Pulmonary rehabilitation within entry-level physiotherapy clinical placements: a scoping review of innovative student-led models

Background Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a well-established intervention for chronic respiratory diseases, yet how PR is incorporated into entry-level physiotherapy clinical placements remains unclear.Purpose To synthesise available information on the inclusion of PR within entry-level physiotherapy clinical education.Methods Searches of Medline, ERIC, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science (inception to 25 November 2025) were conducted without language or design restrictions. Grey literature was also searched. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data.Results Twelve reports from five countries were included. Seven described student-led PR programmes, varying in duration and delivery mode (face-to-face, telehealth). The remaining reports addressed broader exposure to PR and patient satisfaction in student-led clinics.Conclusions There is limited evidence on the integration of PR into entry-level physiotherapy clinical placements. Enhanced curricular design, university-health service partnerships and systematic evaluation of student-led PR models may support graduate readiness and address workforce gaps in PR delivery.