Digital Commons Network^™

Reaching Learners Where They Are: Podcasting As A Scalable Tool For The National Physical Therapy Exam Preparation, Bhupinder Singh, Rudri Purohit, Emily Gerbehy, Derek Camilleri

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) is a pivotal requirement for PT licensure in the US. While conventional preparation methods such as textbooks, review courses, and standardized practice exams are effective, they often pose logistical and financial challenges. Method: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of asynchronous, on-demand educational tools. Among these, podcasting has emerged as a promising, mobile-friendly modality, yet its usage trends and educational value for NPTE preparation remain underexplored. The purpose of this study was to analyze multiyear podcast engagement data from a high-performing NPTE-focused podcast hosted on Buzzsprout, spanning January 2020 to March 2025. Engagement …

The Effectiveness Of Virtual Reality And Augmented Reality-Based Simulation On Healthcare Students' Learning-A Review Of The Literature, Matthew Mills

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Simulation is increasingly used to supplement authentic clinical experiences in preparation for future healthcare students. However, the most realistic simulation experiences are frequently costly, time-intensive, and difficult to scale, especially for programs with budgetary restrictions. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have been proposed as easily scalable tools to provide students with a realistic simulated environment. However, as technology is rapidly evolving, there is a need to understand the evidence surrounding VR and AR's impact on healthcare student learning to optimize the deployment of these technologies and justify the costs associated with implementation. Methods: A review of the …

Agreement Of Chatgpt With Clinical Practice Guidelines For Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment, Alessandra N. Garcia, Brian Neville, Bradley Myers, Lori Leineke, Karlyn Green

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This cross-sectional study evaluated whether Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT) GPT-3.5 and GPT-4O provide treatment information consistent with high-quality clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: High-quality CPGs published in the past decade were identified via PubMed and PEDro, with the search updated on November 11, 2024. Guidelines were appraised using the AGREE II tool. GPT-3.5 and GPT-4O were queried with common treatment-related questions, and their responses were compared to CPG recommendations. Two independent reviewers conducted a thematic content analysis of GPT-3.5 and GPT-4O responses using a deductive–inductive codebook, iteratively refined through consensus, to identify major themes/subthemes, …

National Physical Therapy Examination Scores From 2023 And 2024 Cohorts In The United States, Richard Cahanin, James W. Farris, Tara Andrews, Preston Warren, Jennifer Patterson, Shawn Drake, Barry Dale

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This study aimed to determine which student academic performance variables within physical therapy education programs most strongly predicted NPTE scores. Methods: A prospective, multi-institutional cohort study with 228 doctoral physical therapy students representing the 2023 and 2024 cohorts was conducted. Hierarchical multiple linear regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses were used to evaluate research hypotheses. Results: No significant difference in NPTE scores between the 2023 and 2024 cohorts was found (p = .936). A streamlined model identified 2-year DPT GPA (p < .001), total PEAT score (p = .004), and total GRE score (p = .046) as the most significant …

Health Professional Students' Experiences With Gender-Identity Inclusive Content In The Classroom And Supervised Clinical Learning, Perry Xinyi Zhang, Aria Grabowski, Olivia S. Anderson

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Gender-identity diverse populations have unique healthcare needs, but they experience stigmatization leading to negative health outcomes. Healthcare professionals have reported obstacles to delivering affirming care to gender-identity diverse patients due to limited training. We assessed how health profession students encounter gender-identity content and how students’ perceived preparedness to provide care for gender-identity diverse populations. Methods: A survey distributed to students enrolled in health professional programs at a large mid-western university included close-ended questions about exposure to gender-identity diverse curricular content in didactic and supervised clinical settings and perceived preparedness to work with gender-identity diverse populations. Open-ended questions asked what …

Does Relevant Work Experience Influence Academic Success? A Retrospective Study Of Doctor Of Physical Therapy Students, Nicole Tombers, Kate Corrigan, Rylee Kwiatkowski, Gwinna Remillard, Morgan Scanlon, Maddy Soderberg

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Relevant work experience is a factor considered in holistic admissions practices of many health profession education programs. The benefits of observation hours on student career choice and subsequent academic success have been explored. Many programs additionally consider paid work experience as a factor in admissions decisions; however the influence of relevant work experience on academic outcomes is unknown. This study examined relationships between paid physical therapy related work experience and performance in a DPT program. Method: Data from 945 applicants resulting in 191 matriculants to a single DPT program were included. Employment history for all applicants was coded as …

