EXPLORATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON POSTGRADUATE PAEDIATRIC PHYSIOTHERAPY EDUCATION ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ALUMNI

A. AlSaiyari¹, J. Simmonds¹

¹Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College, London, United Kingdom

Background: Managing children with disabilities requires specific knowledge and skills. Undergraduate physiotherapy education has very limited paediatric specific training and therefore post graduate training is needed. In 2011 University College London (UCL) delivered a paediatric specific post graduate masters course to address this need.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to explore the influence of the UCL postgraduate paediatric physiotherapy programmes (PPPP) on international alumni’s professional development.

Methods: A cross-sectional web-based mixed survey was sent to UCL international (non-UK) graduates who completed the PPPP between 2012 and 2019. A 23-item questionnaire covering five domains was developed and piloted. The target population were recruited via an email invitation, and snowball sampling via social media platforms was used to enhance recruitment. Descriptive statistical analysis was used for closed questions and content analysis for open-ended questions.

Results: Twenty-two UCL PPPP graduates completed the survey. The majority (77%, n=17) of the participants worked in clinical practice as paediatric physiotherapists. All participants reported improvements in their professional development particularly in relation to professional roles and achievement of professional goals. The majority (72.7%, n=16) felt more confident in their clinical practice. All participants reported that they draw on research evidence to inform their practice. However, organisational, individual and environmental barriers limit the implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) such as the use of outcome measures. Half of the participants (55%, n=11) have contributed to research related projects.

Conclusions: Completing the UCL PPPP has influenced the international graduates’ current professional role development, increased confidence in clinical practice and engagement in research.

Implications: Future work needs to address the barriers to implementing EBP.

Funding acknowledgements: the work was unfunded

Keywords:
Postgraduate education
Physiotherapy
Influence

Topics:
Education: continuing professional development
Education
Education: clinical

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: UCL Institute of Child Health

Committee: UCL Research Ethics Committee

Ethics number: 17233/001