Abstract
BackgroundMany countries have started adopting musculoskeletal imaging as part of physiotherapy practice and their educational programmes are expected to bridge the gaps in training.ObjectivesTo develop an instrument that can be used to explore the level and nature of training, attitude, competence and utilisation of musculoskeletal imaging among physiotherapists.MethodAn exploratory sequential mixed methods design was used. An in-depth international literature search was conducted, followed by a focus group discussion (FGD). The FGD informants were recruited through maximum variation sampling. The results of the FGD and the information from relevant literature were used to draft the physiotherapist’s musculoskeletal imaging profile questionnaire (PMIPQ). The PMIPQ was then subjected to face, content and criterion validity and pilot testing. The final version of the PMIPQ consists of six domains: (A) demographic details, (B) nature of training in musculoskeletal imaging, (C) level of training, (D) attitude towards musculoskeletal imaging, (E) utilisation and (F) competence. Data were analysed using means, standard deviation, Spearman’s correlation (ρ) and Cronbach’s alpha (α); SPSS 20 software (p ≤ 0.05).ResultsThe results showed that the PMIPQ has good psychometric properties: validity and internal consistency. The test–retest reliability (p-value) across the domains was: C (0.973), D (0.979), E (0.842) and F (0.716).ConclusionPhysiotherapist’s musculoskeletal imaging profile questionnaire is a relevant instrument for assessing the musculoskeletal imaging profile of physiotherapists in Nigeria and in other countries with a similar scope of training and practice.Clinical implicationsMusculoskeletal system imaging is a potentially useful adjunct to physiotherapists in clinical practice.
Highlights
Physiotherapy is a health care profession that addresses the issues of human movement, functionality and quality of life (Melnick 2015)
In Nigeria, the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programme has been approved by the National Universities Commission (2018) as the minimum benchmark for entry-level physiotherapy education – a curriculum that deepens the contents of diagnostic imaging training (American Physical Therapy Association [APTA] 2010; Domholdt, Emery & Harris 2004; Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria [MRTBN] 2009)
Musculoskeletal imaging is a subspecialty of diagnostic imaging, which involves ordering and interpreting medical images of bones, joints and associated soft tissues to either identify or rule out pathologies (Reiser, Baur-Melnyk & Glaser 2008)
Summary
Physiotherapy is a health care profession that addresses the issues of human movement, functionality and quality of life (Melnick 2015). The entry-level qualification in the USA is predominantly a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) (Boissonnault et al 2014). In Nigeria, the DPT programme has been approved by the National Universities Commission (2018) as the minimum benchmark for entry-level physiotherapy education – a curriculum that deepens the contents of diagnostic imaging training (American Physical Therapy Association [APTA] 2010; Domholdt, Emery & Harris 2004; Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria [MRTBN] 2009). Musculoskeletal system imaging is indispensable to physiotherapists and has always been a component of their clinical decision-making (Domholdt et al 2004). Many countries have started adopting musculoskeletal imaging as part of physiotherapy practice and their educational programmes are expected to bridge the gaps in training
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