Call for Educational Consistency: The Need to Establish Gross Anatomy Learning Objectives for the Entry Level Physical Therapist

Abstract

Background and ObjectivesGross anatomy guidelines and recommendations are available for pre‐clinical medical faculty, however there is no consensus regarding anatomy student learning objectives for physical therapist education (PTE) programs. The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) requirements for gross anatomic content are vague and leave room for misinterpretation. This results in varied anatomical curricular content among PTE programs at different institutions. Faculty, whether seasoned or new, can benefit from guidelines and recommendations when making decisions during curricular reform or when prioritizing and emphasizing anatomic content for the curriculum. As such, developing recommended anatomy objectives to serve as a curricular guide may foster more consistent student outcomes, while preserving instructional autonomy.Position and RationaleAnatomy faculty in PTE, who may or may not be physical therapists, would benefit from evidence‐based, objective, and consensus‐driven curricular recommendations to ensure that the most appropriate and clinically relevant anatomy is taught. Anatomy course content is often chosen as the material core faculty (which may or may not include anatomists) deem most important. Importance may be determined due to prior training, personal experience, and pedagogical views of anatomy content. Since all students must pass the same licensure exam, determining the key anatomy content for PTE will promote consistency and reduce ambiguity among faculty. Recommendations must also allow for instructional and programmatic autonomy.MethodSimilar to the approach used to create anatomy learning objectives published by the Education Affairs Committee of AAA for pre‐clinical medical students, we suggest that anatomic content be identified, collaboratively vetted by basic science faculty and clinicians, affirmed, and recommended for adoption. Involvement of members in key professional organizations, such as the Anatomy Education Special Interest Group of the American Physical Therapy’s Academy of Physical Therapist Education, the American Association for Anatomy, and the American Association of Clinical Anatomists is paramount.Discussion and ConclusionWe are advocating for collaboration amongst anatomy faculty in PTE to create specific and measurable anatomy learning objectives, guidelines, and recommendations that are peer‐reviewed and evaluated by both educators and clinicians, and that reflect a global consensus.