Rising to the Challenge of COVID-19: Pivoting to Online and Project-Based Physiotherapy Student Placements in Contemporary Professional Settings

Online and project-based student placements in sport and corporate settings were incorporated within the Macquarie University Doctor of Physiotherapy following the restriction of face-to-face delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explores student and educator perceptions of these placements, and analyses student performance results to provide future recommendations. The mixed-methods design included a student survey, semi-structured educator interviews and quantitative analysis of student assessment performance comparing 2020 to 2018/2019 cohorts. Quantitative survey data were described, with proportional differences between groups analysed. Open-ended survey responses and interview transcripts were thematically analysed, and integration of all results was performed. Themes derived from 24 student surveys highlighted that the learning experiences and skills required for online and project-based placements were varied and valuable. Analysis of 176 students’ performance showed differences between performance and applicability of assessment items in 2020 placements in comparison to previous years, although all students met performance requirements. Analysis of eight educator interviews identified that online and project-based placements changed experiences for all stakeholders and highlighted the need for enhanced educator and student communication and organisation for the placement to be successful. Online and project-based placements were considered a better reflection of contemporary work practices, producing valuable deliverables to the business. Three final integrated themes were identified regarding online and project-based elements of placements: learning experiences of students differed, skills for students and educators differed, and placements were representative of real-world work. A hybrid approach that incorporates both online and onsite placement time and includes a project-based component is recommended for future placements. Project-based and online elements provide genuine and valuable learning opportunities for physiotherapy students in preparation for real-world work.

EFEKTIVITAS STRETCHING ABDOMINAL DALAM PENGURANGAN NYERI AKIBAT DYSMENORRHEA PRIMER PADA REMAJA

Background: Abdominal stretching is a stretching that focusing on the part of abdominal muscle (rectus abdominis, internus obliqus, external obliqus). Stretching is successful in reducing dysmenorrhea complaint. The aim of research to analyse the influence of abdominal stretching on reducing the level of primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: The studied design used was quasi experimental with pre and post control design. Subyek were 40 female physiotherapy student with primary dysmenorrhea devided into two groups. The experimental grup get abdominal stretching 10-15 minutes Results: The result of the researt showed that the control group had a p value = 0.52, which means that Ho is accepted, so the hypothesis states that there is no effect on the decrease in VDS scores. The treatment group p = 0.00 Ho was rejected and Ha was accepted so the hypothesis stated that abdominal atretching had an effect on the impairment of VDS. Conclusion: abdominal stretching was effective in reducing level of primary dysmenorrhea

Identification Of Physiotherapy Student Fitness At Poltekkes Kemenkes Surakarta

Background: The convenience provided by technology makes a person tend to reduce physical activity. In a long time it will certainly have an impact on one's fitness. This will also affect adolescents to young adults, where the average circle is students in college. Fitness is very important to support daily activities, without fitness someone will easily experience fatigue. Currently, students tend to do less physical activity because they lie too much or are sedentary as a result of technological advances. As a physiotherapy student who will treat patients later, fitness needs to be maintained since in the college. So far, fitness identification has never been done for students in health institutions, especially in physiotherapy students in the Poltekkes Kemenkes Surakarta, so this study aims to determine the fitness condition of physiotherapy students. Methods: this research is a descriptive study by measuring 8 fitness components namely flexibility, balance, strength, explosive power, speed, agility, coordination and endurance in 226 physiotherapy students and the data analized descriptively using Ms. Excel. Results: Based on the measurement results, it was found that flexibility, balance and strength were included in the good category, explosive power, agility and coordination were in the very poor category, speed and endurance were in the excellent category. The physiotherapy student fitness index shows an average value of 3.125, which means that student fitness is included in the fair category. Conclusion: there is efforts should be made to maintain and improve the fitness of physiotherapy students in the Poltekkes Kemenkes Surakarta.

