Development of an instrument to measure the use of behaviors taught in the American Physical Therapy Association Clinical Instructor Education and Credentialing Program (APTA CIECP): A pilot study

Issue title: Fieldwork

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Bridges, Patricia H. | Carter, Vincent | Rehm, Stephanie | Tintl, Sara Bowers | Halperin, Rebecca | Kniesly, Elizabeth | Pelino, Soni

Affiliations: Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA | Martin Outpatient Rehabilitation Department, Forsyth Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Patricia H. Bridges, Director of Clinical Education, Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 1462 Clifton Road NE, Suite 312, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. E-mail: pbridge@emory.edu

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Conduct a pilot study to establish the reliability and validity of a survey instrument that directly measures the objectives and content of the APTA CIECP; and measure the self-reported frequency of use of the behaviors taught in the APTA CIECP. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen (18) APTA credentialed CIs. METHODS: Develop a web-based survey consisting of 58 items representative of the behaviors taught in the APTA CIECP and 8 demographic characteristics. Establish the content validity and reliability of the survey instrument. Conduct a descriptive analysis of the frequency of self-reported use of the behaviors. RESULTS: The APTA Clinical Instructor Education Board (CIEB) reviewed the items and determined that the items matched the objectives and content of the APTA CIECP, thereby establishing content validity. Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from 0.79–0.90 confirmed the reliability. The overall mean for all items on a 1–6 scale was 4.81. CONCLUSIONS: The content validity and reliability of the survey instrument were established. The outcomes of this pilot study suggest that when measured by a valid and reliable instrument that is representative of the objectives and content of the CIECP, the behaviors taught in the CIECP are being applied in the clinical setting by APTA credentialed clinical instructors.

Keywords: Clinical instructors, teaching behaviors, survey development

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-121505

Journal: Work, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 283-295, 2013