Research training with a future: Bachelor of Physiotherapy with Honours

Developed by: Dr Marie Williams and supervisory team

University of South Australia

Teaching and learning strategy:

The Bachelor of Physiotherapy with Honours is run concurrently over the last two years of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy. As honours degrees are recognized nationally and internationally as the first formal level of research education, this honours program aims to develop foundation skills in all aspects of research processes including ethical action, critical analysis, research methodologies, data collection, management and analysis, and dissemination of results through submission of an academic thesis, presentation and publication. The knowledge and skills expected of higher research degrees (Masters by Research and PhD) form the basis for a realistic and strategic educational experience.In 2001 a new model for the Bachelor of Physiotherapy was commenced and the new model for the Bachelor of Physiotherapy with Honours commenced in 2002. Changes within the new program were based on feedback from previous honours students, supervisors, academic staff and the community. The Honours program currently consists of two courses. Physiotherapy Honours Preparation which is commenced and completed over the third year of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy program. Honours students undertake Physiotherapy Honours Preparation (4.5 units) instead of Ethics and Health (4.5 units) within the Bachelor of Physiotherapy. The second course is Physiotherapy Honours Thesis (9.0 Units), which is completed during the fourth year of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy program). Honours students undertake Physiotherapy Honours Thesis (9.0units) instead of two 4.5 unit courses (Physiotherapy Project U and Occupational Health and Safety). Therefore at any given time during the academic year, there are third year (commencing honours students) and fourth year (completing honours students).

The teaching and learning strategies incorporated within this program include:

Physiotherapy Honours Preparation (Third year)

  • 3 week summer school (Group based) - Lecture, tutorials, computer based activities, group development of research proposal and presentation. This program includes honours students and Masters by coursework students.
  • Selection of an honours topic (Supervisory team based 1 student: 2 supervisors). Potential honours projects are called for each year from within the School of Health Sciences and the wider clinical physiotherapy community. The call for potential honours projects from the physiotherapy community aimed to address two clear needs. Firstly, interest from clinical physiotherapists wanting to be actively involved in research but without sufficient time and resources and in some cases, sufficient skills to undertake research in their work site. Secondly, there was a need for honours students to undertake useful and meaningful research projects which prepared them for higher research degrees and to be competitive for scholarships. This format was introduced in 2002 and has been extremely successful for both the School of Health Sciences and the collaborating clinical affiliations.

Table 1: Summary of Honours enrolments for the Honours program

Year

Total number of students within honours program

Number of fourth year students completing honours

Number of third year students commencing honours

Total number of potential projects offered

Projects offered by clinical affiliations

2002

23

6

17

25

20

2003

37

15

22

30

19

2004

32

17

15

29

15

Table 2: Examples of potential honours projects submitted by the clinical physiotherapy community

Topic

Clinical affiliation
  • The reliability and responsiveness to change of the Elderly Mobility Scale for acute hospital patients.

Flinders Medical Centre
  • Reliability of chest wall circumference as a measure of pulmonary hyperinflation in children with cystic fibrosis.
  • The Management of third and fourth degree tears at the WCH is this best practice?
  • Passive movements: A survey of Australian Intensive Care Units

Women's and Children's Hospital
  • Intensive treadmill training for ambulatory children with cerebral palsy.

Crippled Children's Association
  • A qualitative study of uses and perceived benefits of hydrotherapy

Sports Med Inc.

Private Hospital
  • Students negotiate and decide upon the research project from the topics offered. Supervisory requirements are then discussed and finalized. Supervisory teams always include an academic staff member with previous experience in successful supervision of honours students. The supervisory team assists the student to develop and finalize a succinct research proposal (written and oral presentation). All proposals are assessed by two independent reviewers (academics). Honours students are provided with opportunities to develop skill in reviewing one of their peer's proposals.
Supported by:
  • Ongoing meeting between the honours program director and honours cohort
  • Online resources specific for Physiotherapy Honours Preparation including provision of all appropriate policies and codes of conduct, roles and responsibilities of students and supervisors, requirements and processes for ethical approval, requirements and assessment guidelines for research proposal (oral and written) including examples of previous honours proposals (assessed and unassessed) for both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Additional resources are provided within the online course site (such as direct online versions of all forms and referencing software (Endnote).
Physiotherapy Honours Thesis (Fourth year)
  • Honours students work under the support and supervision of their supervisory teams to complete the data collection, analysis and write up the research in the form of an academic thesis based on the requirements for thesis within the research degree programs.
  • The supervisory team works collaboratively to write a manuscript suitable for submission to a relevant peer reviewed journal. Each manuscript is critically reviewed by two independent assessors and feedback provided to the team. Each honours student is assessed on their ability to critically review another student's manuscript.
  • Honours students work under the support and supervision of their supervisory teams to prepare an oral presentation appropriate for national or international conferences and where-ever possible, teams are encouraged to submit abstracts for presentation at national and international conferences.
Supported by:
  • Group meetings between honours program director and honours cohort throughout the semester as required by the students
  • Online provision of detailed materials and resources specifically related to the assessable components - preparing and writing the thesis, planning, developing, writing and reviewing manuscripts for publication, preparing oral presentations.
  • Workshops on "How to write a manuscript" and "How to review a manuscript"
  • Workshops on strategic career planning including assistance with preparing for submitting applications for scholarships and higher research degrees.

