Effect of Community-based Service Learning on Professionalism in Student Physical Therapists

Abstract

Background and Purpose. Communitybased service learning (CBSL) has been identified in the literature as an educational strategy that may be helpful in the development of student physical therapist (SPT) behaviors consistent with the core values of professionalism in physical therapy. However, little is known of the effect of CBSL on SPTs’ professional behaviors. The purpose of this paper is to describe the change in perceived frequency of demonstrated professional behaviors, using the American Physical Therapy Association’s Professionalism in Physical Therapy: Core Values Self-Assessment (SA), among a group of third-year SPTs following participation in CBSL versus participation in standard classroom learning. Methods. The SA was administered on 3 occasions at 5-week intervals over a 10-week time period to 54 third-year SPTs. During the first 5 weeks, the students received standard didactic classroom instruction. From weeks 6-10, the students prepared and participated in a community-based health education presentation. Forty-two SPTs completed the SA on all 3 occasions. Paired t tests were used to compare the respective difference in perceived frequency of demonstrating these professional behaviors following participation in CBSL and participation in standard classroom learning, and to compare the changes in the scores between the baseline and after the classroom instruction. Statistical significance was set at P < .05. Cronbach alpha (α) was used to estimate the internal consistency of the SA and each of the 7 core values. Results. After the CBSL, there were positive changes in the scores for all 7 core values, with a significant difference in the change scores between the standard classroom instruction and CBSL in 3 core values: altruism (P = .009), compassion/caring (P = .022), and integrity (P = .029). Cronbach α was .96 for the SA and ranged from .70-.94 for the 7 core values representing professionalism in physical therapy. Discussion and Conclusion. Self-assessment is a key component of professionalism and can be used to monitor student perceptions regarding change in frequency of behaviors with CBSL. The SA demonstrates acceptable reliability when measuring perceived changes in each of the core values associated with professionalism. Additional psychometric properties of the SA need to be established so that interpretation of scores and amount of score changes will have practical educational meaning.