Clinical reasoning skills of German and Dutch manual therapists: a cross-sectional study

Myrthe Veenstra, Riccarda Klemm, Tibor M. Szikszay, Kerstin Luedtke, Andres Jung*

*Korrespondierende/r Autor/-in für diese Arbeit

Abstract

Introduction: Reflective clinical reasoning (CR) is believed to play a crucial role in achieving an efficient therapy process, supported by evidence-based approaches that improve patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the CR process of German manual therapists (MTs) using the CR skills of Dutch MTs as a reference. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated the CR process and diagnostic ability of German MTs. Dutch MTs served as the reference standard due to their experience with direct access. The CR skills were assessed using the Diagnostic Thinking Inventory (DTI), a questionnaire measuring diagnostic competence. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted to compare the groups. Subgroup analyses were performed to analyze the influence of work experience (in years) and the level of education on CR. Results: 396 manual therapists (229 German and 167 Dutch) completed the DTI. Dutch MTs revealed higher DTI sum-scores compared to German MTs (p <.001; Cohen´s d =.41). Subgroup analyses regarding professional education revealed no significant differences in DTI sum-scores within German MTs and between both groups. In the subgroup analyses regarding professional experience, differences of moderate effect size were reached between German and Dutch novice MTs (in favor of Dutch novice MTs; p =.001; Cohen´s d =.62), and between German novice MTs and experienced German MTs (in favor of experienced German MTs; p <.001; Cohen´s d =.6). Conclusion: The results suggest that academically educated German and Dutch MTs as well as experienced German and Dutch MTs are similar in terms of their hypothetical-deductive CR skills. In turn, German novice MTs seem to use hypothetical-deductive processing to a lesser extent compared to Dutch novice MTs and experienced German MTs, which in turn may support the hypothesis that the level of professional experience and education has a significant impact on the development of hypothetical-deductive CR skills.

OriginalspracheEnglisch
ZeitschriftJournal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy
Jahrgang32
Ausgabenummer5
Seiten (von - bis)531-539
Seitenumfang9
ISSN1066-9817
DOIs
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 10.2024

Strategische Forschungsbereiche und Zentren

  • Querschnittsbereich: Gesundheitswissenschaften: Logopädie, Ergotherapie, Physiotherapie und Hebammenwissenschaft

DFG-Fachsystematik

  • 1.21-02 Allgemeines und Fachbezogenes Lehren und Lernen

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