EDUCATION FOR GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN PHYSIOTHERAPY: PREPARING FUTURE REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS

Abstract

The rapid advancement of globalization has altered the methods used to deliver health services and create a greater burden of responsibility on health care providers, moving beyond their traditional clinical roles. Many physiotherapists now practice in a multitude of different cultural settings, with many having to address the challenges posed by global health issues such as inequitable access to rehabilitation; a growing elderly population; and the impact of the environment on health. Therefore, more education is required to provide physiotherapy students with an understanding of global responsibility and develop their capacity for professionalism and global citizenship using education frameworks that allow them to develop attributes of cultural competence, ethical awareness, and commitment toward community health and well-being. The incorporation of these concepts into physiotherapy curricula will allow future physiotherapy professionals to better understand how the social determinants of health affect communities and will prepare students for meaningful engagement with their communities. This chapter will discuss the significance of global citizenship in the training of physiotherapy professionals and explore the different ways in which physiotherapy academic programs can create socially responsible graduates through the design of the curriculum; community engagement; and service-learning programs. By improving these educational initiatives, rehabilitation professionals will be better prepared to enhance equitable, inclusive, and sustainable healthcare systems both locally and globally.