Implementing the 2023 Entry-Level Physical Therapist Curriculum Recommendations for Integumentary/Wound Management in Doctor of Physical Therapy Education.

Background And Purpose: Entry-level physical therapist education programs must adequately prepare graduates to effectively assess, manage, and/or refer patients with foundational integumentary/wound management (IWM) concerns in any population or setting. Unfortunately, the literature reports wide variations in the number of IWM contact hours in entry-level health professions education, as well as discrepancies in specific content covered. Standardization in curricular content through consensus-based curriculum guidelines decreases treatment variability and promotes safe, evidence-based practice across a profession.

Position And Rationale: Although the need for and benefit of clear and contemporary curricular guidelines has been established, clear and specific recommendations on how educators can most effectively use such resources are often lacking. The position put forward in this paper is that physical therapist faculty should use the 2023 Entry-Level Physical Therapist Curriculum Recommendations for Integumentary/Wound Management (CRIWM) and specific implementation recommendations provided herein during curriculum review and development to facilitate IWM content standardization and delivery across entry-level education programs.

Discussion And Conclusion: The CRIWM is organized into 28 concise content blocks with clear "Need to Know" and "Nice to Know" topics. Implementation recommendations for 10-, 15-, and 30-contact hours can further assist faculty in prioritizing content to fit within their individual programs. Instructional technique suggestions (e.g., content pairing, blended teaching, utilization of clinical instructors) may also be helpful. Utilization of consensus-based curriculum guidelines and implementation recommendations will increase standardization across programs and prepare physical therapist graduates to assess and address foundational IWM concerns across patient populations and practice settings.