Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39654493›Full record

ArticleClinical rehabilitation2025

Validation of the World Health Organization Rehabilitation Competency Framework: An illustration using physiotherapy.

Marieke Mocke, Marianne Unger, Susan Hanekom

Abstract readValidation Study
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical rehabilitation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Marieke MockeDivision of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID 0009-0009-8509-4192
Marianne UngerDivision of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Susan HanekomDivision of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe World Health Organization's Rehabilitation 2030 initiative represents a new strategic direction for the worldwide rehabilitation community and their Rehabilitation Competency Framework (RCF) was designed to describe the requirements of a rehabilitation workforce. This study aimed to identify and review global physiotherapy competencies and explore their congruence with the WHO-RCF.

designA document review and thematic analysis were conducted on competency documents sourced from World Physiotherapy member countries.

methodsA three-pronged search strategy was used to identify physiotherapy competencies in all World Physiotherapy members that were listed on their website at the time of the study. All competency statements identified were sorted using the definitions of the five domains of the WHO-RCF. A desktop inductive thematic analysis of competencies was conducted to derive a conceptual framework for future competency framework development.

resultsTwo thousand and one competency statements were extracted from 20 documents, all accommodated within the WHO-RCF. From the dataset, a conceptual framework was developed consisting of 17 themes and 59 sub-themes across five domains. Technological competence, entrepreneurship and broader competencies to advance the social justice agenda were identified as gaps.

conclusionTo promote homogeneity, it is recommended that all rehabilitation professionals utilise a similar methodology using the WHO-RCF to develop future frameworks that are contextually relevant. Competencies needed for change in support of equitable access and better health for all should be included.

Indexed as

Clinical CompetencePhysical TherapistsPhysical Therapy ModalitiesRehabilitationWorld Health OrganizationHumansCompetency frameworkshealthphysiotherapyrehabilitationWorld Health Organization Rehabilitation Competency Framework (WHO-RCF)

Identifiers

PMID39654493
PMCPMC11776352

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.