CONSIDERATIONS ON PROBLEM BASED LEARNING TEACHING METHOD IN PHYSIOTHERAPY

Abstract

The present paper includes some considerations on the possible impact of problem based learning (PBL) method on building specific knowledge and competencies of future physiotherapists. The authors’ personal experience, including a period of 4 years, was the starting point of these opinions. The main goal of these considerations is to facilitate the appearance of a new radical approach to learning and training, mostly for that higher education specialization which prepares graduates to work in  health and adjacent fields (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychology, social assistance, etc.) The premises of the experiment consists in using the practical experiences of some physiotherapy and occupational therapy  departments, members of ENPHE (European Network Physiotherapy Higher Education) and ENOTHE (European Network of Occupational Therapy Higher Education), and also our own observations during teaching exchange programmes through the SOCRATES/ERASMUS  programme. The conclusions of this study are: problem based learning (PBL) can be applied in conditions of respecting the educational needs of students, problematisation is an efficient instrument in developing team work and skills such as capacity of analysis and synthesis, integration of theoretical knowledge in practice, empathy and interpersonal communication. The problem based method can provide a logical and problem-solving way of thinking for future professionals.

Key words: problem-based learning, competencies, educational development

 SCS_11_2007_43