Impact of Leadership on Enhancing Patient Care in Physiotherapy: a Systematic Review

Background: Leadership plays a pivotal role in physiotherapy, enhancing patient care, promoting multidisciplinary collaboration, and supporting professional development. Despite its importance, leadership remains an underexplored area within the physiotherapy profession, with limited access to formal training programs. This study aims to assess the influence of leadership on patient care and explore physiotherapists' perceptions regarding leadership roles in their field. Methods: A systematic review was conducted, analysing eight peer-reviewed articles published over the past 13 years. The selection included seven quantitative studies and one qualitative study that examined leadership characteristics and their effects on patient care. Article selection followed the PRISMA flow diagram, and the included studies were critically appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) checklists. Results: The findings revealed that leadership has a positive impact on patient care by enhancing clinical decision-making, facilitating effective teamwork, and promoting patient engagement, which in turn contributes to improved treatment adherence and better health outcomes. Physiotherapists identified leadership as a vital component of their profession, emphasising key qualities such as communication, professionalism, credibility, and relationship-centred leadership. Furthermore, leadership training was associated with improved clinical decision-making and healthcare service delivery. However, the lack of structured leadership training was highlighted as a significant barrier to leadership development in physiotherapy. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of integrating leadership training into physiotherapy education and ongoing professional development. Future research should aim to design and evaluate leadership development frameworks tailored for physiotherapists, explore the role of mentorship, and address barriers to leadership advancement.