Tricia M Austin1, Kim C Graber. 1. Department of Physical Therapy, Doisy College of Health Sciences, Saint Louis University, 3437 Caroline St, St Louis, MO 63104, USA. austintm@slu.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: As of October 1, 2002, physical therapy continuing education (CE) in Illinois was mandated. Research examining the recent mandate for physical therapists to engage in CE is limited. The purposes of this study were to examine the perceptions of physical therapist clinicians and managers concerning the barriers to and facilitators of CE and to identify how physical therapists perceive the role of their department in the CE process. SUBJECTS: Participants were 23 physical therapists at 6 hospitals. METHODS: Qualitative methodology was used to analyze data. RESULTS: Four themes were identified: negotiating and managing the variables associated with CE, providing and promoting opportunities that meet physical therapists' CE needs, identifying the elements of employment environments that foster CE, and perceived implications of mandating CE. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This investigation highlights the need to identify the core set of variables associated with engaging in CE and to promote the elements of employment environments that foster CE.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: As of October 1, 2002, physical therapy continuing education (CE) in Illinois was mandated. Research examining the recent mandate for physical therapists to engage in CE is limited. The purposes of this study were to examine the perceptions of physical therapist clinicians and managers concerning the barriers to and facilitators of CE and to identify how physical therapists perceive the role of their department in the CE process. SUBJECTS:Participants were 23 physical therapists at 6 hospitals. METHODS: Qualitative methodology was used to analyze data. RESULTS: Four themes were identified: negotiating and managing the variables associated with CE, providing and promoting opportunities that meet physical therapists' CE needs, identifying the elements of employment environments that foster CE, and perceived implications of mandating CE. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This investigation highlights the need to identify the core set of variables associated with engaging in CE and to promote the elements of employment environments that foster CE.
Authors: Jodie Ng Fuk Chong; Krista De Luca; Sana Goldan; Abdullah Imam; Boris Li; Karl Zabjek; Anna Chu; Euson Yeung Journal: Physiother Can Date: 2015 Impact factor: 1.037