Women Researcher Award

Chathurani Sigera
University of Sydney, Australia

Chathurani Sigera is a physiotherapy and health-services researcher affiliated with the University of Sydney. Her scholarly work encompasses musculoskeletal health, physiotherapy service delivery, emergency-department care, critical-care physiotherapy and evidence-informed clinical practice. Her published research includes multidisciplinary studies examining healthcare pathways and approaches to physiotherapy education and practice. [1][2]

Abstract

The Women Researcher Award profile for Chathurani Sigera presents a research record in physiotherapy and health professions, with particular relevance to musculoskeletal healthcare and clinical service delivery. Her research has addressed physical activity among physiotherapy students, critical-care physiotherapy and contemporary models of care for musculoskeletal conditions. [1][2] Her recent work further examines physiotherapist-led and virtual approaches to healthcare delivery. [3][4]

Keywords

• Physiotherapy
• Health professions research
• Musculoskeletal health
• Emergency-department care
• Critical-care physiotherapy

Introduction

Physiotherapy research increasingly integrates clinical practice with health-services evaluation, patient outcomes and multidisciplinary care. Sigera’s publication record reflects this broad orientation, with studies ranging from physiotherapy education and critical-care practice to musculoskeletal service pathways. Her research has involved collaboration across clinical and academic settings, supporting the evaluation of physiotherapy within changing healthcare environments. [1][3]

Research Profile

The research profile is primarily situated within health professions and physiotherapy. Documented publications indicate interests in physical activity, critical-care physiotherapy, musculoskeletal conditions and models for delivering care in emergency settings. A study of physiotherapy undergraduates examined physical inactivity and the relationship between knowledge and health practices, while other work investigated physiotherapy roles and training in critical-care environments. [1][2]

Research Contributions

• Physiotherapy education: Research has examined physical inactivity and knowledge-practice relationships among physiotherapy students. [1]
• Critical-care practice: Published work has examined physiotherapy workforce characteristics and structured skills training in critical-care settings. [2]
• Musculoskeletal healthcare: More recent research has addressed physiotherapist-led care for musculoskeletal presentations in emergency departments. [3]
• Virtual healthcare: Research has also investigated virtual models of care for patients with low back pain presenting to emergency departments. [4]

Publications

Selected publications demonstrate a progression from physiotherapy education and critical-care research toward contemporary musculoskeletal and emergency-care models. These studies provide a documented basis for evaluating the breadth of Sigera’s research activity within the health professions.

1. Ranasinghe, C., Sigera, C., et al. (2016). Physical inactivity among physiotherapy undergraduates: exploring the knowledge-practice gap. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 8, 39. DOI. [1]
2. Sigera, P. C., et al. (2016). National Profile of Physical Therapists in Critical Care Units of Sri Lanka. Physical Therapy, 96(7), 933–939. DOI. [2]
3. de Campos, T. F., Coombs, D., Sigera, C., et al. (2025). Effectiveness of primary-contact physiotherapy in managing musculoskeletal conditions in emergency departments. BMJ Open. DOI. [3]

Research Impact

The research addresses clinically relevant questions concerning how physiotherapy can be delivered across educational, critical-care and emergency settings. Studies of service pathways and virtual healthcare models are particularly relevant to healthcare systems seeking evidence on alternative approaches to managing musculoskeletal conditions. [3][4]

Award Suitability

The documented record provides several elements relevant to an academic recognition assessment, including peer-reviewed publications, multidisciplinary research participation and work addressing clinically applicable questions in physiotherapy and health services. The supplied bibliometric profile records 40 documents, 614 citations and an h-index of 18. These indicators provide quantitative context but should be considered alongside publication quality, methodological contribution, originality, collaboration and documented research outcomes.

Conclusion

Chathurani Sigera’s research profile reflects sustained activity within physiotherapy and the broader health professions, with documented contributions spanning education, critical-care practice, musculoskeletal healthcare and emerging models of clinical service delivery. The supplied bibliometric indicators and publication record provide supporting context for consideration within the Women Researcher Award category, subject to the applicable award criteria and verification procedures.

External Links

• Scopus Profile
• Google Scholar
• ORCID Profile

References

1. Ranasinghe, C., Sigera, C., Ranasinghe, P., Jayawardena, R., Ranasinghe, A. C. R., Hills, A. P., & King, N. (2016). Physical inactivity among physiotherapy undergraduates: exploring the knowledge-practice gap. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 8, 39.
   https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-016-0063-8
2. Sigera, P. C., et al. (2016). National Profile of Physical Therapists in Critical Care Units of Sri Lanka: Lower Middle-Income Country. Physical Therapy, 96(7), 933–939.
   https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20150363
3. de Campos, T. F., Coombs, D., Sigera, C., et al. (2025). Effectiveness of primary-contact physiotherapy in managing musculoskeletal conditions in emergency departments: protocol for the RESHAP-ED randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open.
   https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-096044
4. Sigera, C., Oliveira, C. B., et al. (2026). Effectiveness of a virtual hospital model of care for patients with low back pain presenting to emergency departments (Back@Home). npj Digital Medicine.
   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-026-02425-8
5. Elsevier. (n.d.). Scopus author details: Chathurani Sigera, Author ID 57190065901. Scopus.
   https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57190065901