Beyond Acceptance: The Importance of Expanding on Grief and Loss Education in Physical Therapy Curricula

Given the high likelihood of physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) interacting with an individual experiencing grief, it is imperative that grief and loss be addressed in entry-level programs. Pedagogical approaches like simulation-based educational experiences have demonstrated efficacy in other health professions educational programs and should be considered for use in physical therapy education, while balancing time, resource, and cost constraints. Future research can clarify the impact of grief on physical therapy outcomes and how intentional efforts to improve grief literacy in physical therapy students may improve their confidence, positively affecting the client experience.