Physical Therapy Commons^™

Teaching Social Determinants Of Health In Physical Therapist Professional Education Programs: Exploring Curricular Approaches And Examining An Assessment Tool, Emily Jordan Hawkins

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

There is a growing emphasis and need for physical therapists (PTs) to serve not only as clinicians but also as advocates to pursue health equity. Clinical practice for preventing and rehabilitating injuries and promoting physical activity will not eliminate health disparities resulting from the social determinants of health (SDH). Leaders in the field of physical therapy have charged physical therapist professional education programs to teach future PTs to address SDH, however, as of August 2023, the Standards and Required Elements for Accreditation of Physical Therapist Education Programs does not specifically require curricular content regarding SDH. The purposes of this dissertation …

Executive Functions And Student Success During Physical Therapist Education: An Exploratory Study, Jane Roitsch, Martha L. Walker, Anastasia M. Raymer

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Clinical reasoning relies on executive functions (EFs) that manage attention, inhibition, organization, and decision-making. Assessment of EFs may help identify students who excel at clinical reasoning, yet data showing this relationship in physical therapy (PT) education programs are lacking. The primary purpose of this exploratory study was to examine EFs in relationship to success in PT educational programs. METHODS: Thirteen third-year PT graduate students completed two EF tests which were compared to culminating scores in the program and admissions scores. RESULTS: A relationship existed between National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and comprehensive exam results and one EF test score; …

The Role Mentoring Plays In The Transition To Practice Of Newly Credentialed Athletic Trainers, Stacy E. Walker, Stephanie Mazerolle Singe, Julie M. Cavallario

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: Mentoring has been identified as an important method of supporting newly credentialed athletic trainers (ATs) during their transition to practice. Gaining a better understanding of this relationship could provide valuable insights that may assist employers and professional programs in developing a plan to better facilitate the transition.

Objective: To examine which aspects of the mentoring relationship provided the most benefit during the transition to practice of newly certified ATs.

Design: Qualitative study.

Setting: Individual phone interviews.

Patients or Other Participants: A total of 13 ATs who graduated from a professional master's program, were certified from February through July 2016, …