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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to cross-validate the factor structure of the previously developed Student Perceptions of TeamBased Learning (TBL) Scale among students in an entry-level doctor of physical therapy (DPT) program in the United States. Methods: Toward the end of the semester in 2 patient/client management courses taught using TBL, 115 DPT students completed the Student Perceptions of TBL Scale, with a response rate of 87%. Principal component analysis (PCA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to replicate and confirm the underlying factor structure of the scale. Results: Based on the PCA for the validation sample, the original 2-factor structure (preference for TBL and preference for teamwork) of the Student Perceptions of TBL Scale was replicated. The overall goodness-of-fit indices from the CFA suggested that the original 2-factor structure for the 15 items of the scale demonstrated a good model fit (comparative fit index, 0.95; non-normed fit index/Tucker-Lewis index, 0.93; root mean square error of approximation, 0.06; and standardized root mean square residual, 0.07). The 2 factors demonstrated high internal consistency (alpha= 0.83 and 0.88, respectively). DPT students taught using TBL viewed the factor of preference for teamwork more favorably than preference for TBL. Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence supporting the replicability of the internal structure of the Student Perceptions of TBL Scale when assessing perceptions of TBL among DPT students in patient/client management courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate students’ academic outcomes after implementation of the team-based learning (TBL) approach in patient/client management courses in an entry-level doctor of physical therapy (DPT) curriculum. Methods: The research design of this study involved comparing written and practical exam scores from DPT student cohorts taught with the traditional instructional methods (lecture-based) to those of students from subsequent cohorts taught using the TBL approach in two patient/client management courses: basic skills and cardiopulmonary. For this comparison, the exams used, the number of contact hours and labs, and the instructors who taught these courses remained the same during the transition between these two instructional methods (traditional vs. TBL). The average of all individual course exam scores was used for data analysis. Results: In both courses, there were no meaningful differences in the mean exam scores among students across years of cohorts receiving the same instructional method, which allowed clustering students from different years of cohorts in each course receiving the same instructional method into one group. For both courses, the mean exam score was significantly higher in the TBL group than in the traditional instruction group: basic skills course (P< 0.001) and cardiopulmonary course (P< 0.001). Conclusion: Student cohorts taught using the TBL approach academically outperformed those who received the traditional instructional method in both entry–level DPT patient/client management courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE. We examined the preclinical curricular content pertaining to low vision rehabilitation (LVR) included in occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) programs. METHOD. An e-mail survey containing questions about program structure and the extent of course material related to LVR in the curriculum was sent to directors of all accredited OT and OTA programs in the United States. RESULTS. One hundred nineteen programs responded. The curricula of all but 1 program included LVR content. Twenty-four programs included a required course with a primary emphasis on LVR. Forty-four programs had faculty with advanced training in LVR or experience working in a LVR clinic. CONCLUSION. Given that almost all respondent programs integrate LVR content into their required preclinical coursework, we recommend that LVR be incorporated into the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education standards so as to ensure knowledge of LVR within existing programs and enhance the quality of education in LVR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]