Journal of Allied Health最新文献

Evidence-based practice (EBP) requires that clinicians possess skills in appraisal of evidence. Journal club (JC) is demonstrated to increase EBP skills in medicine, nursing, and occupational therapy. Study in physical therapy remains elusive. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of JC on appraisal skills in student physical therapists (SPTs) and explore factors enhancing or hindering the utility of JC. One hundred fifteen SPTs from three cohorts participated in this mixed-methods study. In the first year, participants completed a survey assessing self-reported confidence level on EBP skills before and after attending multiple JCs. Cohorts I and II continued participation in the second year. Additionally, 36 participants attended focus-group interviews after completing 2 years of JC. All cohorts' confidence level increased. Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed a significant increase (p < 0.001) for cohort III. Remaining cohorts' confidence continuously increased in the subsequent year. Thematic analysis revealed themes on benefits and barriers of JC, strategies for improvements, and connection of JC to clinical practice. The findings indicate that integration of JC promotes SPTs' confidence in EBP skills and connects with practice. Utilizing JC as a pedagogical strategy impacts curricular design and strengthens future health professionals' EBP skills pivotal for delivering quality healthcare.

Aims: Work engagement is an important component of occupational wellness. The purpose of this study was to compare work engagement between physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) and to analyze relationships with participant demographics.

Methods: An online survey was emailed to all licensed PTs and PTAs in Texas, with 975 completed surveys returned. The survey consisted of demographic information and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-9.

Results: PTs and PTAs had similar levels of work engagement. Participants with a productivity requirement and those intending to leave their position had decreased work engagement, while American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) members had increased work engagement.

Conclusion: The presence of a productivity requirement was associated with decreased work engagement and intent to leave one's position. To promote work engagement, organizations should assess productivity expectations and ensure job resources are adequate.

Introduction: Several fields, such as public health, economy, and science, have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives of the present study were to investigate knowledge, attitudes, communication, commitment, and behavioral practices of Jordan university students; and using structural equation modelling (SEM) to investigate the relationship among COVID-19 knowledge, attitude, communication, commitment and behavioral practices of students.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the primary data were collected from 1,095 students comprising 298 males (27.21%) and 797 females (72.79%) from three major universities in Jordan using an online-based questionnaire.

Results: It was found that scores of knowledge, attitudes, communication, commitment, and behavioral practices of students about COVID-19 were 81.4, 79.3, 70.0, 72.6, and 67.4%, respectively. The results also showed that significant association the variables of knowledge and attitudes as well as the commitment and communication are partial mediators in this relationship. Further, a clear positive relationship was observed between the communication, commitment, and behavioral practices of students.

Conclusions: This study confirms the importance of communication and commitment to generate proactive behavioral practices.

The Journal of Allied Health (JAH) produced by the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) shares many common features with other periodicals in the wide world of professional publications. The JAH is issued quarterly while other journals range from weekly to annual reviews. Irrespective of periodicity, similar costs usually characterize a vast range of publications. For example, one or more salaried editors must decide: which manuscripts will be selected to undergo peer review, which peer reviewers will be invited to conduct assessments of submitted articles, and which papers will be accepted or rejected for publication. Related costs include copyediting, typesetting, mailing paper copies of the journal to subscribers, and creating and archiving an electronic version of each issue. Costs for most journals typically are offset by a combination of subscription fees, authors' page charges, and advertisement revenue.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention established infection prevention recommendations, resulting in hospital systems adopting universal mask-wearing. Mask-wearing and its impact on patient-provider communication have been highlighted, yet have not been systematically studied to date. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of mask-wearing on provider communication during wheelchair education. Allied health professionals (65 physical and occupational therapists and 1 other) completed a 24-item, online self-report survey on the impact of provider mask-wearing on communication with patients and/or their caregivers during wheelchair education. This survey contained questions, graded on 5-point Likert-like scales, regarding the perceived impact of mask-wearing on the quality of communication efficiency and effectiveness, the types and frequency of communication strategies used to enhance communication during breakdowns, knowledge/confidence in implementing communication strategies, and preferences for additional training. Results indicated that mask-wearing impacted communication, yet clinicians made adaptations of various verbal and nonverbal communication strategies to avoid disruptions in providing education. Clinicians identified training preferences for additional support with provider communication. As the pandemic continues, patient-provider communication can be supported through targeted training in communication strategies.

Objective: Understanding the attitudes and beliefs of clinical practicing physician assistants (PAs) regarding work-related burnout and an assessment of resource availability and satisfaction.

Methods: A 38-item online survey was sent to accredited PA programs to solicit distribution among their alumni.

