Meaningful and experiential learning in a fascial approach in practice education in the degree of physiotherapy: A pilot study at a Spanish University.

BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION: A pilot experience of teaching innovation was developed in the masotherapy practice classes of the University of Seville's degree of physiotherapy using an active learning approach. OBJECTIVE: Significant experiential learning-specific teaching strategies were implemented to address learning style diversity and promote dynamic participation, active listening, and the creation of clinical simulation learning environments. METHODS: The strategies implemented included establishing an affective climate in the classroom that would encourage interaction among participants, facilitating the flow of information and the teaching-learning process, considering students' previous ideas, elaborating upon content maps and key questions to guide the teaching-learning process, establishing discussions favoring student brainstorming, using illustrations and videos ("visual thinking"), implementing experimental demonstrations and simulated clinical scenarios, and collaborative activities mediated by information and communication technology. RESULTS: The evaluation, which was developed using a questionnaire (pretest-posttest) that allowed the development of learning ladders and considered the complexity of the generated knowledge, revealed significant advances in student learning. CONCLUSION: The implementation of significant experiential learning-specific teaching strategies is useful for achieving the learning objectives of this subject. Further research is needed to conclude firmly in this regard.

Evaluation of levator ani muscle throughout the different stages of labor by transperineal 3D ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE: Description and assessment by 3-D transperineal ultrasound of modifications suffered by pelvic floor muscles during the passage of the fetal head through the birth canal during the second stage of labor, as well as the identification of the precise moment in which levator ani muscle avulsion takes place. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients included were 35 primigravidae, recruited during the first stage of labor, with at term pregnancy (37-42 weeks), without serious maternal-fetal pathology and cephalic presentation. A prospective observational study of 35 primigravidae, recruited during the first stage of labor, with at term pregnancy (37-42 weeks), with fetus in cephalic presentation and without serious maternal-fetal pathology. Sonographic evaluation was carried out by 3-D transperineal ultrasound during the first and second stages of labor (with fetal head in 1st, 2nd-3rd and 4th planes of Hodge), immediately postpartum and 6 months postpartum. Ultrasound parameters studied were antero-posterior and transverse diameters, as well as levator hiatus area and levator ani muscle thickness and area. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were studied (15 spontaneous deliveries; 6 instrumental deliveries). When measured with fetal head in the 4th plane of Hodge, a significant increase both in the levator hiatus area (15.39 cm2 /15.68 cm2 /20.96 cm2 /42.55 cm2 /22.92 cm2 /18.18 cm2 ; P < 0.0005) and in the levator ani muscle area (8.78 cm2 /9.18 cm2 /9.69 cm2 /15.07 cm2 /11.33 cm2 /12.36 cm2 ; P < 0.0005) was identified. Four cases of unilateral right avulsion (two vacuum and two forceps deliveries) were identified. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the phase of delivery that causes a major increase in the area of the levator hiatus area and in the levator ani muscle area is when the fetal head reaches the 4th plane of Hodge. Furthermore, data in our paper indicates that the exact moment in which the avulsion of the levator ani muscle is produced is when the bulging of the fetal head on the maternal perineum occurs.

Spanish version of the broome pelvic muscle self-efficacy scale: validity and reliability.

BACKGROUND: Self-efficacy appears to be an important predictor of functional recovery for women with urinary incontinence, but no specific Spanish-language questionnaires for measuring pelvic-floor exercise self-efficacy exist. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to design a valid and reliable Spanish version of the Broome Pelvic Muscle Self-Efficacy Scale to measure self-efficacy, as perceived by women with urinary incontinence, in performing pelvic-floor exercises. DESIGN: This was an observational validation study. METHODS: Translation-back translation was used to design the survey, and then the survey was validated with a sample of 119 women who were incontinent and had undergone a pelvic-floor exercise training program. The reliability and construct validity of the questionnaire were assessed. Descriptive statistics were used to score the questionnaire. Internal consistency was evaluated with the Cronbach alpha coefficient and the Pearson correlation coefficient. Exploratory factor analysis with both the principal components extraction method and the varimax rotation method was used to assess construct validity. RESULTS: The reliability coefficient (Cronbach alpha=.91) and the correlations among items were high. The factor analysis revealed that 6 main factors accounted for 75.8% of the variance. LIMITATIONS: Conclusions regarding the validity of the questionnaire should be drawn with caution because of the inability to assess criterion-related validity. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the Broome questionnaire for self-efficacy appears to be useful as a measuring tool for a psychometrically accurate, clinically relevant estimation of women's self-efficacy in performing pelvic-floor exercises.