Examining the Need for a New Instrument to Evaluate Canadian Physiotherapy Students during Clinical Education Experiences

Abstract

Purpose: To gauge the need for a new assessment instrument for Canadian physiotherapy students on clinical placements. Methods: A national survey was developed and distributed to 18,110 Canadian physiotherapists. Results: A total of 3,148 physiotherapists from diverse practice settings responded to the survey. Of those who indicated that student evaluation was applicable to them (n=2,393), 70% stated that a new instrument was needed; of these, 78% felt that the new instrument should be based on Canadian practice standards and rated with an anchored visual analogue scale, and 73% said they would be comfortable completing the instrument online. Conclusion: The majority of physiotherapists surveyed perceive a need for a new clinical evaluation instrument based on Canadian practice standards. A shorter, Canadian-based instrument may help recruit more clinical instructors and build capacity for clinical placements.