The Effect Of Debriefing Following A Computer-Based Low-Fidelity Simulation On The Self-Efficacy Of Health Professions Students: A Randomized Cross-Over Control Study, Matthew Mills, Enrico Gandolfi, Richard E. Ferdig, Kimberly Peer

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Simulations have been increasingly used in health science education to supplement clinical experience. There is evidence of the benefits of high-fidelity simulation (HFS) with debriefing, but HFS is costly and time-intensive to administer. Low-fidelity simulation (LFS) has been proposed as an alternative that is easier to scale and more cost-effective; however, the evidence surrounding its impact on students is mixed, possibly because debriefing is frequently omitted in LFS. Methods: A randomized experimental mixed methods cross-over control study was performed to evaluate the impact of a structured debriefing session following an interactive computer-based low-fidelity simulation on the self-efficacy and anxiety …

Acquisition Of Basic Clinical Skills Among Japanese Novice Rehabilitation Therapists: A Retrospective Study, Kenta Fujimura, Hiroaki Sakurai, Soichiro Koyama, Kenji Kawakami, Kazuya Takeda, Takuma Ii, Shota Suzumura, Shigeo Tanabe, Yoshikiyo Kanada

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between basic clinical skills and clinical experience among novice rehabilitation therapists in Japan. Methods: Twenty-one novice rehabilitation therapists who joined a general hospital and underwent annual practical examinations during each of their three years of clinical experience were included. This retrospective longitudinal single-center study followed the same novice therapists throughout the study period. The practical examination was based on the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and included exercises for joint range of motion (ROM), muscle strengthening (MS), getting up (Getting Up), standing up and sitting down (Standing/Sitting), and transferring from a wheelchair to a …

Institutional Prestige And Prerequisite Performance As Predictors Of Academic Success In Doctor Of Physical Therapy Programs: A Pilot Retrospective Cohort Study, Margaret Wicinski, Tamala Marcin

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This pilot study examined relationships between Carnegie Classification levels of undergraduate institutions, prerequisite anatomy and physiology (AP) performance, and academic success in Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) education. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed records from 83 students who graduated from a single DPT program in 2019. Data included Carnegie Classifications of prerequisite institutions, undergraduate anatomy and physiology grade point average (UGPA AP 1&2 GPA), first-term pathophysiology course grade (Patho GPA), and Doctor of Physical Therapy program grade point average (DPT GPA). Statistical analyses included Spearman rank order correlation (rs) and Kruskal-Wallis tests with effect size calculations. Power analysis …

March 3, 2026 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

March 2026 Faculty Senate Packet, University Of Nebraska At Kearney Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Packets

No abstract provided.

Muscular Fitness Levels Of U.S. Children And Adolescents, Daniel J. Mcdonough, Yong Gao, Lynda B. Ransdell, Haichun Sun

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Purpose: To describe muscular fitness (MF) levels and percentile benchmarks among U.S. children and adolescents aged 6–15 years old across sociodemographic, physiological, and behavioral subgroups. Methods: Data were from the 2012 NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey (NNYFS). Four strength tests consisting of the plank, knee extension, modified pull-up, and handgrip, were analyzed by age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, BMI category, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and physical activity (PA) among 1,234 participants (51% male) using SAS SURVEY procedures. Results: Mean ± SEM scores were 69.6 ± 1.8 s (plank), 56.6 ± 4.2 lb (left) and 59.2 ± 4.3 lb (right) knee extension, 5.5 …

Early Childhood Echo (Ec Echo) Start-Up & Operations Manual, Lisa Long, I. Michelle Gaither, Ruby Brenner, Bradley Long, Emily Mcclelland, Malcolm Huell, Lauren Elliott, Katerina Sergi

Publications

The Early Childhood ECHO (EC ECHO) Start-up & Operations Manual is a practical guide to launching case-based telementoring and professional development using the Project ECHO® model. Prepared for early childhood programs and agencies. Adapted from Mississippi’s EC ECHO implementation (2023–2025) and aligned with Project ECHO® guidance.

Significance Of Relationships In Navigating Disability, Shivani Bhalla Dr

Journal of Social Theory in Art Education

I have addressed the theme of movement and momentum by referring to the importance of relationships and seeking community in navigating through the challenges of disability experiences. In this paper, I will explore how my relationships with my family members, fellow disabled artists, educators, and scholars helped me learn from my disability experiences and gave me the courage to come out as a person with disability (PWD) and explore disability as a sight of knowledge production.

