Benchmarking in Academic Physical Therapy Using the PT-GQ Survey: Wave 2 Update with Application to Accreditation Reporting

Abstract

Objective: The Benchmarking in Academic Physical Therapy study uses the Physical Therapist-Graduation Questionnaire (PT-GQ) survey to develop comprehensive performance benchmarks for physical therapist education. These benchmarks facilitate interprofessional comparisons and have application to accreditation self-study reporting. The purpose of this study is to report updated benchmarks from enrollment Wave 2 of the study, with an emphasis on curricular areas that align with accreditation standards. Methods: Seventy doctor of physical therapy (DPT) programs (26.5% national sample) administered the survey to graduates during 2020-2021. Where possible, respondent data were contextualized by statistical comparison with published medical student data (Welch t test, Hedges g). Results: There were 1894 respondents who participated in the study (response rate: 63.9%). The average survey duration was 32.9 minutes. White-only, non-Hispanic/Latino/a/x individuals (78.8%) exceeded the 2020 US Census prevalence (60.1%), and only one-half of respondents perceived a benefit to their training from the diversity present in their programs. Over 94% of respondents indicated that their curricula were characterized by "problem solving/critical thinking"and "clinical reasoning,"but nearly one-half indicated "busywork"was prevalent. High curricular satisfaction ratings clustered in content areas relating to profession-specific technical skills and low ratings clustered in foundational sciences. DPT respondents reported significantly lower tolerance for ambiguity, significantly more exhaustion, and significantly less disengagement than medical students. Respondents endorsed higher levels of "adaptive"perfectionism (striving for high performance) than "maladaptive"perfectionism (concern over negative evaluations). Respondents with loans (27.7%) had debt exceeding $150,000, the benchmark above which the DPT degree loses economic power. Conclusion: PT-GQ benchmarks revealed strengths (eg, curricula emphasizing problem solving/critical thinking and clinical reasoning) and challenges (eg, low diversity, problematic student debt) in physical therapist education. Impact: Programs can use benchmarking for quality-improvement efforts and as a data source for accreditation self-study reports. The ongoing study will refine national benchmarks and pilot items to address new research questions.