Physiotherapy contributes significantly to improving quality of life for patients with respiratory disease [1, 2]. Physiotherapists specialised in dealing with respiratory pathology and its associated problems are not only central in the delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation but also provide strategies and techniques for exercise testing, airway clearance, breathlessness management, mobility and function improvement and pain management [2]. Published evidence-based recommendations have paved the way for standardised practice [1–6] while also unravelling the extended scope of responsibilities of the respiratory physiotherapist [7].
The breakdown of traditional roles and allocation of new responsibilities is not confined to the respiratory physiotherapist within healthcare systems. Team-based healthcare and interprofessional treatment of patients is prevalent in the provision of care across the globe. New methods of healthcare delivery indicate that tasks are entrusted to those deemed competent to perform them [8]. It has therefore been necessary to train allied health professionals to take over parts of clinical care [9].
Mobility of the healthcare workforce has been at the forefront of discussion among healthcare providers and policy makers [10]. We now live in a “global village” [11], the consequence of which has seen a marked increase in health professionals completing part of their training and work experience abroad [10]. In this transition to international healthcare, more and more institutions, countries and regions will need standards to meet public, patient and healthcare provider expectations.
This reform in medical practice is thus motivated by the breakdown of traditional roles and responsibilities within the healthcare system [12], increasing trends towards mobility [13] and more complex patient needs. These motivators for change have emphasised a new reality for healthcare systems bounded by a skilled healthcare …
