Competency assessment tool pilot study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development and pilot of a Competency Assessment Tool to support therapists in the care of patients with blunt CHest trauma (CATCH Study)
IRAS ID
355177
Contact name
Ceri Battle
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Swansea Bay University Health Board
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
Thousands of patients with chest injuries, such as broken ribs, attend hospital every year. Therapists (physiotherapists, occupational therapists and others) play an important role in the patients' care, but don’t always know what skills / knowledge are important to achieve the best possible care. A Competency Assessment Tool or checklist is a method used by a clinician to assess their own skills and knowledge, which in turn ensures safety and quality of care. We want to develop and try a new Competency Assessment Tool to support therapists caring for patients with a chest injury from care received in the community before arriving at the hospital through to care received in the community after they go home. The aim of this study is to evaluate a new competency assessment tool by asking the therapists to complete the tool and fill in a feedback survey. This tool will support the therapists who look after patients in hospital after injuring their chest.
Lay summary of study results: Introduction to our work:
Capability Assessment Tools are a good way of making sure therapists all achieve a standardised level of practice. The aim of this pilot study was evaluate whether therapists liked (or not) a new Capability Assessment Tool that we have developed. The tool is designed to support physiotherapists caring for patients with blunt chest trauma from the time of their injury, all the way through their hospital stay and to long-term follow-up following hospital discharge.
What did we do?
A mixed methods pilot study was undertaken in five hospitals in Wales. Acceptability of the tool by physiotherapists was evaluated using feedback questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Participants scored whether they liked the tool or not in a feedback surveys. The in-depth interviews were analysed using a technique which asks about how the participant was feeling when they were completing the tool (called Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis).
What did we find?
58 physiotherapists were recruited to the study, with 47 (81%) feedback surveys completed. 68% of respondents were female, with 43% working at Agenda For Change Band 6 level. Median length of time respondents had worked with patients with chest injuries was five years. The feedback surveys showed us that the therapists were all positive about the tool’s specific key capabilities and overall general feedback. We completed 15 interviews with people completing the tool (mentees) and some people who were acting as the mentors. The interviews showed us that the therapists were happy with the tool and found it very useful for their own clinical practice. Feedback from the participants will guide revision of the tool, so it can be updated ready for further piloting and dissemination.REC name
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REC reference
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