In what course/ subject/ unit/ module/ program is the teaching and learning practice used?

Bachelor of Physiotherapy with Honours (program)Courses: Physiotherapy Honours Preparation and Physiotherapy Honours Thesis

In what year level are the students who participate in the teaching/ learning practice?

Physiotherapy Honours Preparation - Year 3 (REHB 3010)Physiotherapy Honours Thesis - Year 4 (REHB 4012)

Expected learning outcomes from the teaching and learning practice.On completion of this program students will be able to:

  • formulate specific and appropriate research questions;
  • demonstrate literacy skills in information technology by accessing and critically reviewing literature relevant to the designated project.
  • provide evidence of skills in scientific writing, which recognises broad advantages and disadvantages of specific research methodologies and conveys a clear understanding of the principals of evidence-based practice and the hierarchy of evidence
  • discuss the principles of subject selection including sample type, inclusion and exclusion criteria and the relationships between sample size and statistical errors where appropriate;
  • outline common forms of quantitative and qualitative research designs including single subject, repeated measures, cross-over, parallel group, survey and questionnaire;· demonstrate an ability to determine variables (confounding, independent and dependent), discuss the appropriateness of measurement outcomes and demonstrate an understanding of the principles of reliability and validity
  • provide evidence for data management and analysis as well as appropriate justification of the analysis for the designated project
  • create a coherent and appropriate discussion of the results of the designated project including limitations to the project and areas for further consideration.
  • demonstrate an understanding of the role of ethics in research by writing a specific proposal for ethical approval;
  • avail themselves of opportunities to present and publish work arising from the thesis

In addition, the University of South Australia aims to produce graduates who clearly demonstrate a number of qualities. These graduate qualities, with respect to the Bachelor of Physiotherapy with Honours are outlined within the following Table. (Note; this table is presented within the online materials for the two honours courses).

Graduate quality

In relation to your course

Operates with and upon a body of knowledge

This course will develop an understanding of a wide variety of research related issues (design, approaches, and data management) and skills in the development, completion of and dissemination of your research project. You will develop a specific body of knowledge in the area related to your project and a broader understanding of research related skills. For example research approaches data management and handling, software programs, referencing, authorship and publication processes.

Preparation of lifelong learning toward personal development and professional practice

Students will develop a solid foundation in the processes and practices relevant to planning, conducting and reporting research. The usefulness of completing an honours degree in terms of your career plan and opportunities available to you will be explored. Students wishing to be mentored towards a strategic career pathway will have the opportunity to seek this assistance.

Effective problem solver applying logical, critical and creative thinking

Students will progressively review and problem-solve through the specific components of their research project including project planning, identification of appropriate research milestones and submission of a thesis and manuscript. Critical and practical skills will be developed through data collection and compilation of the thesis/manuscript. Students will be encouraged to use an evidence based approach to all planning and resources.

Can work both autonomously and collaboratively

Students will work collaboratively with their research supervisors in order to complete a viable and defensible research project. Both students and their supervisors have a responsibility to contribute to the research process and authorship of a manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. Independent activity under the guidance of a supervisor will be required as the main means of completing this research project.

Committed to ethical action and social responsibility

All student and supervisors are required to undertake all research activity with due diligence to the ethical implications of the study. All students will be required to have approval from Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) of the University of South Australia as well as any other external institution involved in the research. Students /supervisors have a social responsibility to provide the results of their study to the subjects involved and disseminate these findings to the wider community through either oral presentations or publication.

Communicates effectively

Effective communication will be required between students and supervisors throughout this course. The majority of the work included within this course will be undertaken within small research teams consisting of the student and supervisor/s. Formal assessment of the student's ability to communicate their research proposal is planned in both written and oral modes. All students will be provided with the opportunity to communicate the results of their study to the wider scientific community through the preparation of a manuscript suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.

Demonstrates international perspectives

A review of international and national literature relevant to the proposed research will be required within the thesis and manuscript.

Aspects of the teaching and learning practice which make it particularly effective:

  • Open, frequent and collaborative discussion between students, supervisors and program coordinator
  • Real world projects, embedded in real clinical issues which result in useful outcomes
  • Experienced and dedicated supervisory teams
  • Quality management practices (independent review of research proposals (written ad oral), honours thesis, final oral presentations and manuscripts)
  • Mentoring students through collaboration for presentation and publication processes as a means of providing direct experience with the graduate world of physiotherapy
  • Detailed online resources with a one stop shop for all administrative requirements
  • Inclusion of strategic career planning sessions and mentoring
Evaluation:
  • Each course (Physiotherapy Honours Preparation and Physiotherapy Honours thesis) is evaluated at the end of each course using an online evaluation form and face to face focus groups.
  • The Honours Program is evaluated using a purpose written evaluation form on completion of the final year of the program. To date, students have provided overwhelming support for the program. A complete copy of responses to the evaluation form is available on request. Examples of responses from 2002-2003 cohort include:

Two main strengths of this Honours program are:

1. 1)much improved knowledge of research design, methodology and appraising other research/articles 2)improved organisation, motivation and communication skills

2. It forces you to work independently and helps you to further understand research methods and findings - a very important aspect when reading literature to help determine best practice standards.

