Roma is a highly experienced APA titled musculoskeletal physiotherapist and Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy at The University of Queensland. Her PhD (2017) explored the use of patient education in physiotherapy practice and investigated approaches for the effective teaching of patient education skills to health professional students. Her current research focuses on teaching and learning in the health professions, with a specific focus on graduate preparedness for clinical practice and outcomes of clinical education. This research uses several approaches to explore graduate, educator, and employer perspectives with a focus on knowledge translation to improve clinical education capacity and outcomes. She has a strong track record of national and international collaborations in patient education practice, clinical education capacity, and physiotherapy teaching and learning. Roma is passionate about health professional education research and enhancing graduate readiness for practice.
Journal Article: When worlds collide: experiences of physiotherapists, chiropractors, and osteopaths working together
Toloui-Wallace, Joshua, Forbes, Roma, Thomson, Oliver P. and Setchell, Jenny (2022). When worlds collide: experiences of physiotherapists, chiropractors, and osteopaths working together. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 60 102564, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2022.102564
Conference Publication: Physiotherapy students’ empathy towards Australians living in rural settings: a rural telehealth simulation intervention
Martin, Romany, Mandrusiak, Allison, Russell, Trevor and Forbes, Roma (2022). Physiotherapy students’ empathy towards Australians living in rural settings: a rural telehealth simulation intervention. The Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators Conference , Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 19 July .
Conference Publication: Clinical placements in private practice; exploring impacts and opportunities for quality and capacity
Forbes, Roma, Dunwoodie, Ruth and Dinsdale, Alana (2022). Clinical placements in private practice; exploring impacts and opportunities for quality and capacity. Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Education, Brisbane, QLD Australia, July 11 2022.
(2020–2021) U21 Health Sciences Group Research Development Fund
(2020–2021) ACEN Research Grants
(2019–2020) Advance Queensland Women's Research Assistance Program
Preparing and supporting new-graduate physiotherapists for rural practice
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring and enhancing physiotherapist competency in clinical documentation
Doctor Philosophy
Preparing the physiotherapy workforce for identifying and managing social determinants of health
Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing clinical education capacity within the physiotherapy profession
New graduate physiotherapist readiness for practice
When worlds collide: experiences of physiotherapists, chiropractors, and osteopaths working together
Toloui-Wallace, Joshua, Forbes, Roma, Thomson, Oliver P. and Setchell, Jenny (2022). When worlds collide: experiences of physiotherapists, chiropractors, and osteopaths working together. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 60 102564, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2022.102564
A toolbox for teaching telehealth using simulation
Martin, Romany, Mandrusiak, Allison, Russell, Trevor and Forbes, Roma (2022). A toolbox for teaching telehealth using simulation. The Clinical Teacher. doi: 10.1111/tct.13510
Forbes, Roma , Dinsdale, Alana, Hill, Anne, Booth, Jodie, Cain, Daniella, Crabb, Meagan, Dunwoodie, Ruth, Hunter, Lucy, Sher, Auriel and Copley, Jodie (2022). Strategies used to host allied health students in private practice placements: the perspective of private practices and clinical education coordinators. International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning, 23 (1), 31-47.
Forbes, Roma, Dinsdale, Alana, Copley, Jodie, Booth, Jodie, Cain, Daniella, Crabb, Meagan, Dunwoodie, Ruth, Hunter, Lucy, Sher, Auriel and Hill, Anne (2022). The benefits and barriers of hosting students within allied health private practice settings: The perspective of private practice and clinical education coordinators. Australian Journal of Clinical Education, 11 (1). doi: 10.53300/001c.34708
Phan, Andrew, Tan, Shaun, Martin, Romany, Mandrusiak, Allison and Forbes, Roma (2022). Exploring new-graduate physiotherapists’ preparedness for, and experiences working within, Australian acute hospital settings. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 1-11. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2022.2059424
Beckman, Emma M., Mandrusiak, Allison, Forbes, Roma, Mitchell, Leander, Tower, Marion, Cunningham, Brent and Lewis, Peter (2022). A student-led, interprofessional care, community-based healthcare service: Student, clinical educator and client perceptions of interprofessional care and education. Focus on Health Professional Education: A Multi-Professional Journal, 23 (1), 90-108. doi: 10.11157/fohpe.v23i1.476
Walker, Clara, Forbes, Roma, Osborn, Dayle, Lewis, Peter A., Turner, Emma and Beyer, Kate (2022). A qualitative exploration of the factors which influence rural nursing and midwifery placement experience: nenefits and challenges identified by students and health service staff. Australian Journal of Clinical Education, 11 (1), 29-40. doi: 10.53300/001c.33149
Diagnostic uncertainty in musculoskeletal pain: Implications for physiotherapy education
Forbes, Roma and Toloui-Wallace, Joshua (2022). Diagnostic uncertainty in musculoskeletal pain: Implications for physiotherapy education. OpenPhysio Journal. doi: 10.14426/opj/a20220202
A survey of patient education practices and perceptions of physiotherapists: a mixed methods study
Snook, Abigail Grover, Arnadottir, Solveig A. and Forbes, Roma (2022). A survey of patient education practices and perceptions of physiotherapists: a mixed methods study. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 1-13. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2022.2025966
Zou, Yixin, Almond, Allexandra and Forbes, Roma (2021). Professional development needs and decision-making of new graduate physiotherapists within Australian private practice settings. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 1-11. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2021.2007559
Chia, Ruo Xin, Gomersall, Sjaan R., Fooken, Jonas, Birch, Stephen, Dinsdale, Alana, Dunwoodie, Ruth and Forbes, Roma (2021). Physiotherapy student clinical placements in Australian private practice: patient‐reported outcomes with supervised student care. Physiotherapy Research International, 27 (1) e1929, e1929. doi: 10.1002/pri.1929
Competencies for entry-level rural and remote physiotherapy practice: a Delphi approach
Martin, Romany, Mandrusiak, Allison, Lu, Andric and Forbes, Roma (2021). Competencies for entry-level rural and remote physiotherapy practice: a Delphi approach. Rural and Remote Health, 21 (4) 6471, 6471. doi: 10.22605/rrh6471
Dinsdale, Alana, Forbes, Roma, Thomas, Lucy and Treleaven, Julia (2021). The management experiences, needs and preferences of individuals seeking care for persistent intra‐articular temporomandibular disorders: a qualitative study. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 49 (1), 10-21. doi: 10.1111/joor.13267
Forbes, Roma, Clasper, Bennita, Ilango, Anusha, Kan, Haeley, Peng, Julia and Mandrusiak, Allison (2021). Effectiveness of patient education training on health professional student performance: a systematic review. Patient Education and Counseling, 104 (10), 2453-2466. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2021.02.039
Dinsdale, Alana, Forbes, Roma, Thomas, Lucy and Treleaven, Julia (2021). “What if it doesn't unlock?”: a qualitative study into the lived experiences of adults with persistent intra-articular temporomandibular disorders. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 54 102401, 102401. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2021.102401
New-graduate physiotherapists' training needs and readiness for telehealth
Martin, Romany, Mandrusiak, Allison, Russell, Trevor and Forbes, Roma (2021). New-graduate physiotherapists' training needs and readiness for telehealth. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 1-10. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2021.1955423
Forbes, Roma (2021). Descriptions of learning and teaching innovations; using project-based learning to support clinical education. Australian Journal of Clinical Education, 9 (1), 30-35. doi: 10.53300/001c.25453
Forbes, Roma, Martin, Romany, Patterson, Freyr, Hill, Anne, Hoyle, Melanie, Penman, Adriana, Leung, Letizia, Smith, Sage and Mandrusiak, Allison (2021). Exploring allied health professional student and academic teacher experiences of teaching and learning clinical skills online in response to COVID-19. Australian Journal of Clinical Education, 9 (1). doi: 10.53300/001c.24488
Five myths about hosting physio students in private practice
Peiris, Casey, Forbes, Roma , Dunwoodie, Ruth, Lawton, Vidya and Eustace, Jim (2021). Five myths about hosting physio students in private practice. Physiotherapy InMotion.
