Mary Jane Rapport, PT, PhD
Professor of Medicine
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Physical Therapy Program
University of Colorado Denver
303-724-9148
maryjane.rapport@ucdenver.edu
Title: Physical Therapy Student Learning Through the Community Volunteer Program (CVP)
Initial research questions: Is the CVP meeting its intended objectives from the perspectives of students, faculty, and the volunteers (or their families)? Which aspects of the CVP are most beneficial to the professional growth and development of the DPT student? Which aspects of the CVP should be changed to enhance student learning to better accomplish the stated CVP objectives?
These questions have been re-defined since the initial proposal. Primarily, a decision was made to assess the CVP only from the perspective of the students and to wait until this component of the study was complete and submitted for publication before considering how to best assess the other program components from faculty and volunteer perspectives. In addition, the data collection and analysis focuses on whether or not the CVP is meeting the intended objectives and determining which aspects of the program are most beneficial and which aspects should be changed will come from faculty judgment and experience more than from any quantitative or qualitative data collection. Students will be queried about these aspects of the program, and their responses will be considered as part of the data set.
My research methods have involved the development and execution of a survey tool for data collection of the students’ perceptions of the CVP. The survey includes both open-ended and closed-ended questions, and a data set was obtained from two cohorts of students at mid-point in the program. The survey focuses on the student’s involvement with their volunteer and the types of learning that they may have gained as a result of the experiences. Additional, less specific, questions about the CVP are part of a longer exit survey conducted at the conclusion of the PT Program. These responses can be used to support or refute the more specific data collected on the students’ perceptions of the CVP during the PT Program.
1. I met with my coach three times since December 2007
2. I met with my mentor three times since December 2007
3. I met together with my coach and mentor as a group one time since December 2007
4. I have made significant progress on my project between December 2007 and today. I completed development of the survey, received COMIRB approval, and executed the survey with two cohorts of students. I collected the survey responses, did some beginning data analyses, and then worked on more detailed data analysis with Dr. Gretchen Guiton. I also reviewed input on the CVP from the exit surveys and spent time searching for a student research assistant. Once a student was finally hired, I supervised her activities in updating an earlier literature review. I had plans for her to continue more work on the project, but then she decided she could not continue with the project. I also met with another faculty member who is actively involved in the CVP to talk about a proposed manuscript for publication.
5. The largest delay in progress is due to difficulty identifying an appropriate student to hire for assistance on the project. Finally, after many avenues and much time searching, a student was hired (Rebekah Griffith). Shortly after getting her “up to speed” and working on the project, she decided that she could not participate any longer. This problem set me back on the project and my ability to move forward in a timely manner. I need to seek further support from a student research assistant to update the literature review and participate in the data analysis so that I can focus on the manuscript development and move to publication submission.
Program Plan:
1. Steps to complete |
2. Specific goals |
3. Timeline |
4. Additional Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hire a research assistant | I will identify and hire a research assistant to work on this project. I will meet with the research assistant regularly to guide their work with the project. |
By January 2009 Weekly meetings once hired | Talk to other PT faculty about their student research assistants and talk to JFK Partners about any fellows or trainees that might be able to assist with this project Get assistance from Program Manager in the hiring of the student, transfer of funds from PTLC, and payroll set up for research assistant. Meet with Gretchen to seek her input on the data and student involvement. |
| Update literature | I will read any new literature that is identified and then revise the introduction section of the draft manuscript as needed. | By March 2009 | Involve student research assistant and work with library liaison Beth Tweed. |
| Complete Data Analysis | I will work with Dr. Gretchen Guiton and the student research assistant to complete the data analysis. I will develop tables and the narrative to report on the data analysis. |
By May 2009 | Schedule time to talk with Gretchen and work with other PT faculty on how to report the data for our specific professional journals. |
| Revise draft manuscript | I will revise the draft manuscript and prepare it for submission. | By August 2009 | Meet with Jenny Rodriguez to assess how she would like to be involved in the manuscript and her contributions as a co-author.
Review author guidelines to insure that there have not been any changes affecting manuscript development. |
| Submit for publication | Send the manuscript to a specified journal for publication. | By November 2009 |
