Meeting current needs in mental health physical therapy: a qualitative study of students’ experiences
The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice
ISSN: 1755-6228
Article publication date: 2 February 2022
Issue publication date: 22 July 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study was directed toward how a group of fourth year bachelor physiotherapy students describes their experiences, attitudes and beliefs from participating in a course of 40 h lasting three months in basic body awareness therapy (BBAT).
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative study using phenomenological exploratory design was conducted. A total of 125 physiotherapy students within the subject of mental health physiotherapy, in the fourth year’s study course belonging participated. The BBAT introduction course consisted of 20 h theory and 20 h practical implementation with a particular focus on promoting movement quality through a movement awareness learning strategy. The course was carried out through three consecutive years. Data were collected through using focus group interview at the end of each movement session and qualitative face-to-face research interview at the end of the whole course.
Findings
The data-analysis revealed 16 emerging themes grouped into four categories: physical perceptions, body awareness characteristics, self-awareness and body awareness professional development.
Research limitations/implications
This study highlights key experiences after attending a course on BBAT. In addition, it points out that to achieve movement quality awareness among the students, there is a need to include more self-training in the curriculum.
Practical implications
The movement quality learning process is necessary to develop the mental health physiotherapy program. The experiences of students while body awareness learning process included physical perceptions, body awareness characteristics, self-awareness and professional development.
Originality/value
This study is among the first to describe the experiences of students when a movement awareness learning methodology is applied. In physiotherapy in mental health, this learning process is relevant for the application of BBAT.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank all the participants in the qualitative study, as well as the staff of University of Lleida and Fundation of Bages.
Ethics approval and consent to participate. This study be approved by the ethical Committee of Clinical Research of Arnau de Vilanova of Lleida with number CEIC-2407. The consent form to participate in the study has been wrote according to the Helsinki Declaration. That consent form will be explained orally and it will be provided in writing before being signed. That project has been approved by the Faculty of Nursing and Physical therapy of University of Lleida.
Consent for publication. The authors transfer the ownership of copyright to the journal Trials should their work be published in this journal. They state that the article is original, has not been submitted for publication in other journals and has not yet been published either wholly or in part. They state that they are responsible for the research that they have designed and carried out; that they have participated in drafting and revising the manuscript submitted, whose contents they approve.
Competing interests. The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.
Citation
Bravo, C., Skjaerven, L.H., Guitard, L., Rubí-Carnacea, F. and Catalan-Matamoros, D. (2022), "Meeting current needs in mental health physical therapy: a qualitative study of students’ experiences", The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, Vol. 17 No. 5, pp. 429-442. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-07-2021-0073
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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