Wilson, CarolynBright, FelicityMooney, Sarah2026-01-062026-01-062025-12-12New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, ISSN: 0303-7193 (Print); 2230-4886 (Online), Physiotherapy New Zealand, 53(3), 141-150. doi: 10.15619/nzjp.v53i3.4830303-71932230-4886http://hdl.handle.net/10292/20446<jats:p>Effective communication between the physiotherapist and patient is fundamental to physiotherapy practice. In Aotearoa New Zealand, students must demonstrate “effective communication” to become registered, yet it is unclear what constitutes effective communication. Nor is it clear how clinical educators, who assess students’ communication, conceptualise effective communication. This lack of clarity may have implications for how students’ competency is supported and assessed. This research explores how clinical educators conceptualise effective communication in final year physiotherapy students in musculoskeletal clinical settings in Aotearoa New Zealand. Guided by Interpretive Description, data were gathered from physiotherapy clinical educators using two data sources: written reflections from watching a pre-recorded student-patient interaction, and semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Analysis of data from seven clinical educators suggested effective communication to be a dynamic dance, featuring continuous interplay between the physiotherapy student and patient. This primary theme had three subthemes each highlighting a distinct feature of communication: 1) Adapting communication moves in response to patients; 2) Control of the interaction; and 3) Building rapport with patients. Findings indicate communication skill development is complex and evolves over the course of one’s professional life. Skill development is also embedded within broader understandings of the role and function of the physiotherapist and, accordingly, supporting students to develop communication competencies requires further attention from educators and researchers alike.</jats:p>The New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy is registered on Scopus, and since 2012, has offered Open Access publication of all content. Present and future journal articles are freely accessible as well as past journals that have been published from 2012 onwards.4201 Allied Health and Rehabilitation Science42 Health Sciences8.1 Organisation and delivery of services1103 Clinical Sciences4201 Allied health and rehabilitation scienceAotearoa New ZealandClinical EducationCommunicationPhysiotherapy StudentQualitativeJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.15619/nzjp.v53i3.483