The professional development and career journey into musculoskeletal first contact physiotherapy: a telephone interview study

Background: Musculoskeletal (MSK) first contact physiotherapy (FCP) is being rolled out in the National Health Service, but limited research exists on career pathways into MSK FCP, or on pre-and-post-registration educational preparation for the knowledge and skills that are required for musculoskeletal first contact physiotherapy. Objectives: From the perspectives of existing MSK FCPs, the study sought to understand the pre-and-post-registration professional developmental journey into musculoskeletal first contact physiotherapy. Methods: Semistructured interviews over the telephone were conducted with a self-selected and snowball sample of 15 MSK FCPs from across Britain. Framework analysis was used to analyze the interview transcripts. Results: Four overarching themes were identified: (1) Decision to choose a career path as a MSK FCP; (2) Relevancy of pre-registration physiotherapy (PT) education for MSK FCP; (3) Relevancy of post-registration continuing professional development for MSK FCP, and; (4) Improving pre-registration PT education for the foundational knowledge and skills required to work in musculoskeletal first contact physiotherapy. Each overarching theme generated several subthemes. Conclusion: The research contributes to understanding the career pathway into the MSK FCP role and showed what relevant knowledge and skills were acquired for this role at pre-and-post registration levels. Findings will inform guidance for pre-registration PT curriculum development.