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

Authors

  • Peter Stubbs Discipline of Physiotherapy, Graduate School of Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4555-8019
  • Christopher Altre Discipline of Physiotherapy, Graduate School of Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
  • Arianne Verhagen Discipline of Physiotherapy, Graduate School of Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6195-0128
  • Nicci Bartley School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Australia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9052-1616
  • Alana McCambridge Centre for Person Centred Research, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6822-4199
  • Jereme Borja Discipline of Physiotherapy, Graduate School of Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
  • Lauren Haylock Discipline of Physiotherapy, Graduate School of Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
  • Kayla Dang Discipline of Physiotherapy, Graduate School of Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
  • Joshua Pate Discipline of Physiotherapy, Graduate School of Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1049-3916

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33966/hepj.7.1.18040

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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Published

2024-07-17

Versions

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2024)

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Attitudes towards research in graduate-entry Australian physiotherapy students: a survey. (2024). Health Education in Practice: Journal of Research for Professional Learning, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.33966/hepj.7.1.18040