3. The clear expectations, individual projects (and designs), excellent supervision and always someone to ask questions of at any time- whether individual supervisors or someone else from the uni

4. Honours preparation and facilitating the development of abilities to undertake independent research.

6. Guidelines for what is required very clear. Excellent experience with supervisors.

7. Supervisors Opportunity to learn research skills over and above the undergraduate course

8. Quality of supervisors and range of topics

Question 26 : I have learned skills which will be valuable in my career regardless of whether I undertake further research or not. (100% responded as Agree or strongly agree)

  • Feedback from clinical affiliations undertaken informally through phone follow-ups and informal focus groups. Overwhelmingly positive from all clinical affiliations and clinical supervisors.
  • Follow-up of graduates from the Bachelor of Physiotherapy in terms of research outcomes -see Table 3

Table 3: Honours Program statistics since commencement

Year

Students invited

Students accepted / enrolled

Attrition / WD / preclude

Completed

Grades

Publications (C1 and E1)

Presentations

(state / national) E3

PhD

1990 - 1991

11

11

0

11

1 Honours I

9 Honours IIA

1 Honours IIB

1

1

1 α

1991 - 1992

7

7

1

6

1 Honours I

5 Honours IIA


1992 - 1993

7

7

0

7

2 Honours I

2 Honours IIA

2 Honours IIB

2

2

1993 - 1994

9

9

0

9

4 Honours I

3 Honours IIA

1

1

1994 - 1995

16

14

4

9

5 Honours I

4 Honours IIA

2

7

1995 - 1996

13

10

4

6

4 Honours I

4 Honours IIA

2

10

1 β

1 ψ

1996 - 1997

24

(1 sc)

12

0

12

5 Honours I

5 Honours IIA

2 Honours IIB

1

3

1997 - 1998

10

(1 sc)

7

1 (preclude)*

6

2 Honours I

4 Honours IIA

2

1

1 β

1 ψ

1998 - 1999

17

(2 sc)

9

0

9

3 Hons I

5 Hons 2a

2

3

1999 - 2000

22

(1sc)

12

2

10

7 Hons 1

3 Hons 2a

3

3

2000 - 2001

16

(3 sc)

13

3

13

7 Hons 1

6 Hons 2a

7

3

1 ψ

2001 - 2002

22

(2 Sc)

6

0

6

6 Hons 1

2

7

1 β

2002 New Hons program commences

2002 -2003

23

(2 Sc)

17

2

15

13 Hons 1

2 Hons 2a

13

1 σ

2003 -2004

27

(3 Sc)

22

5


3

1 β

2004 - 2005

23

(3SC)

15




1 σ

All students achieving accredit (65 -74) or above in every first and second year course within the first two years of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy are automatically offered entry to the honours program. Students not meeting this requirement can make a case for special case (sc) consideration which is reviewed on a case by case basis.

* preclusion - student failed to successfully complete a clinical course and therefore could not continue in the honours program.

** candidates that go part-time will be recorded within the cohort that they originally started in.

'sc' = special consideration applicant numbers included in total
α = completed or completing PhD at UniSA without scholarship
β = completing or completed PhD on Australian Postgraduate Award scholarship at UniSa
σ = completing or completed PhD on scholarship at UniSA
ψ =completing or completed PhD at a university other than UniSa

What were the outcomes of the evaluation?

  • New program commenced in 2002. To date, the honours program appears to be successfully achieving its aims.
  • There has been a considerable increase in the number of eligible students accepting the offer to undertake the honours program since ~ 2000
  • Increase in research outputs from the honours program (Table 3 shows the peer reviewed publications (C1) and peer reviewed conference presentations (E3) to date.
  • Consistent interest and articulation from Honours program into PhD with full scholarship since 2000. This is likely to be a direct result of proactive mentoring and strategic moves to facilitate honours students to publish and present their findings resulting in improved ranking in scholarship assessments.
  • While not evident in the data presented to date, there has been a growing interest from past honours students for entry to the PhD program within School of Health Sciences and requests for assistance with applying for scholarships.
Do you have any plans to make changes to the teaching and learning practice?
  • 2004 marks the first year of inclusion of the manuscript writing task. This task will be undertaken collaboratively within the supervisory teams. Each Honours student will be required to review and critique another student's manuscript. No additional changes to the program will be made this year.
  • Formal feedback concerning the honours program from clinical affiliations and clinical supervisors via an online form is planned for 2004.
  • Ongoing follow-up of research outcomes for all honours cohort will continue
  • A formal investigation into the career paths of past honours students is planned for 2005

Contact details:

Name: Marie Williams
Address: School of Health Sciences, City East Campus, University of South Australia, North Terrace 5000, Adelaide

URL: http://www.unisa.edu.au/hls/