The importance of health literacy in physiotherapy practice

Physiotherapy practice is changing rapidly, with greater leadership opportunities and recognition of physiotherapy across healthcare sectors. For example, physiotherapists increasingly hold leadership roles in management of chronic disease and other inter-professional teams, engage in extended scope of practice duties, perform triage roles in tertiary centre clinics and emergency departments, have the opportunity to progress to clinical specialisation, and lead prestigious research programs. Such professional advances bring greater responsibilities in providing health information. Indeed, continued recognition as important and highly skilled health professionals demands that we deliver reliable and accurate health information to our patients and stakeholders so that they can make informed decisions about their healthcare.