Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40354470›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2025

The educational pathway to Advanced Practice for the physiotherapist: A systematic mixed studies review.

Kaitlyn Maddigan, Chris Davis, Brendan Saville, Kathryn Nishimura, Jennifer Van Bussel, Andrews K Tawiah, Katie L Kowalski, Alison B Rushton

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
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

8 authors.

Kaitlyn MaddiganSchool of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9666-309X
Chris DavisSchool of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7172-7061
Brendan SavilleFowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic, 3M Centre, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Kathryn NishimuraFowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic, 3M Centre, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Jennifer Van BusselSchool of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Andrews K TawiahSchool of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Katie L KowalskiSchool of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2130-652X
Alison B RushtonSchool of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8114-7669

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAdvanced Practice Physiotherapy (APP) is a higher level of practice grounded in 4 pillars: clinical practice, leadership, education and research. A critical step toward successful integration and sustainability of APP in healthcare systems is understanding the educational pathway to APP.

objectives1) To describe the post-licensure educational pathways that physiotherapists engage in to advance their level of practice. 2) To evaluate demonstration of the pillars of APP by the physiotherapist after traversing a post-licensure educational pathway.

methodsThis systematic mixed studies review is reported in accordance with PRISMA and pre-registered (PROSPERO: CRD42024499563). 8 databases plus the grey literature were searched. 2 independent reviewers determined eligibility, extracted data, assessed quality (QuADS) and determined the overall confidence in the cumulative evidence (GRADE-CERQual).

results81 studies (18 qualitative, 17 mixed methods, 46 quantitative) were included in a data based convergent qualitative synthesis. 6 distinct post-licensure educational pathways were described and evaluated: Masters level education, residency and fellowship programs, accredited area of practice education, mentorship, multiple encounter courses and single encounter courses.

conclusionThere is a high level of confidence (GRADE-CERQual) in the finding that Masters level education consistently resulted in all 4 pillars demonstrated by the physiotherapist. Masters level education appears to be the optimal pathway to APP.

Indexed as

Physical TherapistsHumans

Identifiers

PMID40354470
PMCPMC12068731

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.