This is the post-print version of the final paper published in Physiotherapy. The published article is
available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections,
structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been
made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2013 Elsevier B.V.Objectives - To explore demographic differences in awarded marks of the final clinical placement in a physiotherapy undergraduate programme.
Design - Retrospective analysis of clinical placement assessment marks.
Setting - A London university offering clinical placements throughout South East England.
Participants - 333 physiotherapy students entering physiotherapy training between 2005 to 2009.
Main outcome measures
Marks awarded following assessment using a clinical placement assessment form.
Results - The mean mark (SD) for age were standard entry 71 (7.4) vs. mature entry 72 (7.99) (ns); for gender male 72 (8.45) vs. female 71 (7.21) (ns); and ethnicity White British 72 (7.71) vs. ethnic minority 70 (7.01) (p = 0.023). No interaction effects were observed between the independent variables and only ethnicity demonstrated a statistically significant effect (mean difference (MD) 2.4% 95%CI 0.5 to 4.3, F = 5.24, p = 0.023).
This difference was maintained in most subcategories. Significant differences were observed for the interpersonal section (MD 2.21% 95%CI 0.14 to 4.28, F = 4.409, p = 0.03), the clinical reasoning section (MD 2.39% 95%CI 0.53 to 4.25, F = 6.37, p = 0.012) and the treatment section (MD 2.93 95%CI 1.10 to 4.83, F = 9.198, p = 0.003).
Conclusions - Physiotherapy students from minority ethnic backgrounds were awarded a significantly lower mark than their white majority peers in final clinical placements, although the difference was small. Potential reasons are considered, with the strongest recommendation being for further enquiry into the potential relationship between ethnicity and success in undergraduate physiotherapy education
