The Importance of Theory and Model Development for Building Physiotherapy as a Discipline in Germany

Background Since 2009, undergraduate and graduate courses in physiotherapy at German universities have been involved in the international discourse on the formation of physiotherapy as a discipline in order to establish it as a subject in theory and practice. It has already been stated that it is necessary to deal with theory and model development (the essential core elements of a discipline). Currently, reference science dominates the scientific basis of physiotherapy, as only a marginal amount of (physio)therapeutic theories and models exist to date. Aim The aim of this research is to capture the subjective views and interpretation patterns of experts regarding the importance of theory and model development for the discipline formation of physiotherapy in Germany at the current time, and to classify the results within the streams of discipline development and formation. Method A qualitative research approach was chosen, oriented by Grounded Theory Methodology, and four guideline-based, theory-generating expert interviews were conducted. After verbatim transcription, the resulting data material was analysed following the Grounded Theory methodological approach. Results “State of uncertainty” was identified as the core category – which emerged from the interview partners current subjective views and patterns of interpretation regarding the meaning of theory and model development. “State of uncertainty” can be understood as a process in the formation of a scientific discipline which is currently undecided and incomplete. This “state of uncertainty” is the outcome of the aggregation of the formulated categories of uncertainty, demarcation, avoidance and transformation. Gradual differences within how the interview partners interpret the “state of uncertainty” can be worked out from the results. In the progression curves following Schütze, it can be shown that the self-positioning of the interview partners regarding their own involvement with theory and model development refers to the ongoing process of the transformation of physiotherapy from a profession to a discipline. The interview partners associated ambivalences of interpretive patterns become clearly recognizable. Conclusion An internal discussion concerning the irresolutions of the “state of uncertainty” is necessary in order to support the relevance of theory and model development for physiotherapy as a scientific discipline.