Exploring the workplace mentorship needs of new-graduate physiotherapists: a qualitative study
Lao, Andrew, Wilesmith, Sarah and Forbes, Roma (2021). Exploring the workplace mentorship needs of new-graduate physiotherapists: a qualitative study. Physiotherapy theory and practice, 1-10. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2021.1917023
Forbes, Roma, Dinsdale, Alana, Brauer, Sandra G., Dunwoodie, Ruth, Fooken, Jonas, Khanna, Diana and Birch, Stephen (2021). Hosting pre-registration physiotherapy students in Australian private practices does not change service and economic outcomes; an economic analysis. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 52 102318, 102318. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2021.102318
Almond, Allexandra, Zou, Yixin and Forbes, Roma (2021). Navigating diagnostic uncertainty in musculoskeletal practice: the perspectives and experiences of new graduate physiotherapists. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 52 102354, 102354. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2021.102354
Martin, Romany Anne, Mandrusiak, Allison, Lu, Andric and Forbes, Roma (2021). Mentorship and workplace support needs of new graduate physiotherapists in rural and remote settings: a qualitative study. Focus on Health Professional Education: A Multi-Professional Journal, 22 (1), 15-32. doi: 10.11157/fohpe.v22i1.426
Wilesmith, Sarah, Lao, Andrew and Forbes, Roma (2020). New-graduate physiotherapists’ self-efficacy and preparedness for patient education practice: a mixed methods study. Focus on Health Professional Education: A Multi-Professional Journal, 21 (3), 44-64. doi: 10.11157/fohpe.v21i3.432
Forbes, Roma, Beckman, Emma, Tower, Marion, Mandrusiak, Allison, Mitchell, Leander K., Sexton, Christopher T., Cunningham, Brent and Lewis, Peter A. (2020). Interprofessional, student-led community health clinic: expanding service provision and clinical education capacity. Australian Health Review, 45 (2), 255-260. doi: 10.1071/ah20021
New‐graduate physiotherapists' perceptions of their preparedness for rural practice
Martin, Romany, Mandrusiak, Allison, Lu, Andric and Forbes, Roma (2020). New‐graduate physiotherapists' perceptions of their preparedness for rural practice. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 28 (5) 12669, 443-452. doi: 10.1111/ajr.12669
Exploring strategies used by physiotherapy private practices in hosting student clinical placements
Forbes, Roma, Dinsdale, Alana, Dunwoodie, Ruth, Birch, Stephen and Brauer, Sandy (2020). Exploring strategies used by physiotherapy private practices in hosting student clinical placements. Australian Journal of Clinical Education, 7 (1). doi: 10.53300/001c.17206
Forbes, Roma, Lao, Andrew, Wilesmith, Sarah and Martin, Romany (2020). An exploration of workplace mentoring preferences of new‐graduate physiotherapists within Australian practice. Physiotherapy Research International, 26 (1) e1872, e1872. doi: 10.1002/pri.1872
Forbes, Roma, Dinsdale, Alana, Dunwoodie, Ruth, Birch, Stephen and Brauer, Sandra (2020). Weighing up the benefits and challenges of hosting physiotherapy student placements in private practice; a qualitative exploration. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 38 (6), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2020.1799461
Project-based learning for physiotherapy clinical education quality and capacity
Forbes, Roma and Martin, Romany (2020). Project-based learning for physiotherapy clinical education quality and capacity. OpenPhysio Journal. doi: 10.14426/art/1310
Building placement capacity in the private sector
Forbes, Roma and Lewis, Peter (2020). Building placement capacity in the private sector. The Clinical Teacher, 17 (6) tct.13184, 732-734. doi: 10.1111/tct.13184
Educating students to educate patients
Forbes, Roma and Mandrusiak, Allison (2020). Educating students to educate patients. The Clinical Teacher, 16 (3) tct.13036, 244-248. doi: 10.1111/tct.13036
Forbes, Roma, Irving, Peter and Copley, Jodie (2020). Development and evaluation of interprofessional patient simulation activity for physiotherapy and occupational therapy students to assess and manage patients with chronic pain. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 27 (4), 1-12. doi: 10.12968/ijtr.2019.0009
Jones, Abraham, Ingram, Meg E. and Forbes, Roma (2020). Physiotherapy new graduate self-efficacy and readiness for interprofessional collaboration: a mixed methods study. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 35 (1), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/13561820.2020.1723508
Forbes, Roma and Ingram, Meg (2019). New-graduate physiotherapists’ readiness for practice and experiences of managing chronic pain; a qualitative study. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 37 (11), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2019.1692394
