The Development of a Tool to Evaluate a Physiotherapy Clinical Education Programme

Douglas Maleka, Aimee Stewart, Vaneshveri Naidoo
Purpose:

The aim of this study was to develop, validate and test the reliability an assessment tool that evaluates the effectiveness of a physiotherapy undergraduate clinical education programme.


Methods:

A mixed-method study of four phases. The first phase determined the items and domains that needed to be included in the tool. Focus group discussions (FGD) were held nationally in South Africa with physiotherapy academics; clinical supervisors/educators; clinical managers and newly qualified physiotherapists. Phases two-four determined the face, content and construct validity of the tool, via the Delphi method and a survey, respectively. Additionally, exploratory factor analysis was used for item reductio

Results:

Three themes emerged from the FGD: Governance; Structure and Experience, with domains and items relating to: Governance; Academic Processes; Learning Exposure; Clinical Orientation; Clinical Supervision and Quality Assurance & Monitoring and Evaluation. The Vaneshveri Naidoo Clinical Programme Evaluation Tool (VN-CPET) of 58 items, and six categories was developed. VN-CPET was found to be valid and reliable (α=0.75). 


Conclusion(s):

VN-CPET, a valid and reliable standardised tool, can be used to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of a physiotherapy undergraduate clinical education programme


Implications:

This validated and standardised monitoring and evaluation and quality assurance tool can be used to evaluate the length, breadth, and depth of a physiotherapy clinical education programme.

Funding acknowledgements:
National Research Foundation - Thuthuka Funding The South African Society of Physiotherapy Wits Faculty Research Funds
Keywords:
Clinical Education
Monitoring and Evaluation
Quality Assurance
Primary topic:
Education: clinical
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
University of the Witwatersrand Human Research Ethics Committee
Provide the ethics approval number:
M140706
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
Yes

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