Academic performance and perception of learning following a peer coaching teaching and assessment strategy.

Peer coaching has been associated with positive effects on learning. Specifically, these associations have been explored in complex healthcare professions. A social theory of learning has been proposed as a key component of the utility of peer coaching. Further, within the peer coaching model, assessment has been considered as an important driver. Empirical support for these dimensions of the model is lacking. To quantify assessment achievements and explore emergent attitudes and beliefs about learning related to a specific peer coaching model with integrated assessment. A longitudinal study based in a UK Higher Education Institute recorded assessment achievements and surveyed attitudes and beliefs in consecutive Year 1 undergraduate (physiotherapy) students (n = 560) between 2002 and 2012. A 6% improvement in academic achievement was demonstrated following the introduction of a peer coaching learning model. This was increased by a further 5% following the implementation of an integrated assessment. The improvement related to an overall averaged increase of one marking band. Students valued the strategy, and themes relating to the importance of social learning emerged from survey data. Peer coaching is an evidence-based teaching and learning strategy which can facilitate learning in complex subject areas. The strategy is underpinned by social learning theory which is supported by emergent student-reported attitudes.

Exploring participation after paediatric acquired brain injury.

This study aimed to explore the levels of participation in a UK sample of children and young people (CYP) with an acquired brain injury (ABI) at home, school and in the community through a cross-sectional study. The Child and Family Follow-Up Survey was distributed to parents/carers of 134 CYP with ABI (CYP-ABI) who received neuro-rehabilitation from 2014 to 2016. Access and recruitment were problematic resulting in a low response rate (4%). Widespread restrictions in participation were reported by four of the five respondents with community-structured events/activities and educational activities being the most restricted. Factors impacting on participation were cognitive-based and movement skills, family stress and lack of support/encouragement in the community. Study results provide information pertaining to the feasibility of undertaking research with this population while also highlighting the restrictions to participation experienced by CYP-ABI more than two years after injury.

Identifying Priorities for Physiotherapy Research in the UK: the James Lind Alliance Physiotherapy Priority Setting Partnership.

OBJECTIVES: To identify unanswered questions for physiotherapy research and help set and prioritise the top 10 generic research priorities for the UK physiotherapy profession; updating previous clinical condition- specific priorities to include patient and carer perspectives, and reflect changes in physiotherapy practice, service provision and new technologies. DESIGN: The James Lind Alliance (JLA) Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) methodology was adopted, utilising evidence review, survey and consensus methods. PARTICIPANTS: Anyone with experience and/or an interest in UK physiotherapy: patients, carers, members of the public, physiotherapists, student physiotherapists, other healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, service providers, commissioners and policy makers. RESULTS: Five hundred and ten respondents (50% patients, carers or members of the public) identified 2152 questions (termed "uncertainties"). Sixty-five indicative questions were developed from the uncertainties using peer reviewed thematic analysis. These were ranked in a second national survey (1,020 responses (62% were complete)). The top 25 questions were reviewed in a final prioritisation workshop using an adapted nominal group technique. The top 10 research priorities focused on optimisation (top priority); access; effectiveness; patient and carer knowledge, experiences, needs and expectations; supporting patient engagement and self-management; diagnosis and prediction. CONCLUSIONS: This study is currently the UK's most inclusive consultation exercise to identify patients'and healthcare professionals'priorities for physiotherapy research. The exercise deliberately sought to capture generic issues relevant to all specialisms within physiotherapy. The research priorities identified a range of gaps in existing evidence to inform physiotherapy policy and practice. The results will assist research commissioning bodies and inform funding decisions and strategy.

The efficacy of botulinum toxin A lower limb injections in addition to physiotherapy approaches in children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: To assess treatment effect of lower limb botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) in combination with physiotherapy approaches on gross motor functions in children with cerebral palsy compared with only physiotherapy treatment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this review was to analyze the efficacy botulinum toxin a lower limb injections in addition to physiotherapy approaches in children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: A literature search was conducted in the following databases: Cochrane, PEDro, PubMed, MEDLINE, AMED and EMBASE. The searches were limited to the period from July 2009 to July 2015. The intervention had to contain BTX-A into the lower limb plus physiotherapy approaches and be compared with only physiotherapy. The methodological quality and clinical relevance were independently assessed by the authors. RESULTS: The database search resulted in a total of 1521 studies, of which 4 (Level II of evidence) trials were included in this review. The population represented by were age between from 11 month to 15 years. Overall there were 153 children all diagnosed with CP (87 Male, 66 Female). CONCLUSIONS: The use of BTX-A injections in addition to physiotherapy approaches seems to have positive effect on spasticity and ROM. However, the question of whether the treatment of BTX-A plus physiotherapy has a greater improvement on functional capacity, such as gross motor function or gait parameter than only physiotherapy treatments, was inconclusive. Further investigation by rigorous studies is required.