Ingram, Meg, Forbes, Roma and Jones, Abraham (2019). Physiotherapy new graduate self-efficacy and readiness to engage in pain assessment and management: A mixed-methods study. Focus on Health Professional Education, 20 (3), 65-83. doi: 10.11157/fohpe.v20i3.362
Service dissatisfaction and non-attendance in physiotherapy student-led clinics: a qualitative study
Forbes, Roma (2019). Service dissatisfaction and non-attendance in physiotherapy student-led clinics: a qualitative study. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 36 (12), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2019.1570576
Forbes, Roma and Mandrusiak, Allison (2018). Development and reliability testing of a patient education performance tool for physical therapy students. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 33 (1), 64-69. doi: 10.1097/jte.0000000000000074
Forbes, Roma (2018). Factors associated with patient-satisfaction in student-led physiotherapy clinics: a qualitative study. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 34 (9), 705-713. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2018.1423592
Forbes, Roma, Mandrusiak, Allison, Smith, Michelle and Russell, Trevor (2018). New-graduate physical therapistsʼ self-efficacy to perform patient education is influenced by entry-level training experiences. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 32 (1), 46-54. doi: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000022
Training physiotherapy students to educate patients: a randomised controlled trial
Forbes, R., Mandrusiak, A., Smith, M. and Russell, T. (2017). Training physiotherapy students to educate patients: a randomised controlled trial. Patient Education and Counseling, 101 (2), 295-303. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2017.08.009
Identification of competencies for patient education in physiotherapy using a Delphi approach
Forbes, Roma, Mandrusiak, Allison, Smith, Michelle and Russell, Trevor (2017). Identification of competencies for patient education in physiotherapy using a Delphi approach. Physiotherapy, 104 (2), 232-238. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2017.06.002
A comparison of patient education practices of novice and experienced physiotherapists in Australia
Forbes, Roma, Mandrusiak, Allison, Smith, Michelle and Russell, Trevor (2017). A comparison of patient education practices of novice and experienced physiotherapists in Australia. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 28, 46-53. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2017.01.007
Forbes, Roma, Mandrusiak, Allison, Russell, Trevor and Smith, Michelle (2017). Evaluating physiotherapists' practice and perception of patient education: a national survey in Australia. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 24 (3), 122-130. doi: 10.12968/ijtr.2017.24.3.122
Enhancing patient education skills of physiotherapy students in a clinical education setting
Forbes, Roma (2017). Enhancing patient education skills of physiotherapy students in a clinical education setting. Focus on Health Professional Education, 18 (1), 27-41. doi: 10.11157/fohpe.v18i1.205
Martin, Romany, Mandrusiak, Allison, Russell, Trevor and Forbes, Roma (2022). Physiotherapy students’ empathy towards Australians living in rural settings: a rural telehealth simulation intervention. The Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators Conference , Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 19 July .
Forbes, Roma, Dunwoodie, Ruth and Dinsdale, Alana (2022). Clinical placements in private practice; exploring impacts and opportunities for quality and capacity. Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Education, Brisbane, QLD Australia, July 11 2022.
Martin, Romany, Mandrusiak, Allison, Russell, Trevor and Forbes, Roma (2022). A telehealth curriculum; a pre-post study of physiotherapy students’ perceived knowledge, self-efficacy, and intentions for future use. Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia Conference, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 27-30 June 2022.
Forbes, Roma , Martin, Romany, Patterson, Freyr, Hill, Anne, Hoyle, Melanie, Penman, Adriana, Leung, Letizia, Smith, Sage and Mandrusiak, Allison (2021). Allied health student and educator experiences of teaching and learning clinical skills online in response to COVID-19. QLD Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) Showcasing Research and Scholarship in Teaching and Learning, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 15 July 2021.
New-graduate physiotherapists working in rural Queensland.
Lu, Andric, Martin, Romany , Mandrusiak, Allison and Forbes, Roma (2021). New-graduate physiotherapists working in rural Queensland.. Outback Allied Health Forum, Centre for Rural and Remote Health, Mount Isa, QLD, Australia, 24-25 June 2021.
