Use of an e-portfolios tool to support specialisation in physiotherapy

Use of an ePortfolio tool to support specialisation in

physiotherapyLindsey Maggs & Vicki Smith

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA)

• Peak body representing physiotherapists in Australia - over 12,000 members

• Advocate & support physiotherapy access for Australia’s population

• 7 Branches – national representation

• National Office Divisions:

– Learning & Development

– Membership

– Advocacy and International Relations

– Corporate Services

– Marketing and Communications

Learning and Development Division

• Members must complete 20 hours of CPD per annum

• Current professional development opportunities

– Lectures

– Courses

– Conferences

– Breakfasts

– Webinars

– Online learning

National Groups

• Musculoskeletal

• Sports

• Business

• Acupuncture and Dry Needling

• Animal

• Paediatric

• Neurology

• Gerontology

• Continence & Women’s Health

• Cardiorespiratory

• Aquatic

• Occupational Health

• Educators

• Leadership & Management

Member Lifelong Learning Pathway

Australian College of Physiotherapists (ACP)

• Only Fellows of the College are Specialists

• Virtual college

• Fellowship by Specialisation first granted in

1984

• Most disciplines have a specialisation pathway

Becoming a Specialist Physiotherapist

Pre 2011

• Original contribution – Submission of thesis or

published works

• Interim pathway

– Recognition of higher standing

– Meet specific criteria

– Final exam

Now

• Original contribution – Submission of thesis or

published works

• Training programme

– Two years

– Mentoring & evidence of:• Research• Clinical practice• Professional Development• Contributing to the

learning of others

– Final exam

Becoming a Specialist Physiotherapist

Pre 2011• Original contribution

– Submission of thesis or published works

• Interim pathway– Recognition of higher standing– Meet specific criteria– Final exam

Now

• Original contribution – Submission of thesis or

published works

• Training programme

– Two years

– Mentoring & evidence of:• Research• Clinical practice• Professional development• Contributing to the

learning of others

– Final exam

Why ePortfolio, not Portfolio?

• Advantages of online environment

• Benefits for the participants

– Virtual area – access anywhere, anytime

– Private space

– Online discussion at a distance

• Benefits for the facilitators

– Private

– Discussion of ideas with other facilitators

Training Programme: Design

• Applications opened only to Musculoskeletal and Sports candidates

• Total of 17 applications

– 12 candidates accepted

• Group split into five cohorts

• Cohort = facilitator, plus two to three candidates

• Three cohorts of musculoskeletal candidates

• Two cohorts of sports candidates

Cohort 1: QLD Musculoskeletal

Cohort 2: VIC Musculoskeletal

Cohort 3: WA Musculoskeletal

Cohort 4: QLD Sports

Cohort 5: VIC Sports

All Cohorts

Implementation

• Training for facilitators

• Candidates sent log-in details and instructions

• Gateways set up

• Template webfolio shared

• Q&A webinar for all

• Example webfolio shared

Professional Practice Standards (PPS)

• Learning contract with action plan

• Standards to rate performance

• Transferred to a profile builder• Self-rate

– Scale of 1-5

• Evidence

Action Plan for PPS

• Produce action plan to achieve required standards

• Made up of:

– Current situation

– Steps to success

– SWOT analysis

– Supporting resources

– Reflection

• Formed learning contract between the candidate and the ACP

Action Plan for PPS

What Else?

• Uploading articles and videos for discussion• Blogging• Evidencing the four key elements:

– Clinical skills– Education of others– Professional development– Research

ePortfolio

Webfolios

Feelings Towards the ePortfolio Tool

• “The opportunity of sharing and discussing a wide range of cutting edge research papers, clinical problems and opinions with peers at one site has been inspiring and a great learning opportunity.”

• “Great for supervisors to oversee what is going on without talking face to face.”

• “An excellent resource to allow collation, and presentation, of information and resources.”

• “I hope to be able to continue to use Pebblepad following completion of my specialisation training program to further assist my professional development as a physiotherapist."

The Future of ePortfolios at APA

• Roll-out to all members

• Implement for our Titling Program

• Recording system for CPD hours

• eJournal Club

• Mentoring tool for new grads

• Possible engagement of international participants in PD

Thank You

We would like to acknowledge the

Australian Physiotherapy Association and

the Australian College of Physiotherapists

for their assistance with this project and

presentation.