Data Modeling of Cognitive Structure in Physiotherapy Students Learning Gross Anatomy

Cognitive structures that promote deep learning of gross anatomy are integral to musculoskeletal physiotherapy practice yet poorly understood. This quantitative, criterion-related validation study addressed two data modeling strategies (multidimensional scaling and Pathfinder networks) as a potential visual and quantitative representation of the cognitive structures of physiotherapy students learning gross anatomy. The study was grounded in the Adaptive Control of Thought-Rational theory of cognition. The research questions addressed the agreement (reliability, accuracy, and association) between student and expert cognitive structures and included the derived quantitative parameters as predictor variables in multiple regression to examine potential relationships with unit grades. An online survey of paired comparisons of 20 anatomical concepts relevant to musculoskeletal clinical practice generated the raw data used in the data modeling strategies for cognitive structure mapping. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 31 physiotherapy students, four course instructors, and three domain experts who completed the online survey. The results indicated moderate to high effect sizes regarding the agreement between student and expert. Six predictor variables accounted for 68.9% of the variance in unit grade indicating a large effect size. Preliminary evidence of concurrent and predictive validity was reported. Positive social change is reflected in this innovative use of data modeling strategies to represent cognitive structure and potentially enhance competency-based education critical to effective musculoskeletal physiotherapy practice

Is Vision Essential to Physical Therapist Practice? Perceptions of Interested Parties in DPT Education

Introduction: The perceptions of students, faculty, staff, and clinicians regarding blindness or visual impairment (BVI) and physical therapist practice were explored before, during, and after interactions with a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student with BVI. Review of Literature: Information is sparse about the prevalence of students with disabilities in DPT programs in the United States. Medical school programs that welcome students with disabilities report positive interactions with faculty and student peers. Subjects: 36 (20 students, 11 faculty, 2 staff, and 3 clinical instructors) Methods: A recent DPT graduate (pseudonym JM) with BVI classified as “near total blindness”, is now a licensed, full-time employee at an outpatient orthopedic clinic. We surveyed students, faculty, staff, and clinicians who interacted with JM as a DPT student, asking for perceptions about the education, clinical skills, and employment potential of a DPT student with BVI. Results: An increase toward more favorable perceptions of individuals with BVI was exhibited for all 10 of the Likert scale questions, X2(2)=38.00 to 59.42, p\u3c 0.001. Post hoc analysis demonstrated an increase between perceptions before and during interactions with JM for all questions, Z=-4.02 to -4.95, p\u3c 0.001. Six of 10 questions exhibited an increase between perceptions during and after interacting with JM, Z=-2.53 to -3.50 p≤ 0.011. Qualitative analysis revealed three themes: accommodations, personal qualities, and setting with an overarching theme of an approbative shift in perceptions. Discussion and Conclusion: The shift in perceptions about vision as essential for physical therapist practice is important and suggests that “essential functions” should be considered within the context of the individual’s characteristics and lived experiences. Reevaluation of DPT program applicant qualifications regarding vision may be warranted. Further, for clinical instructors, the benefits may outweigh the challenges of mentoring a student with accommodations for BVI

Gut Microbiota and Inflammation

Systemic and local inflammation in relation to the resident microbiota of the human gastro-intestinal (GI) tract and administration of probiotics are the main themes of the present review. The dominating taxa of the human GI tract and their potential for aggravating or suppressing inflammation are described. The review focuses on human trials with probiotics and does not include in vitro studies and animal experimental models. The applications of probiotics considered are systemic immune-modulation, the metabolic syndrome, liver injury, inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer and radiation-induced enteritis. When the major genomic differences between different types of probiotics are taken into account, it is to be expected that the human body can respond differently to the different species and strains of probiotics. This fact is often neglected in discussions of the outcome of clinical trials with probiotics