A message from our Knowledge Services Manager:
The month of June represents two important celebrations that we at PABC wish to commemorate: Indigenous History Month and Pride Month. Whether you are new to Canada or have lived here all of your life, we hope that you can set aside some time this month to acknowledge that the lands on which many of us live and work are unceded, ancestral spaces, and reflect on how you can incorporate Indigenous cultural safety and decolonization into your own work.
We encourage you to learn more about the lands on which you live and read more about the Indigenous Cultural Safety, Humility and Anti-Racism Practice Standard recently approved by CPTBC.
PABC also want to wish a happy Pride Month as part of Pride Season to all of the 2SLGBTQIA+ members and allies in our physiotherapy community. In addition to our usual Physio Finds this month, our Knowledge Broker Alison also kindly reached out to Dr. Codie Primeau, a recent PT graduate and postdoctoral researcher who is currently studying the health care and chronic pain experiences of individuals who identify as a sex and/or gender minority. Dr. Primeau generously recommended and summarized some excellent articles that discuss physiotherapy and 2SLGBTQIA+ health.
Dr. Primeau's Finds
- A Need for Greater Emphasis on 2SLGBTQIA+ Health Among Physiotherapists in Canada: Primeau et al. (2022)
This editorial initiates an important discussion within the Canadian physiotherapy profession, advocating for transformative changes in clinical and curricular practices to better support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. It highlights the prevalent health and social disparities faced by the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and identifies knowledge gaps among physiotherapists that can lead to inadequate care. The article emphasizes a critical need for collective action, urging the profession to enhance knowledge, inclusivity, and clinical environments to better support 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. Through these efforts, physiotherapists can play a pivotal role in improving healthcare experiences and outcomes for the 2SLGBTQIA+ population.- A Call to Disrupt Heteronormativity and Cisnormativity in Physical Therapy: Perspectives of 2SLGBTQIPA+ Participants on Future Directions for PT Curricula: Ravi et al. (2022)
This qualitative study explores the perspectives of individuals with expertise and/or lived experiences in 2SLGBTQIPA+ health regarding the inclusion of related content in Canadian pre-licensure physical therapy curricula. The study emphasizes the need to disrupt heteronormativity and cisnormativity in curricula, highlighting the importance of addressing historical inequities, integrating the content throughout the program, and involving 2SLGBTQIPA+ individuals in content delivery and creation. The article emphasizes the need for the physiotherapy profession to understand and challenge these systems of inequality for more equitable and inclusive practice.
Thank you very much to Rachael, Alison Hoens, and Dr. Primeau!