their future profession.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Students' expectations of their future profession may have an impact on their professional development. This study aimed to describe first and final year physiotherapy students' expectations of their future profession. METHODS: A total of 96 respondents participated; 45 students in their first semester 2006, and 51 students in their final semester 2014. Individual written reflections were analyzed separately for each semester, using qualitative manifest inductive content analysis. RESULTS: The analysis resulted in six categories from each semester. The categories from the first semester were: 1) Professional and person-centered; 2) Promote health in a holistic way; 3) Competence makes the patient and therapist feel confident; 4) Focus on education and behavioral change; 5) Confirmed as a role model; and 6) The impact of previous experiences and an unknown situation. The categories from the final semester were: 1) Interaction and learning; 2) Confidence by competence; 3) Value the work environment and knowledge exchange; 4) Personal goals and strategies; 5) Specialist or generalist work; and 6) Work with public health in a global world. CONCLUSIONS: In the first semester, students described different work approaches, while students in the last semester described how approaches were to be used. Furthermore, students in their first semester referred more to previous experiences, while students in their final semester developed strategies to achieve their professional goals. These findings might contribute to guide students' in their continuous professional development based on their experiences and expectations.

How physiotherapists promote physical activity at long-term care facilities for older adults.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is important for residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) for older adults. Still, many spend most of their time in sedentary activities. How physiotherapists, with competence in physical activity, promote physical activity for residents has previously not been studied from a wide perspective. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe how physiotherapists at LTCFs for older adults, promote physical activity for the individual resident and how they work to support the facility to promote the residents' physical activity. METHOD: A cross-sectional mixed methods study was performed by convenience sampling, using a digital survey sent via professional networks, to reach physiotherapists at LTCFs in Sweden. Qualitative data were analyzed through manifest inductive content analysis. Quantitative data were summarized descriptively. RESULTS: Ninety-seven survey responses were analyzed from physiotherapists at LTCFs in Sweden. Five categories emerged from the qualitative analysis: 1) Knowledge for active daily living; 2) Adapt to present circumstances and priorities; 3) Methods for exercise and to stay active in daily living; 4) Acts and adjustments for the resident; and 5) Communication to promote activity. The quantitative result shows that work priorities were similar, while the work context varied. CONCLUSION: Physiotherapists at LTCFs for older adults used a range of methods to promote physical activity for residents, and to support the facility in promoting physical activity.