Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, Orthopaedic Interface Service, Bolton One, Bolton, Manchester, UK; Department of Health Professions, Faculty Health, Psychology and Social Care, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
Department of Health Professions, Faculty Health, Psychology and Social Care, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2020 Dec;50:102267. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2020.102267. Epub 2020 Sep 30.
First Contact Practitioner (FCP) roles have been developed for health professionals with advanced practice skills to take on many of the musculoskeletal responsibilities currently carried out by general practitioners. FCP roles are new and still developing. Currently there is little research that has investigated the experiences of FCPs. This knowledge could help stakeholders and other clinicians gain an understanding into what makes a successful FCP role. The aim of this research was to explore the experiences of FCP working in North West England to gain insight into the first point of contact service, and their experiences of this developing full time FCP role.
A qualitative design using in-depth semi-structured, face-to-face interviews was undertaken to explore the experiences of FCP providing a first point of contact service. The study took place in an economically deprived and ethnically diverse location in North West England.
Ten FCPs were recruited, four were appointed from Band 6 posts to FCP training posts, 9 were male. The mean years qualified was 12.8. Five themes were identified: 1. 'It's the level of clinical complexity that you're dealing with', 2. FCP role - rewards and challenges, 3. Own wellbeing, 4. Professional development and education, 5. Realities of working in practice governed by business.
FCP roles are an exciting development for people with MSK conditions, the physiotherapy profession, primary care providers and MSK physiotherapists. Mentorship support, workload and standards of training and practice are important when considering future expansion for the sustainability of these roles.
第一接触从业者（FCP）的角色是为具有高级实践技能的卫生专业人员开发的，以承担目前由全科医生承担的许多肌肉骨骼责任。FCP 的角色是新的，仍在发展中。目前，很少有研究调查 FCP 的经验。这些知识可以帮助利益相关者和其他临床医生了解是什么使 FCP 角色取得成功。本研究的目的是探讨在英格兰西北部工作的 FCP 的经验，以深入了解第一接触服务，并了解他们在这一发展中的全职 FCP 角色中的经验。
采用定性设计，使用深入的半结构化面对面访谈，探讨 FCP 提供第一接触服务的经验。该研究在英格兰西北部一个经济贫困和种族多样化的地区进行。
招募了 10 名 FCP，其中 4 名从第 6 级职位晋升为 FCP 培训职位，9 名为男性。平均合格年限为 12.8 年。确定了五个主题：1. “你正在处理的是临床复杂性的水平”；2. FCP 角色-回报和挑战；3. 自身健康；4. 专业发展和教育；5. 在受业务管辖的实践中工作的现实。
FCP 的角色对于有肌肉骨骼疾病的人、物理治疗行业、初级保健提供者和肌肉骨骼物理治疗师来说，是一个令人兴奋的发展。在考虑这些角色的未来扩展以确保其可持续性时，导师支持、工作量以及培训和实践的标准非常重要。
