The purpose of this quantitative study was to compare the pre- and post-pandemic ultimate and first-time pass rates for physical therapist assistant (PTA) candidates taking the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) during the COVID-19 era in the U.S. This study builds a framework for future qualitative studies to understand factors leading to any…

Higher learning institutions teaching gross anatomy are implementing 3D technology, such as the Anatomage Table, to supplement cadaveric dissection. However, the literature is scant about the effects of introducing 3D technologies on students' learning outcomes in the study of gross anatomy. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine…

Researchers have extensively investigated the quantitative relationship between various admissions requirements and their predictive capability for academic success in DPT programs; however, limited investigators have examined the perceptions of these requirements by admissions faculty. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the…

Little is known about the experience of belonging for full-time, hybrid physical therapy faculty in the United States. Rapid growth of Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) education programs with hybrid curricular models and national physical therapy faculty shortages suggest the importance of exploring faculty belonging, especially given the…

The number of nontraditional students in higher education continues to increase. Despite the increase in the number of nontraditional students overall, the majority of students enrolled in doctor of physical therapy programs are considered traditional. In addition, physical therapy students are among the least racially and ethnically diverse which…

This study explored how U.S. Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs integrate and implement simulation-based learning into their curricula. While recent research takes a broad view of how physical therapy (PT) programs are using simulation, this research sought an in-depth understanding by exploring the questions about (1) how are programs…

Background and Purpose: Physical therapy (PT) student academic and clinical success is dependent on their ability to develop clinical reasoning in the first year, especially prior to the first clinical education experience. However, literature has revealed a very low ability of learners to spontaneously transfer basic science knowledge into…

Psychomotor skills are an essential aspect of physical therapy (PT) education. Recent studies supported using videoconference technology (VCT) for psychomotor instruction, but research on the use of VCT for psychomotor assessments is limited. Determining VCT's usefulness for psychomotor exams is vital to establish best pedagogical practices. The…

Currently, there is a need for physical therapists to support the expected growth in the field. However, a shortage exists in core Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) faculty holding an academic doctorate. To reverse the shortage, the perceptions of the motives and barriers to pursuing an academic doctorate among DPT faculty needed to be studied. The…

Strong partnerships between academic health professions programs and clinical healthcare practice settings, termed academic-clinical partnerships, are essential in providing quality full-time clinical training experiences to health professions learners. However, the precise conditions and factors that promote strong academic-clinical partnerships…

Background: The experience of supervising an underperforming student (UPS) in clinical education and failure to fail (FTF) are described in health professions such as nursing and medicine but there is little description of it in Physical Therapist (PT) clinical education. Purpose: To explore the PT clinical instructors' (CIs) perceptions,…

The shift to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes in the way education is delivered. The online environment provides a new avenue for physical therapy education. With a majority of undergraduate students taking at least one course online, their perceptions of online learning are critical in the…

Introduction: The physical therapy (PT) profession has a tradition of growth driven by interest and societal needs. Recent discrepancies in workforce modeling suggest looming issues impacted by declining application rates. Modern facilitators and barriers for entering the PT profession need exploration to assist key stakeholders in making informed…

On November 2015, the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) published position papers for the 2016 changes to the CAPTE standards. One of these position papers discussed the changes in the 2016 standards related to the qualifications for the position of a program director (PD) for a physical therapist assistant. A…

Problem based learning is a teaching methodology that utilizes patient scenarios to facilitate student learning that may improve clinical reasoning. While problem based learning has been adopted in many medical schools, the transition to other health profession schools, including physical therapy schools, has been slow and often criticized. The…