Entrustable Professional Activities for Physiotherapy: A Mixed-methods Study for Prototype Validation

Abstract

Background

Entrustable Professional Activities are typical profession-specific activities that can be entrusted to students once they have reached the required level of independence. They serve to bridge the gap between competences and professional practice. While already implemented in medicine in Switzerland, Entrustable Professional Activities remain largely unfamiliar in physiotherapy. In 2023, a pilot project at Bern University of Applied Sciences developed prototypes in the musculoskeletal field, specifically for the clinical training of physiotherapy students.

Aim

To evaluate the validity of the prototypes and explores the feasibility of incorporating the concept into the physiotherapy curriculum.

Method

A mixed method approach was chosen to address the research questions. The quantitative validation of the prototypes was conducted using the “EQual Rubric for EPAs” questionnaire. In the qualitative part, questions relating to the feasibility and needs of future users were discussed in focus groups and analysed using Knowledge Mapping.

Results

Quantitative: 7 physiotherapy experts completed the questionnaire, and 3 focus groups were conducted with a total of 20 participants. The evaluation of the validation questionnaires shows a mean score across all prototypes of 4,42 out of 5. Apart from “Patient management” (3.96 points), all prototypes achieved the predefined quality threshold of 4,07 points. The interrater agreement, with an Intraclass Correlation Coefficient of 0.77 (95 % Confidence Interval = 0.07–0.83), was rated as good. Qualitative: Based on the main topics “Entrustable Professional Activities in the clinical training of students”, “Assessment of prototypes”, “Structure of decision tree” and “Portfolio”, 15 subcategories were identified.

Conclusions

The prototypes and their descriptions can serve as a foundation for future development. The results show potential benefits for the clinical education of students, provided that the needs of future users are addressed.

Keywords

entrustable professional activities - physiotherapy - clinical education - students

Schlüsselwörter

Entrustable Professional Activities - Physiotherapie - Praxisausbildung - Studierende

Publication History

Received: 20 January 2025

Accepted: 11 June 2025

Article published online:
24 July 2025

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