Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) 227 Therapy and Rehabilitation (Physical Therapy)

Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Therapy, Ergotherapy

Specialty 227 Physical Therapy, Ergotherapy

Learning Objectives (expected application of acquired competencies):

• formation of new comprehensive general and professional knowledge and research skills necessary for conducting original scientific research, the results of which would contribute to solving complex scientific and practical problems in physical therapy, ergotherapy;
• formation of the ability of students to generate new, progressive scientific ideas, concepts, approaches, and models in the field of healthcare, and to implement research results into practical activities.

Object of study and activity:

• ethics, methodology, methods of scientific research, current issues in physical therapy, ergotherapy.

Theoretical content of the subject area:

Ethics and methodology of conducting scientific research; modern methods of scientific research in physical therapy, ergotherapy, and related specialties according to the direction of the research project; in-depth study of the specialty in the field of scientific research; development of language competencies and communication skills, mastering the technology of presenting research results, preparation for pedagogical activities, and acquiring other competencies.

Methods, techniques, and technologies:

during the educational preparation, the student must master general scientific methods of cognition and research activity; approaches to assessment, planning, intervention, and control in physical therapy and occupational therapy, ergotherapy, statistical analysis methods; modeling techniques; information search technologies, communication, modern information technologies for presenting research results, and writing a dissertation. The methods, techniques, and technologies used to achieve the goals and program outcomes of the training are based student-centered approaches and academic freedom principles.

Tools and equipment:

modern equipment, devices, instruments, and software products used in scientific research and educational activities; rehabilitation equipment.

Emphasis on practicality (focused on creating concepts, models, and approaches with practical application), innovation (focused on generating new knowledge and expanding the multidisciplinary space), and academic integrity (focused on scientific research of the subject and objective presentation of results)

Keywords: physical therapy, ergotherapy, scientific activity, scientific research, evidence-based practice.

The scientific component of the curriculum involves conducting original scientific research under the guidance of a supervisor and presenting the obtained results in the form of a dissertation. The student’s main efforts are focused on research, organizational, and pedagogical work in modern priority areas that are significant for the field, concentrating on gathering information, its analysis, systematization, and generalization; publishing the main research results in professional journals and publications included in international scientometric databases; testing and implementing research findings, obtaining intellectual property rights, and more.

The combination of modern methodological approaches, characteristic of the healthcare field, with clinical research and qualitative and quantitative studies to ensure evidence-based practice in physical therapy, ergotherapy, alongside the biopsychosocial approach and principles outlined in the ICF, ensures the uniqueness and innovation of the scientific component of the educational and scientific curriculum for specialty 227 Physical Therapy, Ergotherapy. The curriculum promotes the development of personal social skills (soft skills), scientific communication, the acquisition of skills in developing educational scientific projects, participation in academic mobility programs, and more.

The high level of the curriculum is ensured by the academic conditions created for students to acquire general and professional competencies, developed international cooperation in the scientific and educational fields, the professional level of specialists responsible for implementing the program, as well as collaboration with a wide range of scientific, educational, and clinical institutions.

The attractiveness of the educational curriculum is determined by its competitiveness in employment and the wide opportunities for further study in higher-level educational programs, as well as for improvement and professional development.

Mastering general scientific (philosophical) competencies aimed at forming a systemic scientific worldview and general cultural outlook (4 ECTS credits).

Acquisition of universal research skills, including oral and written presentation of the results of one’s own scientific research in Ukrainian, application of modern information technologies in scientific activity, organization and conduction of educational sessions, management of research projects and/or preparation of proposals for research funding, registration of intellectual property rights (15 ECTS credits).

Acquisition of language competencies sufficient for presenting and discussing the results of one’s scientific work in a foreign language (English) both orally and in writing, as well as for fully understanding foreign-language scientific texts in the specialty and other areas of healthcare (6 ECTS credits).

The practical learning cycle consists of organizational practice (3 ECTS credits) and pedagogical practice in the professional field (3 ECTS credits).

Elective components – 15 ECTS credits from the general training and professional training course cycles.

According to the current Classifier of Professions of Ukraine (DK 003:2010), graduates may be employed in the following positions:

• 2351.1 – Research staff;
• 2359.1 – Researcher, research consultant;
• 2310.1 – Professors and docents;
• 2310.2 – Other university and higher education instructors;
• 2419.3 – Professionals in public service and local government.