‘Oh my gosh I’m going to have to undress’: potential barriers to greater ethnic diversity in the physiotherapy profession in the United Kingdom

ObjectiveTo explore the views and experiences of South Asian participants in relation to the potential barriers to increasing ethnic diversity of the physiotherapy profession.DesignA qualitative research design was utilised, drawing on ethnographic traditions and including ethnographic interviews. The interviews were transcribed and the data were analysed using thematic analysis.SettingA venue of the participant's own choosing in the North west of England.Participants
• Five, Muslim female parents; who came to the UK from Pakistan.
• Two black and minority ethnic (BME) undergraduate physiotherapy students; one female and one male. They described their ethnicity as: British Indian and British Pakistani.
• Three BME female physiotherapy clinicians. They described their ethnicity as Indian and British Pakistani.FindingsFrom analysis of the data generated, three subthemes emerged in relation to the overarching theme; potential barriers: decreased knowledge of physiotherapy; issue of status; tension between cultures.ConclusionsIt appears that a lack of knowledge may impact negatively on BME potential students considering physiotherapy as a possible career. The status of the profession was found to be an important factor in career choice. However, a lack of knowledge led many to consider physiotherapy to be less prestigious than other healthcare professions. Finally, a lack of sensitivity with the information given during the selection process caused some participants anxiety and to question physiotherapy as a career choice. Due consideration should be given to these potential barriers to address the underrepresentation of BME groups in physiotherapy.