Boundless Community: A Developing Disability Arts Movement, Sarah K. Benson, Khaldoun Hijazin, Alaa Qattam, Suha Khuffash

Journal of Social Theory in Art Education

Over several years, individual organizations in Jordan have been focused on increasing the participation of individuals with disabilities in the arts. Increasing inclusion can provide a powerful tool to create visibility, amplify marginalized voices and disrupt normative narratives. However, these isolated efforts had a limited impact until a cohesive effort borne by a burgeoning community of practice led to the first Amman Arts and Disability Summit. Bringing together youth, artists and gallery owners, the movement leaders are using models of social learning and communities of practice to create a more inclusive arts community. The movement stands on the precipice of …

Workforce Participation In Northeast Kentucky: A Qualitative Documentary Study, Timothy A. Gibbs

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University By Timothy A. Gibbs on March 2, 2026.

How To Design A State Child And Dependent Care Tax Credit That Works, Gabrielle Pepin

Reports

High care costs for children and older adults put an increasing strain on American families, often pushing caregivers out of the workforce. While investments in affordable care deliver lasting benefits for families, employers, and the economy, the federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) falls short—leaving states well positioned to make a difference. This Policy Blueprint highlights three ways the CDCTC fails families, and three solutions for designing a state tax credit that can help.

Lanthorn, Vol. 60, No. 12, March 2, 2026, Grand Valley State University

Volume 60, August 4, 2025 – April 20, 2026

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

The Need For Developing Psychologically Informed Physical Therapy Education, Dustin Cox

Journal of Applied Disciplines

Chronic pain presents a multifaceted challenge for healthcare providers, often impacting patients' physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Research indicates that individuals with chronic pain process pain through emotional and reward pathways in the brain, underscoring the need for integrative treatment approaches. Evidence supports the effectiveness of combining psychological interventions with physical rehabilitation to improve outcomes. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a mindfulness-based behavioral therapy, has shown promise in addressing the psychological dimensions of chronic pain. However, physical therapists often lack formal training in ACT. This study protocol was designed to explore effective methods for educating physical therapists in ACT principles …

Provost’S Scholarly Dissemination Report: Une Authored Publications November 1, 2025, Through January 31, 2026, Une Office Of The Provost, Sonya Durney

UNE Provost's Reports

Scholarly dissemination report of UNE-authored publications during the period of November 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026. Prepared for the Academic, Student, and Research Affairs Committee Provost’s Report, March 2026.

Provost’S Media Report October 10, 2025 – February 15, 2026, Une Office Of The Provost

UNE Provost's Reports

Report of UNE media appearances during the period of October 10, 2025 through February 15, 2026. Prepared for the Academic, Student, and Research Affairs Committee Provost’s Report, March 2026.

“It’S A Lot More To It Than Just Research”: Integrating Critical Data Literacy And Reasoning With Data Into A Stem Summer Camp, Marc T. Sager, Saki L. Milton, Candace Walkington

Publications

Purpose: This study explores how middle-grade girls from predominantly underrepresented and underserved racially and ethnically minoritized (UUREM) backgrounds developed critical data literacy (CDL) through participation in a week-long residential STEM camp. Given the increasing importance of data science education in a data-driven world, this research examines how informal learning environments can support CDL development among youth from historically marginalized groups.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The study draws on qualitative interview data from eleven participants, and their group-produced artifacts to investigate how the camp experience supported engagement with data and the development of CDL. Interviews explored participants' experiences with data collection, organization, analysis, and …

Experience And Response To Disability Stigma In South Asian Communities, Sudha Krishnan

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

This qualitative study explored the experiences of stigma and responses to stigmatization among 13 South Asian parents of children with extensive support needs (ESN). Existing research indicates that students with intellectual disabilities often experience negative emotions such as shame, powerlessness, and frustration due to their disability status. Cultural beliefs significantly influence the experiences of disabled children and their families, with stigma perceived and felt differently across cultural groups. Participants were interviewed about their family and cultural beliefs, perceptions of disability, and experiences with school collaborations and social stigma. Thematic analysis revealed that South Asian families with children with ESN faced …

Transition Teacher Perspectives Of Community-Based Vocational Education Programs For Students With Disabilities, Vincent Spevack, Janna L. Brendle, Robin H. Lock

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

The transition from school to work can be an especially challenging time for adolescents and young adults with disabilities, and their families, as they navigate the complex postsecondary transition process. Community-based vocational education (CBVE) is a coordinated transition service that provides students with opportunities for the acquisition of career and life skills in real-world environments. The goal of CBVE is to best prepare individuals with disabilities for employment and subsequentially important life skills necessary for the transition to a more independent life. The study was designed to explore special education transition educators’ perceptions of the barriers to implementing CBVE programs …

Coaching Parents To Use Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions, Lin Zhu, Kerry Kisinger

The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship

This practitioner article examines the use of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) to enhance communication skills through the vignette of a 4-year-old with speech delays. Through brief coaching sessions, the child’s parents learned techniques like imitation and prompting, integrating them into daily routines to improve vocal communication. The intervention highlighted the effectiveness of engaging caregivers as active participants and tailoring strategies to family contexts, leading to positive outcomes for both the child and family. This article outlines the procedures for practitioners to coach parents to implement evidence-based practices that can promote academic and behavioral growth in a naturalistic setting.

South Carolina Middle School Student Performance In Ela And Mathematics: The Imperative Of Assessment For Learning, Olivia S. Ochoo

South Carolina Association for Middle Level Education Journal

Despite broad access to middle school in South Carolina, recent SCReady assessment data indicate persistent literacy and numeracy achievement gaps, with so many students performing below grade level in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics. This article evaluated five years of state- and district-level data, highlighting steady but small gains, and explored how current assessment practices failed to fully inform instruction to accelerate learning. This paper used a mixed-methods research design, particularly a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, in which both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to collect and analyze data. To be specific, document analysis and both open- and …

Workforce Needs And Labor Market Trends In Utah [Special Report], Lendel K. Narine, Paul Hill, Andree' Walker Bravo

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

This study examined Utah employers’ perceptions of workforce preparedness, hiring challenges, and emerging skill needs. Data were collected from 226 employers across different industries to identify priority competency gaps in the state’s workforce. Results revealed that Utah employers perceive the largest skill gaps in time management, critical thinking, conflict resolution, and ethical judgment, competencies essential for effective leadership and collaboration. Employers placed the highest value on experiential learning opportunities, particularly work-based projects, internships, and mentorships, as the most effective means of preparing graduates. Employers emphasized communication, teamwork, and analytical problem-solving as the most critical skills for the next five to …

Identifying Priorities To Guide Extension Water Quality Programming In Utah, Clare Entwistle, Sarah Erwin, Stephanie Vaughn

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah State University Extension water quality faculty conducted a statewide water quality needs assessment to identify priority contaminants and resource gaps. The results found that elevated nutrient levels and sedimentation were the top concerns where additional resources would be beneficial. In addition, insufficient funding for improvements and low public engagement were identified as key challenges in addressing water quality issues. Results revealed current unmet needs with regional variation to inform Extension resource allocation and programming.

Bridging Gaps In Data Utilization: An Evaluation Of The Rural Utah Data Symposium, Paul A. Hill

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Rural Utah Data Symposium, an event designed to address data-driven decision-making among rural leaders. The symposium features expert-led presentations on the rural economy, healthcare, housing, mobility, broadband, and wellbeing. Data were collected through an online exit survey with a 67% response rate (n = 35). Attendees rated presentation quality, learning outcomes, and overall satisfaction. Findings show high ratings and positive learning outcomes, demonstrating the symposium’s value in empowering informed decision-making. Recommendations include increasing interactivity among attendees, broadening content scope, and expanding statewide representation to further support data utilization in rural Utah.

Rehumanizing Reintegration: Intensive Case Management Effectively Supporting Community Re-Entry Post Incarceration In Canada, Sheena Brown, Ardavan Eizadirad

Education Faculty Publications

This article examines the effectiveness of intensive case management (ICM) as a rehumanizing framework for supporting racialized individuals transitioning from incarceration to community re-entry in Canada. The study focuses on the Prosper program delivered by the community organization Amadeusz (learn more at https://amadeusz.ca/home), which provides culturally responsive, relationship-centered supports for individuals facing firearm-related charges. Guided by Critical Race Theory and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies, two focus groups with six racialized female caseworkers were conducted alongside examining archival interviews and program evaluation data. Thematic analysis identified three interconnected dimensions of effective reintegration practice: (1) building trust through relational accountability, (2) integrating culturally …