FROM SKILLS TO COMPASSION: HUMANISTIC EDUCATION AND HOLISTIC GROWTH IN PHYSIOTHERAPY

Abstract

Physiotherapy education is evolving from a predominantly skill-based model to a more humanistic and patient-centered approach in response to modern healthcare demands. Competency-based education emphasizes not only clinical expertise but also empathy, compassion, ethical awareness, and critical thinking. The biopsychosocial paradigm, which acknowledges the interplay of biological, psychological, and social variables in patient care, is consistent with this shift. Both technical proficiency and comprehension of patient experiences are improved by cutting-edge teaching techniques like simulation-based, immersive, and video-assisted learning. Humanistic education is essential for developing empathy, self-awareness, and communication skills, all of which support physiotherapy students' overall development in the cognitive, psychomotor, and emotional domains. Despite these developments, issues like strict biological curricula and a lack of focus on emotional development still exist. It is crucial to address these barriers through faculty development and curricular improvement. In the end, incorporating humanistic ideas into modern physiotherapy care fosters compassionate practice, comprehensive professional development, and better outcomes for patients.