Publication: DPT STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF CLINICAL READINESS AND CONFIDENCE IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ATTITUDES (KSAS) BEFORE THEIR FIRST FULL-TIME CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
| dc.contributor.author | Holmes, Jadyn | |
| dc.contributor.author | Piper, Emily | |
| dc.contributor.author | Richardson, Cierra | |
| dc.contributor.author | Saucier, Caileigh | |
| dc.contributor.author | Warren, Akira | |
| dc.contributor.author | LaPrino, Stephanie | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-04-22T15:48:48Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026-04-16 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Introduction Clinical experiences are essential in physical therapy education to bridge the gap between didactic learning and clinical practice. Early, contextualized opportunities, such as a student-run Pro Bono clinic, enhance skill development, confidence, and preparedness. Prior research suggests early clinical exposure improves self-perceived readiness for practice (Kalistratova et al., 2024). Additionally, competency frameworks have identified essential knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors required before initial clinical experiences. This study used a survey-based approach to evaluate Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students’ perceived readiness and confidence prior to clinical placement. Methods A clinical readiness checklist adapted from Timmerberg et al. (2019) was organized into 13 domains encompassing knowledge, skills, attitudes, and professional behaviors. Participants rated perceived competence using a four-point Likert scale (Unfamiliar to Proficient). Eligible students completed an anonymous electronic survey via Google Forms after providing informed consent. No identifying information was collected. Results Students reported lower perceived competence in common diagnoses (36%), pathology (50%), infection control (31.8%), and self-introduction (40.9%), despite expected performance of “at least emerging.” In areas such as self-care, measuring muscle length, sensory assessment, legal considerations, and patient–provider relationships, 70–80% met expectations, while approx. 22% did not. For professional skills, 80–90% met expectations, with deficits noted in manual muscle testing and HIPAA (18.18%) and Code of Ethics (14.6%). In contrast, 90–100% met expectations in communication, interventions, patient handling, and documentation, with only 4.5% below expectations in aerobic exercise-related tasks. Conclusion DPT students reported higher confidence in communication and professional behaviors compared to clinical skills and reasoning. These findings suggest a gap between knowledge acquisition and clinical application, highlighting the need for earlier, structured clinical experiences to enhance readiness and self-efficacy. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.husson.edu/handle/20.500.14298/1099 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | |
| dc.title | DPT STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF CLINICAL READINESS AND CONFIDENCE IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ATTITUDES (KSAS) BEFORE THEIR FIRST FULL-TIME CLINICAL EXPERIENCE | |
| dc.type | Poster | |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication | |
| relation.isAuthorOfPublication | 63beeddd-7b66-4f16-9740-e54322ecfe7a | |
| relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery | 63beeddd-7b66-4f16-9740-e54322ecfe7a |