Speaking up in elite sport: An exploratory-descriptive qualitative study of UK physiotherapists’ experiences

Knott, Sian 2024. Speaking up in elite sport: An exploratory-descriptive qualitative study of UK physiotherapists’ experiences. Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

This study provides a unique insight into physiotherapists’ experiences of speaking up in elite sport, an area that to date has had little consideration making it a novel contribution to knowledge in this field. Background / Aims Globally sport integrity and reputation are being threatened with media reports of doping, match fixing, sexual harassment, physical and psychological abuse across various sports. Poor behaviours have all too often become normalised and accepted. Such issues come to light through speaking up which is everyone’s responsibility, but physiotherapists also have a professional duty of care to do so. Challenges to speaking up in healthcare are well documented but little is known about speaking up in elite sport. This thesis explores physiotherapists’ experiences of speaking up in elite sport whilst gaining an understanding of existing barriers and enablers. Study Design The context of this research was an interpretivist qualitative design drawing from a constructivist paradigm. Attention was placed on the experiences that physiotherapists reported thus an Exploratory Descriptive Qualitative Research design was utilised. Purposive and snowball sampling recruited 15 physiotherapists working in elite sport from England, Wales, and Scotland with data collected through in-depth interviews over zoom and analysis conducted through reflexive thematic analysis. A conceptual framework is presented along with implication for practice. Analysis The findings were conveyed through 4 themes. 1, Contextual factors reflect the working landscape for physiotherapists and the narrative is told through a sub theme of change and workplace culture. 2, workplace lived experiences shares physiotherapists’ lived experiences in elite sport. 3, language of whistleblowing and speaking up, sharing participants’ identified barriers and enablers. 4, the influence of internal (personal character) and external factors (standards and processes) on speaking up. Conclusion Working in sport is complex, with multiple organisations responsible for sport integrity, professional / non-professional staff with differing regulatory standards and physiotherapists have obligations to several groups. Physiotherapists have experienced barriers linked to culture, fear of consequences and hierarchies. Psychological safety and compassionate leadership play a significant role in facilitating speaking up which requires moral courage and ethical competence from the speaker and action from the hearer. This study supports the need for further exploration in this area, extending the research to include athletes and support staff.

Item Type:	Thesis (Other)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Healthcare Sciences
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	29 January 2025
Last Modified:	29 Jan 2025 14:59
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/175703

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