Scoring of the physical therapist clinical performance instrument (PT-CPI): analysis of 7 years of use.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to (1) describe the completion rates of the 24 performance criteria (PCs) from the Physical Therapist Clinical Performance Instrument (PT-CPI) by clinical instructors; (2) evaluate change in PC visual analogue scores (VAS) with students' clinical experience; and (3) evaluate scoring patterns over time. METHODS: Final VAS scores for 208 physiotherapy (PT) students (seven cohorts) from 1,039 clinical placements between 2001 and 2008 were analyzed. Completion rates were calculated for each PC. Kruskal-Wallis tests evaluated differences in VAS scores between cohorts. Friedman's tests were used to compare VAS scores for each PC over time. RESULTS: Completion rates were above 90% for 18 PCs. Data from the seven cohorts were combined. All PC scores showed significant change from 10 to 15 weeks and from 15 to 20 weeks of clinical experience (p≤0.001). Although differences in scores decreased over time, 19 PCs showed significant differences between 20 and 25 weeks, and 11 PCs showed significant differences between 25 and 31 weeks of clinical experience (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Certain PCs had lower completion rates. The PT-CPI was used consistently by clinical instructors to evaluate student performance over time. A continual progression in acquisition of clinical competencies was illustrated by PT-CPI scoring patterns as students advanced through their PT education programme.

Effectiveness of a community-based Tai Chi program and implications for public health initiatives.

OBJECTIVES: To establish whether the reported beneficial physiologic effects of Tai Chi when performed under stringent experimental conditions can be generalized to the community. DESIGN: Phase 1: pre-post comparison in a group inexperienced in Tai Chi. Phase 2: baseline comparison between inexperienced and experienced Tai Chi groups. SETTING: A community in Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS: Phase 1: 51 subjects inexperienced in Tai Chi (novice group) participated in the program. Phase 2: baseline measures of the novice group were compared with those of an experienced group (n=49) who had practiced Tai Chi for at least 6 months. INTERVENTION: A Cheng 119 style program was taught by a Tai Chi master for 1.5 hours, 3 times weekly, for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lung function and physical activity evaluated before and after the completion of the program. Resting heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, handgrip strength, flexibility, and balance measured at the program commencement, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. RESULTS: Phase 1: after the program, the novice group had increased handgrip strength, flexibility, and peak expiratory flow rate. Phase 2: the experienced group had greater flexibility, lower resting heart rate but higher diastolic blood pressure than the novice group prior to training. CONCLUSIONS: A community-based Tai Chi program produces beneficial effects comparable to those reported from experimental laboratory trials of Tai Chi; therefore, it should be considered as a public health strategy.

Comparison of balance in older people with and without visual impairment.

OBJECTIVE: a cross-sectional study was used to compare the balance ability of older people with and without visual impairment. SETTING: Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Jockey Club Rehabilitation Complex and the Pok Oi Hospital Jockey Club care and attention homes for aged individuals. SUBJECTS: a total of 66 subjects, 65 years of age and older were divided into three groups based on their degree of visual impairment. METHODS: the directional Es chart was used to test the subjects ' visual acuity. Functional balance ability was measured using the Berg balance scale. Demographic characteristics and baseline variables such as lower extremity range of motion, muscle strength, and joint pain was assessed and compared between the groups. RESULTS: 66 older adults (43 women, 23 men) aged 69-94 years of age participated in the study. The one-way ANOVA showed that the mean Berg balance scores were significantly different (F(2,63) = 19.19, P < 0.001). Post hoc tests showed that the group with no visual impairment had higher mean balance scores than the group with mild visual impairment (P = 0.04) and those with moderate visual impairment (P < 0.001). The balance scores for the group with mild visual impairment were also shown to be significantly difference from those of the group with moderate visual impairment (P = 0.003). Control of factors related to balance, such as range of motion, pain and strength, did not affect the analysis of variance analyses. CONCLUSIONS: balance was shown to be more impaired with greater visual impairment, which could result in falls and resultant injury. The findings suggest that early intervention to improve visual acuity in older people may be important.

Concurrent validity of an electronic descriptive pain scale.

The study objective was to assess the concurrent validity of the Electronic Descriptive Pain Scale (EDPS), a pain scale built into a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device. One hundred patients in an outpatient physiotherapy (PT) clinic participated (mean age 41.30 years, SD 13.95). Before and after a PT treatment, subjects rated their current pain intensity with the EDPS, a visual analogue scale, a numerical pain rating scale, and the McGill Pain Questionnaire's Present Pain Intensity. The results showed relatively high significant correlations between the EDPS and each of the other pain scales.