Regional Differences in School-Based Physical Therapy: Examination of Therapist and Student Characteristics, Service Delivery, Activities, Interventions, and Outcomes.

STATISTICS; RESEARCH; SCHOOL health services; PHYSICAL therapy for children; ANALYSIS of variance; POPULATION geography; MEDICAL care; EVIDENCE-based medicine; TREATMENT effectiveness; PEARSON correlation (Statistics); DESCRIPTIVE statistics; CHI-squared test; ANALYSIS of covariance; RESEARCH funding; STUDENT attitudes; STATISTICAL sampling; DATA analysis software; DATA analysis; DECISION making in clinical medicine; PHYSICAL therapists' attitudes; SECONDARY analysis

NEW England; SOUTHERN States

Aims The aim of this study was to examine regional differences in school-based physical therapy practice focusing on the attributes of the school-based physical therapists and students; service delivery approaches, activities, and interventions; and student outcomes. Recognition of regional practices may decrease unnecessary variations, and assist with therapist clinical decision making and efforts to implement evidence-informed practice. Methods A secondary data analysis of the PT COUNTS data was performed to compare physical therapist and student attributes; service delivery, activities, and interventions; and student outcomes across the Northeast, Southeast, Central, and Northwest regions of the United States. Results Differences in the physical therapist and student characteristics, service delivery, activities, and interventions existed across the regions. There were no regional differences in outcomes when controlling for student functional level. Conclusion Regional differences in school-based practices may be expected and indicative of the influence of contextual factors including state and local policies and procedures that shape school-based service delivery and the characteristics of the therapists and students. Regional differences in practices may not have been of sufficient clinical magnitude to alter outcomes. Physical therapists can use the findings to reflect upon their individual decision making and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)