Attitudes towards research in graduate-entry Australian physiotherapy students: a survey

Stubbs, P; Altre, C; Verhagen, A; Bartley, N; McCambridge, A; Borja, J; Haylock, L; Dang, K; Pate, J

Attitudes towards research in graduate-entry Australian physiotherapy students: a survey

Stubbs, P

Altre, C Verhagen, A

Bartley, N

McCambridge, A Borja, J Haylock, L Dang, K Pate, J

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Publisher:: Health Education and Training Institute - HETI
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Health Education in Practice Journal of Research for Professional Learning, 7, (1)

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Stubbs, P https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4555-8019
dc.contributor.author	Altre, C
dc.contributor.author	Verhagen, A https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6195-0128
dc.contributor.author	Bartley, N https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9052-1616
dc.contributor.author	McCambridge, A
dc.contributor.author	Borja, J
dc.contributor.author	Haylock, L
dc.contributor.author	Dang, K
dc.contributor.author	Pate, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1049-3916
dc.date.accessioned	2024-09-27T04:38:37Z
dc.date.available	2024-09-27T04:38:37Z
dc.identifier.citation	Health Education in Practice Journal of Research for Professional Learning, 7, (1)
dc.identifier.issn	2209-3974
dc.identifier.issn	2209-3974
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/181030
dc.description.abstract	<jats:p>Purpose: To assess the attitudes towards research in a two-year, graduate-entry Master of Physiotherapy course. Methodology: All students starting (T0) and ending (T1) their degrees in 2020 and 2021 were invited to complete the revised Attitudes Towards Research Questionnaire. This is a three-factor instrument with 13 statements assessing Research Usefulness (four statements, scores ranging from 4 to 28), Research Anxiety (five statements, scores ranging from 5 to 35), and Positive Research Predispositions (four statements, scores ranging from 4 to 28). Each statement was scored using a seven-item Likert scale ranging from ‘Strongly Agree’ (1) to ‘Strongly Disagree’ (7). Student responses between T1 and T0 for factor scores were compared using independent samples t-tests and summarised using mean differences (95% CIs). We defined the minimally important difference as 15% of the scale range. Findings: Ninety-seven percent (n=124/129) of students completed the survey at T0 and 57% (n=79/125) at T1. We found no difference between T0 and T1 in research anxiety (0.2 points, 95% CI: –1.5 to 2.0) and research usefulness (–0.9 points, 95% CI: –1.8 to 0.1), but a significant (although not meaningful) decrease in positive research predispositions between T0 and T1 (–1.7 points, 95% CI –3.2 to –0.2). Research implications: Qualitative research could complement these quantitative findings and provide in-depth reasons for student scores. Practical implications: Educators need more active strategies to improve attitudes and engagement in research-focused subjects to further engage students. Originality/value: This is the first study to document attitudes towards research in an Australian graduate-entry Master of Physiotherapy program. Limitations: There is likely bias (unclear in which direction) at T1 given that 57% of students completed the survey. Surveys were not linked, so group differences were assessed independently. Keywords: Evidence-based practice; research methods; Master of Physiotherapy, UTS Physiotherapy Student surveys (PHYSS) study</jats:p>
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Health Education and Training Institute - HETI
dc.relation.ispartof	Health Education in Practice Journal of Research for Professional Learning
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.33966/hepj.7.1.18040
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	Attitudes towards research in graduate-entry Australian physiotherapy students: a survey
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	7
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/GSH.Physiotherapy
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2024-09-27T04:38:35Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	7
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

Purpose: To assess the attitudes towards research in a two-year, graduate-entry Master of Physiotherapy course. Methodology: All students starting (T0) and ending (T1) their degrees in 2020 and 2021 were invited to complete the revised Attitudes Towards Research Questionnaire. This is a three-factor instrument with 13 statements assessing Research Usefulness (four statements, scores ranging from 4 to 28), Research Anxiety (five statements, scores ranging from 5 to 35), and Positive Research Predispositions (four statements, scores ranging from 4 to 28). Each statement was scored using a seven-item Likert scale ranging from ‘Strongly Agree’ (1) to ‘Strongly Disagree’ (7). Student responses between T1 and T0 for factor scores were compared using independent samples t-tests and summarised using mean differences (95% CIs). We defined the minimally important difference as 15% of the scale range. Findings: Ninety-seven percent (n=124/129) of students completed the survey at T0 and 57% (n=79/125) at T1. We found no difference between T0 and T1 in research anxiety (0.2 points, 95% CI: –1.5 to 2.0) and research usefulness (–0.9 points, 95% CI: –1.8 to 0.1), but a significant (although not meaningful) decrease in positive research predispositions between T0 and T1 (–1.7 points, 95% CI –3.2 to –0.2). Research implications: Qualitative research could complement these quantitative findings and provide in-depth reasons for student scores. Practical implications: Educators need more active strategies to improve attitudes and engagement in research-focused subjects to further engage students. Originality/value: This is the first study to document attitudes towards research in an Australian graduate-entry Master of Physiotherapy program. Limitations: There is likely bias (unclear in which direction) at T1 given that 57% of students completed the survey. Surveys were not linked, so group differences were assessed independently. Keywords: Evidence-based practice; research methods; Master of Physiotherapy, UTS Physiotherapy Student surveys (PHYSS) study

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/181030