Blogging in Physiotherapy
The word ‘Blog’ originates from Weblog, in other words it is a web-based log with chronologic entries. Blogs are very easy to write and most take the form of a personal journal representing the ideas and thoughts of an identified author or group of authors. Blogs are also a medium to exchange ideas, discoveries and information in a specific field, they allow users (authors and readers) to stimulate conversations and build connections in their specific area of interest. The true potential of blogs for health care lies in the fact that they can be used to engage practitioners in research, exploration and discussion and that they encourage collaboration and peer interaction. Practitioners can engage with blogs written by others in their specific area of clinical interest or they can take things a step further and write their own professional blog.
Blogs are a good tool to foster the process of reading, critical thinking and writing. An essential act of blogging is close reading and interpretation, they are also unique writing places, where practitioners can write down what they think and thus practice their critical reflection and writing skills. They are also great for knowledge construction. Browsing, reading and reflecting about blog postings, having reactions and receiving feedback to blog entries and rethinking ideas and sharing them again all create meaning to a topic. The benefits are that practitioners are able to build knowledge on a particular topic and that they can actively take ownership of their own development while receiving input and suggestions from others.
With a worldwide audience blogging can also open up communication and offer the possibility to interact with like-minded practitioners from around the world that you otherwise would not meet. The public and international nature of blogs means that practitioners are more compelled to write authentic, credibly and accurately which facilitates knowledge sharing, construction and collaboration.
Take a look at this video from Common Craft which explains blogging:
Continued education and professional development
Scenarios of how blogs can be used in autonomous learning:
- evidence based practice: Blogs are an effective means of recording and stimulating evidence based practice. As clinical questions arise they can be efficiently recorded in a blog. The immediate act of writing down clinical questions creates the motivation to find and record the answers to such clinical questions. Once new clinical knowledge is implemented, subsequent reflections and ongoing knowledge developed can be recorded in the comments section of that particular post.
- reflective practice: All practitioners should analyse their own practice for continuing professional development. Blogs offer an effective means of doing this and can be kept private for recording personal reflections on practice. However by opening up this reflective blog to mentors or even the public there is opportunity to receive input and suggestions from others which will enhance learning and development.
- portfolio keeping: With their chronological nature blogs offer a great place to keep a professional portfolio. From recording reflective and evidence based practice as mentioned above to making a record of qualifications achieved, meetings and events attended, publications made etc etc.
Education
Scenarios of how blogs can be used in pedagoical practice:
- knowledge construction: Students choose a topic they are interested in and regularly write blog entries about their own research, their findings, their progress and difficulties. By generating a blogroll students identify and target a particular subject related audience and discourse community. Community members can assist with feedback and comments. Subsequently, such a group of subject related blogs becomes a “knowledge creation community”.
- reflective learning: Blogs are ideal for reflective activities such as reflective journals for placements, across programmes and as part of developing PDP activities. Students use blogs to report about their clinical placements and critically reflect on their experiences, progress and deficiencies. Thereby, they can gain knowledge and meaning for further professional development.
- enhance writing skills: Students use blogs to post their responses to class readings, including interpretations, critiques, comments and personal thoughts. Tutors or even external practitioners can provide feedback to the students on their writings. Also, for example, third year students could collaborate with first year students and give them feedback about their writing where in return, they would gain valuable experience.
- peer review: Students can complete short formative assignments in blogs and the ability to comment on posts offers the opportunity for students to review and comment on each others work. In this way they will learn from reading each others work and also develop their critical review skills.
- group blogs: Students participate in a field trip, student exchange or work placement program and blog the trip live each day. Tutors, peers and external practitioners can participate in the students’ experiences and add comments. An online school or faculty newspaper could be another scenario for a group blog.
Research
Scenarios of how blogs can be used in research projects:
- progress reports: Blogs are a useful way to record the progress of research projects from idea conception right through to results dissemination and clinical implementation. This offers the opportunity to gain feedback and comment from others throughout the research process.
- data capture: Using blogs to capture participant experiences throughout the research project is an innovative means of collecting qualitative data. It would also bring an interesting perspective of the research experience from the participants point of view.
- public log: Researchers can publish their work and disseminate findings in blogs. This gives the opportunity to receive feedback and comments from the related peers and clinicians working in the related area.
Business
Scenarios of how blogs can be used for business development:
- marketing: The best use of a blog that any physiotherapy or health care clinic can make is to use it as a marketing tool. Let your clients know what is happening at the clinic. Tell them about your staff, who’s new, who’s doing what courses and who to see for certain conditions. Tell them about any sporting events that your staff are supporting or attending. It is also a great idea to provide information on management of certain conditions or discuss topics recently in the news that are pertinent to your clients. See the Hallamshire Physiotherapy Clinic’s blog for a great example of this.
- profile building: Writing a blog is a great way to build your professional profile on-line. As a pure clinician this might be aimed at your clients so you might discuss condition management, new research or interesting news in your area of special interest. As a clinical expert, lecturer or researcher your posts would be aimed at your professional community and peers so you are more likely to write about publications that you have made, lectures or presentations that you are giving or courses that you are running as well as providing good evidence based information on condition management.  See Mike Reinold’s blog for a great example of this.
Blogging is time consuming! The amount of time and energy required to read, make sense and write blog entries should not be underestimated. However for the rewards that it can reap, the contacts that it can bring you and the contribution that it can make to the community, it is well worth the effort. Just remember, if you do start a blog or make comments on others it is important that you ensure that confidentiality and professionalism are rigorously maintained at all times.
Related posts: