Using the National Incident Management System to Prepare Physicians for Rapid Responses: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to determine the feasibility of training physicians in the principles of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS) as applied to in-hospital rapid responses and to assess physicians' attitudes regarding rapid responses. METHODS: This was an educational pilot study. Resident physicians completed a pre-survey, followed by online training in the principles of NIMS and ICS, a knowledge test, and a post-survey. RESULTS: The number of residents who participated was 22. In the pre-survey, most (20/22) did not have a working understanding of NIMS/ICS. Participants (21/22) agreed that residents should have more training in resource organization. On the knowledge test, the median score was 9.5/10. In the post-survey, participants felt more comfortable clearing extra resources from the scene (P < 0.001) and that it would be easier to keep track of resources (P < 0.001). Most indicated that they had a working understanding of NIMS/ICS (P < 0.001) and felt more comfortable establishing command using NIMS/ICS (P < 0.001). All agreed that they would consider using an NIMS/ICS-based structure on their next rapid response. CONCLUSIONS: Training physicians in the principles of NIMS/ICS as they pertain to rapid responses is feasible and appears to change residents' attitudes about rapid responses.

Attitudes toward Master's and Clinical Doctorate Degrees in Physical Therapy.

UNLABELLED: Purpose : To examine the attitudes of a self-selected sample of Canadian physical therapists toward the transition from bachelor's to master's degrees and the implementation of clinical doctorate degrees in physical therapy (PT). Methods : A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a modified Dillman tailored approach. All eligible members of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) were invited to participate. RESULTS: Of 1,397 Canadian physical therapists who responded to the survey, 45% favoured the transition from bachelor's to master's degrees, 21% did not, and 34% were neutral; 27% favoured a transition from a master's to a doctoral degree for entry into practice in PT, 53% did not favour this transition, and 20% were neutral. Finally, 56% favoured the implementation of a post-professional clinical doctorate (PPCD) in PT, 23% did not, and 21% were neutral. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, a self-selected sample of Canadian physical therapists supported the future implementation of a post-professional clinical doctorate degree in PT but did not support an entry-to-practice doctoral degree. However, these results must be interpreted with caution because of the study's small sample size.

Objectif : Analyser les attitudes d'un échantillon autochoisi de physiothérapeutes au sujet du passage du baccalauréat à la maîtrise et de l'application de doctorats cliniques en physiothérapie (PT). Méthodes  : On a procédé à une étude transversale basée sur une stratégie Dillman personnalisée modifiée. Tous les membres admissibles de l'Association canadienne de physiothérapie (ACP) ont été invités à participer. Résultats : Sur 1 397 physiothérapeutes qui ont répondu au questionnaire, 45% étaient pour la transition du baccalauréat à la maîtrise, 21% étaient contre et 34% étaient neutres; 27% étaient pour une transition de la maîtrise au doctorat au niveau débutant en physiothérapie, 53% étaient contre et 20% étaient neutres. Enfin 56% étaient pour la mise en œuvre d'un doctorat clinique postprofessionnel (DCPP) en PT, 23% étaient contre et 21% étaient neutres. Conclusions : Dans l'ensemble, un échantillon autosélectionné de physiothérapeutes a appuyé la mise en œuvre future d'un doctorat clinique postprofessionnel en PT mais n'appuyait pas le doctorat au niveau débutant. Il faut toutefois interpréter ces résultats avec prudence à cause de la petite taille de l'échantillon qui a servi à l'étude.