Implementing a Virtual Care Clinical Placement for a Physiotherapy Student in a Hospital-Based Chronic Pain Programme

Purpose: The aim of this case report was to determine the experiences and outcomes of implementing a part-time virtual care clinical placement for a physiotherapy student in a hospital-based chronic pain programme. Client Description: Three participants were involved in this clinical placement: an entry-level physiotherapy student, a physiotherapy clinical instructor, and an academic coordinator of clinical education from a Master of Science in Physical Therapy (MScPT) programme. Intervention:We implemented a part-time 40-hour virtual care clinical placement (10 hr/wk for 4 wk) in a publicly funded chronic pain programme at Kingston Health Sciences Centre for an MScPT student from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Measures and Outcome:The student’s performance was evaluated by the clinical instructor using learning goals and the Canadian Physiotherapy Assessment of Clinical Performance. The participants also provided reflections on their experiences in their respective roles. The student achieved the learning goals and demonstrated competency at the level required for a senior-level placement. Overall reflections on the virtual care clinical placement were positive, with a few key challenges. Implications: Novel clinical placement opportunities can help prepare physiotherapy students for emerging practice experiences. This case report provides insight into one such experience.

Rating of Physiotherapy Student Clinical Performance in A Paediatric Setting: Is It Possible to Gain Assessor Consistency?

Background: During workplace based clinical placements, best practice in assessment dictates that students should expect consistency between assessors rating their performance. To assist clinical educators (CEs) to provide a consistent assessment of physiotherapy student performance, nine paediatric vignettes depicting various standards of student performance, as assessed by the Assessment of Physiotherapy Practice (APP), were developed. The project aimed to evaluate the consistency of physiotherapy educators assessing student competence in a paediatric setting using video vignettes alongside the APP. Methods: Thirty-six CEs, with minimum 3-years clinical experience and had supervised a student within the past year, were sent three videos at four-week intervals. Videos depicted the same clinical scenario, however student performance varied with each video. Consistency among raters was assessed using percentage agreement to establish reliability. Results: The vignettes were assessed a combined total of 60 times. Across scenarios, percentage agreement at the not adequate level was 100%, and combining adequate or better, percentage agreement was >86%. The study demonstrated strong consensus when comparing not adequate to adequate or better student performance. Importantly, no student performance scripted as not adequate was passed by any assessor. Conclusions: Experienced educators demonstrate consistency in identifying a not adequate from adequate or better performance when assessing a one-off student performance using the APP. These validated video vignettes will be a valuable training tool to improve educator consistency when assessing student performance in paediatric physiotherapy.

PSS-STUDY: PSS-Study: An Exploration of Physiotherapy Student-Perceived Stress and the Related Coping Strategies whilst on Placement

Evidence exploring stress and coping strategies amongst physiotherapy students within clinical practice is lacking. The aim of this study is two-fold: to identify common stressors and coping strategies of BSc and MSc UK physiotherapy students on clinical placement; to explore the relationship between these stressors and coping strategies, and demographics of age, gender and year of study. This cross-sectional study recruited a convenience sample. Participants completed a five-part closed questionnaire. Seventy-seven questionnaires were returned. Frequency counts identified common stressors and coping strategies (%). Chi-squared test analysis identified correlations between variables. Odds ratio analysis highlighted strength of associations. Common stressors: lack of practical skills (58.4%); participants’ perceived expectations of required knowledge (57.1%); time demands (55.8%). Common coping strategies: talking to a friend in the same year of study (79.2%); exercise (68.8%). Lack of support from university/clinical staff (p = 0.04), time demands (p = 0.03) were statistically significant stressors in relation to age. Talking to a friend in the year above was a statistically significant coping strategy (p = 0.008) for male students. Talking to a clinical educator/ward staff was a statistically significant coping strategy in relation to year of study (p = 0.035). Certain stressors were experienced more by second-year BSc and second-year MSc cohorts than the third-year BSc cohort. These findings provide awareness of students who potentially require support in managing stress.