From passenger to citizen-portraits of learning to be a physiotherapist.
Sarah Barradell
PMID 36380552WHAT IT FOUND
Physiotherapy students describe their learning journey as moving from passive passengers to active citizens.
Educators can use these four portraits to understand student perspectives and design activities that foster agency and professional identity rather than just skill acquisition.
Key findings
01Four exemplary portraits were developed to represent student experiences: passenger, tourist, resident, and citizen.
02The portraits differ based on the learner's disposition and capacity for independence regarding knowledge, skills, and values.
03Transitioning between these portraits is described as unsettling and problematic for learners.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (13 participants) and drawn from a single Australian university, limiting generalisability. The study focused on student experience rather than clinical outcomes or patient care. No international students were included, and sociocultural factors were not a primary lens for analysis. The portraits are interpretive and may not capture the totality of every student's experience.
Declared interests
The author declares no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not use these portraits as a diagnostic tool to categorise or judge individual students' competence. They are qualitative representations of learning approaches, not validated measures of clinical skill or professional readiness.