An Exploration of Doctor of Physical Therapy Students' Belongingness in Clinical Education: A Validation Study

Ashley K Poole; Susan T Hibbard; Karla A Bell; Dawn S Brown; Chris Condran; Kyle Covington

doi:10.1097/JTE.0000000000000292

An Exploration of Doctor of Physical Therapy Students' Belongingness in Clinical Education: A Validation Study

J Phys Ther Educ. 2023 Sep 1;37(3):211-219. doi: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000292. Epub 2023 Jun 22.

Authors

Ashley K Poole^{1

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6}, Susan T Hibbard^{1

2

3

4

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6}, Karla A Bell^{1

2

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6}, Dawn S Brown^{1

2

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6}, Chris Condran^{1

2

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6}, Kyle Covington^{1

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5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Ashley K. Poole is an assistant professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Division at the Duke University, 311 Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710 ([email protected]). Please address all correspondence to Ashley K. Poole.
² Susan T. Hibbard is the senior director of Learning Science & Psychometrics at the Blueprint Test Prep; and the consulting assistant professor in the Division of Physician Assistant Studies at the Duke University.
³ Karla A. Bell is an associate professor in the Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences and College of Nursing at the Thomas Jefferson University.
⁴ Dawn S. Brown is the assistant chair of curricular affairs and assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences at Northwestern University.
⁵ Chris Condran is an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.
⁶ Kyle Covington is the director of educational innovation/director post-professional education and associate professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Division at the Duke University.

PMID: 38478813
DOI: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000292

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the Belongingness Scale-Clinical Placement Experience (BES-CPE) for Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students in the United States.

Review of literature: Belongingness is vital to one's mental, emotional, and physical health. Research has shown that belongingness is positively correlated with students' academic performance and achievement. An absence of belongingness may hinder students' full participation in clinical experiences and compromise clinical achievement.

Subjects: Respondents were current or former DPT students at least 18 years of age who had either completed the midterm evaluation of their final terminal full-time clinical education experience (TCE) in their DPT program or were no more than 1 year from the completion of their final TCE.

Methods: The BES-CPE was adapted for DPT students, and the scale was completed electronically by those who met the inclusion criteria. Principal component analysis with promax rotation and Cronbach's α were used to determine construct validity and reliability.

Results: One hundred fifty-nine respondents completed all items on the BES-CPE and demographic survey. A 3-component structure was identified (esteem, connectedness, and efficacy), which was aligned to the original BES-CPE scale. One item was discarded, and the final version of the BES-CPE for DPT students is a 33-item scale with satisfactory internal consistency.

Discussion and conclusion: This study adapted and provided evidence for validity of the first known scale to measure belongingness in DPT students during their clinical education experiences (CEEs) in the United States. The 33-item BES-CPE provided valid and reliable measures of belongingness in DPT students during CEEs that can be used to provide a better understanding of the student experience in the clinical learning environment.

MeSH terms

Alkanesulfonic Acids*
Humans
Mustard Gas / analogs & derivatives*
Physical Therapy Modalities*
Reproducibility of Results
Students*
United States

Substances

2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide
BES
Mustard Gas
Alkanesulfonic Acids