Promoting Health and Wellness: Impact of Service-Learning on Doctor of Physical Therapy Students
Purpose/Hypothesis: Physical therapy education includes extensive training in exercise prescription and non-invasive disease management. It seems logical that PT’s are well positioned to be leaders in health promotion and wellness, yet literature shows addressing physical activity habits with all patients is not routine clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to determine if integrating a health and wellness service-learning project into a DPT education program changed a students’ interest and confidence in addressing healthy lifestyle choices and behavior modification. The researchers hypothesized that students who completed a health and wellness service-learning project would have increased interest and confidence in addressing healthy lifestyle choices and behavior modification as an entry-level PT.
Number of Subjects: Thirty-six third year DPT students volunteered as subjects for this study.
Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental repeated measures design was used. Subjects enrolled in PT 8600 at Wayne State University and participated in 1 of 6 service-learning wellness workshops at a low-income housing co-op. Topics for the wellness workshops included illnesses or diseases which can be positively impacted by healthy lifestyle choices. Prior to beginning preparation for the workshop, subjects completed a 15-question survey to document level of interest and confidence in participating in a health promotion and wellness community activity, as well as beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions of community service/service-learning. Subjects then worked in collaboration with 3-4 classmates to develop and deliver a 1-hour wellness workshop on an assigned topic. Project requirements included creating a marketing flier, educational handout, 20-minute education session, and 20-minute exercise program. After the 1-hour wellness workshop, subjects completed the survey again. Statistical analysis was performed to determine any change in interest, confidence, beliefs, attitudes, and/or perceptions after the service-learning project.
Results: Statistical significance (p<.007) was found for 6 of 7 questions assessing student’s interest and confidence in addressing healthy lifestyle choices and behavior modification. Upon completion of the project, 100% of subjects reported interest in incorporating health education into daily PT practice, 97.2% reported service-learning should be part of PT education, and 83.3% reported they will seek out opportunities to participate in health promotion and wellness programs after graduation.
Conclusions: DPT students believe that PT’s should be involved in health and wellness programs and are interested in participating in such initiatives. Inclusion of a health and wellness service-learning project in the entry-level DPT program improved student’s confidence in addressing healthy lifestyle choices and behavior modification as an entry-level physical therapist.
Clinical Relevance: The findings of this study suggest providing DPT student’s with focused opportunities to participate in health promotion and wellness initiatives improves confidence in participating in similar events after graduation.