Patient-centred education in healthcare practice
Forbes, Roma (2021). Patient-centred education in healthcare practice . Caring and Sharing International Conference of Medical Humanities, Lisbon, Portugal , 24-26 June 2021.
Lessons learned in using simulation for patient education training of health professional students
Forbes, Roma (2020). Lessons learned in using simulation for patient education training of health professional students. Australian Catholic University Simulation Showcase, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 2 December 2020.
Forbes, Roma (2020). Clinical placements in private practice; exploring impacts and opportunities for quality and capacity. Australian Collaborative Education Network; Work Integrated Learning Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 15 October 2020.
Feedback provided to physiotherapy students by standardised patients: key stakeholder perspectives
Mandrusiak, Allison, Forbes, Roma and Williams, Katrina (2019). Feedback provided to physiotherapy students by standardised patients: key stakeholder perspectives. Australian Physiotherapy Association National Conference, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 17-19 October, 2019.
Training health professional students to educate patients
Forbes, Roma (2018). Training health professional students to educate patients. Australian and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators Conference, Hobart, TAS, Australia, 1-4 July 2018.
A case-control spectral analysis of sleep in Friedreich's Ataxia
Forbes, R., Smith, S. S., Ritchie, A., O'Sullivan, J. D. and Mantovani, S. (2017). A case-control spectral analysis of sleep in Friedreich's Ataxia. World Sleep 2017, Prague, Czech Republic, 7-11 October 2017. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2017.11.611
Forbes, Roma (2017). A comparison of patient education practices of novice and experienced physiotherapists in Australian settings. Australian Physiotherapy Association National Conference, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 19-21 October 2017.
Training physiotherapy students to educate patients; a randomised controlled trial
Forbes, Roma, Mandrusiak, Allison, Smith, Michelle and Russell, Trevor (2017). Training physiotherapy students to educate patients; a randomised controlled trial. Australian Physiotherapy Association National Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, 19-21 October 2017.
Enhancing patient education skills of physiotherapy students in a clinical education setting
Forbes, Roma (2015). Enhancing patient education skills of physiotherapy students in a clinical education setting. Australian and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators Conference, Newcastle, NSW, Australia, 29 March 2015.
Using simulation to facilitate effective patient education
Forbes, Roma (2015). Using simulation to facilitate effective patient education. Simulation in Healthcare, Brisbane, Australia, November 2015.
Using vicarious experiences online to engage and motivate students
Forbes, Roma (2022, 04 13). Using vicarious experiences online to engage and motivate students Times Higher Education
Forbes, Roma (2021). Private practice Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities for health professional students: Increasing capacity for educational quality and equity. Brisbane, Australia: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland.
Forbes, Roma (2021). An international, interprofessional evaluation of the experiences and needs of health professional students and educators in the online teaching and learning of clinical skill. Melbourne, VIC Australia: Universitas 21.
Forbes, Roma (2020). The economic and health impact of physiotherapy student placements in private practice services; building private-sector placement capacity . Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
What does best-practice patient education look like?
Forbes, Roma (2018, 05 14). What does best-practice patient education look like? Relief News: International Association for the Study of Pain 1-1.
Patient education best practice; enhancing physiotherapy students’ self-efficacy and skills
Forbes, Roma (2017). Patient education best practice; enhancing physiotherapy students’ self-efficacy and skills. PhD Thesis, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2018.93
(2020–2021) U21 Health Sciences Group Research Development Fund
(2020–2021) ACEN Research Grants
(2019–2020) Advance Queensland Women's Research Assistance Program
Preparing and supporting new-graduate physiotherapists for rural practice
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Exploring and enhancing physiotherapist competency in clinical documentation
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Preparing the physiotherapy workforce for identifying and managing social determinants of health
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Comparing and contrasting the physical therapies.
Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Designing and delivering online inter professional education and clinical skills to health students
Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Study Strategies Used by Professors and Students of Physiotherapy
Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Characterising local musculoskeletal impairments in individuals with chronic intra-articular temporomandibular disorders
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
Enhancing clinical education capacity within the physiotherapy profession
New graduate physiotherapist readiness for practice