PHTY102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Peer Group, Good Clinical Practice, Reflective Practice
14. Reflective practice in physiotherapy
• Define reflective practice
o Reflection is a process through which the individual considers and learns from their
experiences
o Process of reviewing and thinking critically
o Self-awareness of own knowledge and skills in combination with present
circumstances to allow new understanding
o The process of challenging "taken for granted" assumptions
o Recognising that reflections change perceptions - often adopt a new interpretation
o Moving out of our comfort zone
• Outline types of reflective practice
o Reflection in action
• Focusses interactively on the outcomes of action, the action itself, and the
intuitive knowing implicit in the action (tacit knowledge)
• Our thinking serves to reshape what we are doing while we are doing it -
spontaneous
• Conscious, critical and enables on the spot evaluation
• Think of
▪ Independence, initiative, critical thinking
▪ Self-assessment
▪ Communication
▪ Professionalism
▪ Emotional and personal growth
o Reflection before action
o Reflection on action
• The process of making sense of an action after it has occurred
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• Describe how reflective practice can be used in physiotherapy practice
o What is reflective practice in physiotherapy
• The critical analysis of everyday working practices in order to improve
competence and promote professional development
• This process is contingent on the acknowledgement that professional action
may contain errors, for instance when practice is based on faulty assumptions
• The detection of such errors is important if professional/ethical objectives are
to be achieved
• Examining critically the assumptions underlying our actions
• Consideration of the impact of our actions
• Identifying what passes as 'good' clinical practice
• We can equate learning with moments in which we are 'struck' e.g. an 'aha'
moment
o The physiotherapist
• Learns from practice experience
• Examines conception of knowledge
• Thinks about context of practice
• Explores assumptions in practice
• Becomes aware of theories in practice
• Develops a plan
o Reflection should provide insight into
• How decisions are made based on patient information, knowledge, skills and
clinical experience
• Problem-solving strategies
• How different decisions were or could have been considered
o Reflective practice in physiotherapy practice
• Growth of self-awareness
• Ability to think critically
• Improved self-evaluation in relation to existing knowledge and skills
• Facilitation of on the job learning and decision making
• Development of professional thinking - clinical reasoning
• Development of professional knowing - expertise
• Reflection 'in action' - in the moment
• Reflection 'on action' - after the moment
• Clinical meetings/case presentations may identify
▪ Particular challenges
▪ Promote team discussion
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
