A core capability framework for physiotherapists to deliver quality care when working with people living with dementia and their families/caregivers: an international modified e-Delphi study

Objective: What are the core capabilities physiotherapists need to deliver quality care when working with people with dementia and their families/caregivers?

Design: A three-round modified e-Delphi study.

Participants: Panel members were physiotherapists experienced in working with people with dementia and/or educating and/or researching in the dementia field. Methods: A steering group (16 international physiotherapists and a consumer) developed a draft framework including 129 core capabilities across 5 domains for panel members to rate their appropriateness for inclusion as a core capability to provide high quality care to people with dementia and their caregivers/families. The RAND/UCLA method was used to assess consensus.

Results: Thirty-five physiotherapists from 11 countries participated in Round 1, 31 (89%) in Round 2 and 28 (80% of Round 1) in Round 3. All core capabilities were rated appropriate for inclusion in each round. Panel members recommended wording refinements across the rounds and suggested 51 core capabilities for consideration. Three rounds were needed to reach consensus, resulting in 137 core capabilities rated appropriate for inclusion across 5 domains: 1) Knowledge and understanding, n = 36; 2) Assessment, n = 39; 3) Management, interventions and prevention n = 40; 4) Communication, therapeutic relationship and person-centred care, n = 17; and 5) Physiotherapists self-management and improvement, n = 5.

Conclusions: This e-Delphi study outlines the core capabilities physiotherapists need to provide high quality care to people with dementia and their families/caregivers. These core capabilities can be used by physiotherapists to help identify knowledge/skill gaps, as well as by educators to improve their training of undergraduate and postgraduate students, and clinicians.

Contribution of Paper:

• This e-Delphi study has developed, through expert consensus, the first comprehensive physiotherapy specific core capability framework for providing high-quality care to people with dementia and their families/caregivers.

• The core capability framework can be used by physiotherapists to identify knowledge and/or skill gaps, and by physiotherapy educators to assist with entry-level and post-graduate curriculum development and student/workforce training.

• As physiotherapists play a vital role in working with people with dementia and their caregivers/families, and competencies lie at the heart of effective quality care and service delivery, the newly developed core capability framework serves as basis for broader consultation and input.