I had a great conversation with a colleague today, that stemmed from an ongoing discussion we’re having in our department about moving our practical assessments towards an OSCE-type format. We’ve been thinking about standardising on our assessments for a while but have never had dedicated time to work on it…not that we have any now, but we’ve finally realised that it’s important enough to make time. Besides, it’s something I’m particularly interested in as it ties in closely with my PhD research.
Piggy-backing on that conversation, we then started talking about the possibility of a standardised, national physiotherapy core curriculum, developed by lecturers from all departments in the country. We would look at the SAQA outcome levels, as well as HPCSA requirements for the profession, our shared teaching, learning and assessment practices, our content, and anything else related to producing graduates who are physiotherapists, as opposed to people who know about physiotherapy.
I’ve been told that some South African physiotherapy academics (and clinicians) are close-minded control freaks, jealously guarding their own little worlds, who would. But (mostly) I don’t believe that, and if they are, it’s only because the rest of us haven’t made the benefits of sharing clear.
So, a collaborative national core curriculum in physiotherapy is my pipe dream…anyone interested?
Hi Russell, thanks for your comment. As it happens, two of my colleagues who I’m having the conversation with are associated with the SASP. One sits on the board and the other is the editor of the journal. The idea is not to proceed without buy in from the regulatory bodies, but to work with everyone in the field to develop a curriculum that sees all institutions actively working towards a scholarship of teaching and learning. We think this will produce a better therapist, and ultimately better patient care.
I was wondering if you have any ideas about developing a core curriculum? Was there a specific process you used as a guideline?
The International Association for the Study of Pain has developed a core curriculum for Professional Education in Pain. This is maintained by IASP. If you were to investigate developing a core curriculum for physio in SA the project would need to be led and maintained by either the HPCSA or the Physio Society. Failing that you would need considerable buy-in from those organisations to ensure that all the work to develop the core curriculum does not go to waste.