PRACTICE ANALYSIS SURVEY - REVALIDATION OF ADVANCED CLINICAL-PRACTICEIN ORTHOPEDIC PHYSICAL THERAPY

The first orthopaedic physical therapy practice analysis survey was co mpleted in 1983. Another practice analysis survey was conducted in 199 3 to identify the advance practice of clinicians who practice in ortho paedic physical therapy settings. Since 10 years elapsed, a new practi ce analysis study was conducted to identify the practice of orthopaedi c clinical specialists. The purpose of this report is to describe the results of this survey. Orthopaedic physical therapists, both speciali sts and nonspecialists, participated in group interviews, subject matt er expert meetings, and a national practice survey to delineate import ant knowledges and responsibilities. The survey was sent to a stratifi ed convenience sample of 1,000 orthopaedic physical therapists, of whi ch 325 were orthopaedic clinical specialists. The three-part survey co ntained 180 items. A total of 420 respondents, of which 241 were ortho paedic clinical specialists, rated the importance and application leve l for the items. The results of this study provide evidence for a core body of knowledge required by clinicians practicing with advanced ski lls in orthopaedic physical therapy and create the framework for the O rthopaedic Physical Therapy Specialty Exam.