scholarly journals Professional and Personal Physical Therapist Development through Service Learning in Collaboration with a Prisoner Reinsertion Program: A Qualitative Study

Author(s):  
Isabel Rodríguez-Costa ◽  
Ma Dolores González-Rivera ◽  
Catherine Ortega ◽  
Joana-Marina Llabrés-Mateu ◽  
María Blanco-Morales ◽  
...  

There is a great concern whether Physical Therapy students upon completion of their educational program are ready and equipped with the requisite skills to construct and implement a successful patient intervention with culturally diverse groups. The purpose of this study is to describe the professional and personal physical therapist development of Physical Therapy students after participating in Solidarity Activities in Collaboration with a Prisoner reinsertion program as a service-learning course. A qualitative approach was used. A convenience sample of twenty physical therapy students doing service learning and one teaching professor were included. Student diaries were analyzed. Semi-structured interviews were done to explore five students’ and the professor’s judgements. Internal and external observations and filling out structure field-notes were also used as data triangulation in order to build the conceptual model. The main findings include that the application of knowledge and practice of skills in different environments are the most important skills attained with this service learning. Five key themes emerged from the data analysis, namely: application of knowledge, adaptation to different environments, improving communication with patients, assisting people and providing treatment with self-confidence. A recommendation is that Physical Therapy programs include workplace practice in different environments to enhance the development of professionalism among students.

Author(s):  
Scott Richardson ◽  
Michael Scotto ◽  
MayAnne Belcina ◽  
Richa Patel ◽  
Kevin Wiener

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a physical therapy student’s level of grit positively correlates to graduate school grade point average. Methods: Participants were a convenience sample recruited from the class of 2021 in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Franklin Pierce University in Goodyear, Arizona. Subjects completed the Short Grit Scale (Grit-S) as a measure of grit. These scores were compared with participants’ graduate school grade point average using a Spearman Rho statistical test with data analysis completed using SPSS software. Results: 27 participants (15 males, 12 females) with mean grit score of 3.76 ± 0.48 and mean grade point average 3.72 ± 0.18. Spearman Rho correlation was .463 (p < .05). Conclusion: A significant moderate positive correlation between grit and graduate school grade point average in physical therapy students was found. These findings indicate preliminary evidence that may be useful for admissions considerations for DPT programs.


Author(s):  
Elena Marqués-Sulé ◽  
José Casaña ◽  
Gemma Espí ◽  
Marta Inglés de la Torre ◽  
Yasmín Ezzatvar ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 2325-2326
Author(s):  
Anam Ashraf ◽  
Hina Gul ◽  
Riaz Hashmi ◽  
Wajida Parveen ◽  
Misbah Amanat Ali

Aim: To determine Doctor of Physical Therapy student attitudes towards spirituality. Methods: This Observational Study was conducted from March 2018 to June 2018 after ethical approval. Total of 1003 participants were recruited through purposive non-probability sampling technique. DPT students from public/ private Universities were included in the study and Graduated Physical Therapist and Postgraduate Physical Therapy Students were excluded. 16-item Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale (DSES) was used to record response. Results: The mean age of the participants was 54.90 ± 6.8 years ranging from 18 years to 23 years. Out of 1003 195(19.4%) were males and 808(80.6%) were females, 312(31.1%) having no clinical attachment and 691(68.9%) having clinical attachment. 4949(49.3%) were in Riphah international university, 68(6.8%) were in SAHS children hospital, 122(12.2%) were in SPT, Mayo Hospital, 319(31.8%) were in Rashid Lateef Medical College. The result shows that there is no significant difference in spirituality score among DPT students of different institutes according to age, gender, year of study and clinical attachment. Conclusion: This study concluded that entry-level DPT students had positive attitude towards spirituality. Keywords: Spirituality, DPT Students, Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-192
Author(s):  
Kerstin M Palombaro ◽  
Jill D Black ◽  
Robin L Dole ◽  
Sidney A Jones ◽  
Alexander R Stewart

Background: Empathy is critical to patient-centered care and thus is a valued trait in graduate health-care students. The relationship between empathy and civic-mindedness in health professions has not previously been explored. Objectives: (a) To determine whether significant differences occurred on the Jefferson Scale for Empathy–Health Professions Student Version (JSE-HPS) and Civic-Minded Professional scale (CMP) and its subscales across the curriculum, (b) to explore a potential relationship between civic-mindedness and empathy in a cohort of graduate physical therapy (PT) students at regular intervals, and (c) to explore the predictive ability of civic-mindedness on empathy scores. Methods: This study was a convenience sample of a cohort of 48 PT students who completed both the JSE-HPS and the CMP at 4 points of a service-learning intensive curriculum. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, a Friedman’s analysis of variance with Wilcoxon signed-ranks post hoc testing, and Spearman correlations with stepwise linear regressions. Results: Statistically significant differences were not found for the JSE-HPS. Civic-Minded Professional scores increased across the curriculum. The JSE-HPS, the CMP, and various CMP subscales were significantly correlated. The JSE-HPS pretest scores were predictive of the year 1 and 2 posttest JSE-HPS scores. Conclusion: This study’s findings indicate that service-learning and the resulting development of civic-mindedness supports empathy. Programs could use JSE-HPS pretests to identify individual graduate students need for empathy mentorship upon program entrance or as one admission criterion.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reed Handlery ◽  
Emma Shover ◽  
Thavi Chhoun ◽  
Lauren Durant ◽  
Kaci Handlery ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective Strength training is frequently utilized by physical therapists; however, there has been discussion about whether physical therapists utilize strength training adequately. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the strength training attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge of physical therapists and physical therapy students and to determine how participant characteristics influenced knowledge scores. Methods An anonymous survey was created in 3 rounds. For round 1, researchers used textbooks to create items assessing demographics, attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge regarding strength training. Rounds 2 and 3 consisted of feedback from 7 content experts until 80% consensus was reached; items were added, removed, or edited based on feedback. The final survey was distributed through social media, list servs, and email, targeting physical therapists and students based in the United States. Response frequencies for all items were reported. Overall knowledge scores were calculated by summing correct responses for each item, with a maximum score of 13; scores &lt;70% were considered low. Binomial logistic regression determined which characteristics (demographics, attitudes, or behaviors) influenced whether participants adequately utilized strength training principles (scored ≥70% on knowledge items). Results There were 777 physical therapist and 648 student participants. Nearly 90% of therapists and students reported frequently prescribing strength training. Over 48% of therapists felt their professional education did not prepare them to apply strength training (compared with 24% of students), and 68% believed that strength training is inadequately applied in physical therapy (compared with 40% of students). Sixty-two percent of therapists and 55% of students scored ≥70% for knowledge items. Additional strength training education and regular participation in strength training increased the odds of scoring ≥70% on knowledge items. Conclusions Physical therapists and physical therapy students frequently prescribe strength training, despite similarly low knowledge scores. To increase knowledge, greater emphasis on strength training in professional education, continuing education, participation in strength training, or all 3 is warranted. Impact Strength training is an important intervention used in physical therapy and must be used appropriately to improve the health of patients. According to these findings, strength training education may not currently be optimal, as demonstrated by low knowledge scores by both therapists and students. Further work is needed to determine how knowledge of strength training relates to patient outcomes and also how best to implement strength training in physical therapy education and practice.


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