Variations in how physiotherapists understand their work on organizational and societal levels.

Background And Purpose: Many physiotherapists have moved from treating persons on individual and group levels to working in different service positions on organizational and societal levels within healthcare organizations. The present study has investigated how physiotherapists working on those levels understand their job. The aim of the study was to describe variations in physiotherapists' understanding of their work on organizational and societal levels within healthcare organizations. The research question was: how do physiotherapists understand their work on organizational and societal levels?

Method: A phenomenographic approach was chosen. Physiotherapists working in different positions on organizational and societal levels were interviewed.

Results: Among our 21 informants we found three logically interrelated categories: 'exploring and performing an assignment', 'interactive learning and balancing support' and 'moving within a continually changing structure'. These three categories of descriptions formed an outcome space of ways of understanding work on organizational and societal levels within healthcare organizations.

Conclusions: The findings in this study can be used as tools in professional discussions on how ways of understanding work have an impact on how work is performed and how change is achieved.