Balint Groups: A Novel Approach to Address Doctor of Physical Therapy Student Affective Domain Development

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Physical Therapy
• Psychology

Background:

• Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) curricula often prioritize cognitive and psychomotor skills over the affective domain.
• There is a recognized need to develop "habits of the heart" in future physical therapists.
• Balint groups, a method used in medical education, are explored as a solution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation of Balint groups in Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) education.
• To explore the benefits of Balint groups for DPT students.
• To enhance the affective domain and humanistic aspects of patient care in physical therapy.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of Balint groups, which are small peer discussion groups.
• Facilitation of student reflection on emotional and interpersonal aspects of patient care.
• Encouraging perspective-taking among students.

Main Results:

• Students reported perceived improvements in empathy.
• Students experienced enhanced emotional awareness.
• Perceived improvements in therapeutic patient relationships were noted.

Conclusions:

• Balint groups are a viable method for cultivating the affective domain in DPT education.
• Developing "habits of the heart" better equips physical therapists for humanistic patient care.
• Integrating Balint groups can address a gap in current DPT curricula.