"Passion to do the right thing": searching for the 'good' in physiotherapist practice

Background Practitioners' perspectives of what constitutes a 'good' physiotherapist have not been explicitly examined despite their potential implications for the future practice of physiotherapy. Physiotherapists' perceptions may inform professional priorities including education curricula, professional practices, competency profiles, and patient interactions. Purpose The purpose of this research was to examine physiotherapists' perceptions of what constitutes a 'good' physiotherapist. The context of the study was musculoskeletal practice (MSK). Methods A hermeneutic phenomenological investigation was undertaken. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve experienced MSK physiotherapists to examine their perceptions of what constitutes a 'good' physiotherapist. Findings Seven themes were identified. Good physiotherapists were depicted as: 1) oriented to care; 2) integrating knowledge sources; 3) competent; 4) responsive; 5) reflective; 6) communicative; and 7) reasoning. To deepen the understanding of these themes, we discuss the findings in relation to Joan Toronto's ethic of care theory. Conclusions Physiotherapists' perceptions of what constitutes a 'good' physiotherapist highlight practices that may underpin an ethic of care including the pivotal role of person-centered and relational dimensions of practice. The findings call into question the profession's emphasis on a technical rationalist approach to education and clinical practice and invites conversation about future directions that balance technical competence with relational dimensions of practice.