Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42060181›Full record

ArticleJournal of occupational rehabilitation2026

Are Newly Graduated Physiotherapists in Quebec Prepared for Work Rehabilitation Practice? A Mixed Method Study.

Christian Longtin, Quan Nha Hong, Marie-France Coutu, Naz Yagmur Alpdogan, Lesley Singer, Lynn Cooper, André Bussières, Junie Carrière, Michaël Bertrand-Charette, Kadija Perreault and 2 more

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Article in Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

12 authors.

Christian LongtinCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR), Montreal, QC, Canada. christian.longtin2@mcgill.ca.
Quan Nha HongCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR), Montreal, QC, Canada.
Marie-France CoutuSchool of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
Naz Yagmur AlpdoganSchool of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Lesley SingerSchool of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Lynn CooperCanadian Injured Workers Alliance, Thunder Bay, Canada.
André BussièresSchool of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Junie CarrièreSchool of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
Michaël Bertrand-CharettePhysiotherapy Education, Department of Health Sciences, Université du Québec À Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, QC, Canada.
Kadija PerreaultCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (Cirris), CIUSSS de La Capitale-Nationale, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
Anne HudonCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR), Montreal, QC, Canada.
Timothy H WidemanCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR), Montreal, QC, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposePhysiotherapists are frontline providers in supporting the return-to-work process of individuals with musculoskeletal disorders. However, many report feeling unprepared for work rehabilitation following entry-level training. This study explored recent physiotherapy graduates in Quebec, Canada, perceived preparedness to practice in work rehabilitation and its influencing factors. MATERIALS AND

methodsA convergent mixed methods design grounded in a competency-based framework was used. Recent graduates from physiotherapy programs completed a cross-sectional survey rating their perceived preparedness across seven work rehabilitation competencies. Semi-structured individual interviews explored how their training prepared them for work rehabilitation practice. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, and interviews were thematically analyzed. Findings were integrated through a joint display to contextualize preparedness ratings with qualitative insights.

resultsTwenty-five recent graduates from five physiotherapy programs across the province of Quebec completed both the survey and the interview. Perceived preparedness was highest for competencies on person-centered care and collaborative treatment planning, and lowest for psychosocial factors management, collaboration with involved actors, compensation system navigation, and return-to-work support. Three overarching themes influenced perceived preparedness: (1) role perceptions in work rehabilitation, (2) enablers such as supportive curriculum elements, and (3) challenges including stigma toward injured workers and limited work rehabilitation-specific training. A fourth theme described strategies to improve work rehabilitation training.

conclusionsRecent physiotherapy graduates reported varying levels of perceived preparedness for work rehabilitation, with the lowest ratings associated with managing psychosocial factors, collaborating with involved actors, navigating compensation systems, and supporting return to work. These gaps were linked to limited work rehabilitation training, perceived role ambiguity, and exposure to stigma. Future research should develop strategies to improve work rehabilitation training in physiotherapy programs.

Indexed as

CompetenciesPhysiotherapyWork preparednessWork rehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID42060181

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Registered trials

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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.