Results: There were 164 respondents. Most respondents were familiar with the concept of work-related burnout, with 85% identifying with experiencing burnout and 80% believing it is an expected occurrence in the medical profession. Thirty-four percent reported their organization had made accommodations when contributing factors were identified. Sixteen percent reported that their employer had established a meaningful platform to discuss the topic of work-related burnout. Thirty-one percent were satisfied with the resources to address work-related burnout.

Conclusions: Respondents believed the effects of burnout could be alleviated via employer/organization and personal efforts. An analysis of resource availability revealed a disparity and suggests a joint effort approach may not currently or uniformly exist in the workplace.

Background: Therapeutic alliance improves pain, disability, and quality of life outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a training protocol aimed at enhancing the therapeutic alliance in patients with chronic low back pain.

Methods: 19 physical therapists (DPT) and 16 student physical therapists (SPT) completed a therapeutic alliance training course with a quantitative questionnaire completed before and after the training along with a follow-up qualitative interview. Quantitative results were analyzed for differences resulting from participation in the training, while qualitative results were analyzed via interview transcription analysis by independent researchers blinded to the participants.

Results: All three groups (SPT/DPT combined, SPT, DPT) demonstrated a significant improvement in feeling comfortable in building a strong therapeutic alliance (p<0.01). The themes of Training Enhances Consciousness, Communication is Key, and Personalized Approach emerged from qualitative interviews indicating that the course was valuable in improving their approach to therapeutic alliance, communication, and individualized interventions contribute to a successful therapeutic alliance.

Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate the efficacy of therapeutic alliance training and suggest potential to enhance therapeutic alliance through a training protocol.

It has been shown that an educational framework that combines different learning methods, in which students are both active and independent learners, significantly improves student achievement and satisfaction--and that this is especially true for Generation Z. For this study, we examined the following teaching methods in a Practical Kinesiology course: the flipped classroom, a digital app, and simulated patients. Our findings revealed that students greatly valued hands-on practice and advance learning, and this was borne out in the overall high final grades in the course and in self-reported confidence levels. Interestingly, regarding the technological component introduced in the course, students felt that the course app only moderately contributed to their learning, as students testified to the need for experiential learning to increase their confidence in performing clinical skills. The authors postulate, however, that the value of studying with the app will increase over time as students use it in the clinical setting. During the COVID-19 pandemic and moving forward, clinical courses in the health professions can most effectively be taught by using the flipped classroom model and by maximizing hands-on practical training.

With the advancement in our understanding of the causative agents involved with cancer, there has been a considerable amount of debate within the laboratory and cytology community regarding how best to screen for cervical cancer. This paper attempts to review the three different approaches to cervical cancer screening through the lens of the four facie prima principles of biomedical ethics, including the respect for autonomy, principle of beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Analyzing the debate on cervical cancer screening platforms through the lens of the four principles of biomedical ethics ensures a comprehensive examination of all facets of the discussion, including a review of not only benefits and harm but also ensures that the final policy is fair and respectful for all the stakeholders. The conclusion from the analysis favors the use of co-testing but also supports making HPV primary and Pap testing viable options, depending on the needs of the community, patients, and providers.

Context: Health professions education programs incorporate clinical education to prepare students for autonomous clinical practice. Although preceptor-student gender dyads impact student evaluations, specific influences of gender dyad pairings on student autonomy and behavior implementation have not been identified.

Objective: To examine the influence of preceptor-student gender dyads on athletic training student opportunities to engage in clinical practice during clinical experiences and to determine whether constitution of preceptor-student gender dyads influenced student ability to enact professional behaviors during patient encounters (PEs).

Methods: Multisite panel design involving 12 professional athletic training programs (ATPs, 5 undergraduate, 7 graduate). Participants included 338 athletic training students enrolled in ATPs that used E*Value to document PEs during clinical experiences. Student gender, student role in the PE (observe, assist, or perform), preceptor gender, and student implementation of behaviors associated with core competencies during the PE were measured outcomes.

Results: The 30,446 PEs were categorized into 4 preceptor-student dyad categories. Female students with male preceptors were less likely to perform PEs than they were to observe them (OR 0.76; 95%CI 0.69, 0.83; p<0.001). Female students with female preceptors reported fewer opportunities for behaviors associated with interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP) (X2(3)=16.6, p=0.001).

Conclusions: Female athletic training students under male preceptorship had fewer opportunities to perform during PEs, and female students under female preceptorship had limited opportunities to participate in IPECP. Health professions education program administrators should encourage students to advocate for opportunities in autonomous practice and implementation of professional behaviors.