Student attributes and behavioral examples used by physiotherapy clinical educators in Hong Kong: a qualitative data...

Area of Science:

• Physiotherapy Education
• Healthcare Professional Development
• Cultural Competence in Assessment

Background:

• Clinical placements are crucial for physiotherapy students to demonstrate professional attributes.
• Clinical educators (CEs) globally value core competencies, but cultural contexts influence their emphasis.
• Understanding Hong Kong CEs' evaluation criteria is key for aligning academic and clinical expectations.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify key student attributes prioritized by Hong Kong CEs.
• Summarize behavioral examples differentiating performance levels on the Assessment of Physiotherapy Practice (APP) Global Rating Scale.

Main Methods:

• Secondary qualitative analysis of 456 feedback comments from APP forms.
• AI-assisted thematic analysis combined with expert interpretation.
• Deductive validation across performance levels (Excellent to Not Adequate).

Main Results:

• Six core attributes identified: communication, clinical reasoning, practical knowledge, learning attitudes, professionalism, and safety/patient-centered care.
• Behavioral examples clearly distinguished competent from underperforming students.
• Learning attitudes and reflective practice were consistently emphasized by CEs.

Conclusions:

• Hong Kong CEs value technical, cognitive, reflective, and affective attributes influenced by local culture.
• Findings can guide curriculum design, educator training, and student preparation for culturally attuned assessments.
• Provides a basis for international alignment of physiotherapy assessment instruments like the APP.