Updating the 300 standards of the International Sports Physiotherapy Competencies and Standards from 11 countries in 2005 to 38 countries in 2025: An international Delphi study

Abstract

Objectives: To update the 300 standards of the International Sports Physiotherapy Competencies and Standards document. Design: A three-round Delphi study. Setting: Online international survey. Participants: Sports physiotherapists (SPTs) with a national registration/licensure recognised by their national SPT member organisation, at least 5 years of professional experience in SPT and/or equivalent teaching or research experience, and direct involvement with athletes in treatment, prevention or research contexts. Maint outcome measures: Participants rated each of the original 300 standards on a three-point scale (Agree, Disagree, Unsure). Consensus was defined a priori as ≥80 % agreement. Results: A total of 197 SPTs representing 46 countries were invited; 143 participants from 38 countries completed Round 1 (72.6 % response rate), and 101 completed all three rounds (70.6 % of Round 1 participants). After three rounds, 296 (98.7 %) standards reached a consensus. Four standards did not reach a consensus; all pertained to the Professionalism and Management competency, specifically aspects of financial and organisational management (Behaviour 1, item 2; foundational knowledge standards 7A:3 and 7A:5; and action/intervention standard 7E:2). Conclusion: This Delphi study updated the 300 standards from the International Sports Physiotherapy Competencies and Standards with contributions from 11 countries in 2005 to 38 countries in 2025. Consensus on 296 of 300 standards affirms their continued global relevance. The four standards lacking consensus, all related to managerial roles.