Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40078578›Full record

ArticleArchives of physiotherapy

The Use of Digital Technologies in Physiotherapy Higher Education: a Mixed-Methods Study.

Francesca Trentini, Chiara Fante, Flavio Manganello, Marco Testa, Simone Battista

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Archives of physiotherapy. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Francesca TrentiniRehabilitation Department, Villa Rosa Rehabilitation Hospital, Provincial Health Services Company (APSS), Trento - Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0429-2909
Chiara FanteInstitute for Educational Technologies, National Research Council, Genova - Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6551-3278
Flavio ManganelloInstitute for Educational Technologies, National Research Council, Genova - Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7584-939X
Marco TestaDepartment of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genova, Campus of Savona - Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8643-7200
Simone BattistaSchool of Health and Society, Centre for Human Movement and Rehabilitation, University of Salford, Salford, Greater Manchester - United Kingdom.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7471-1951

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Previous studies demonstrated that digital tools can be effectively integrated into physiotherapy higher education. However, their adoption remains limited. This study aimed to 1) evaluate the perceived knowledge, confidence, and frequency of digital technology use among Italian lecturers and 2) explore lecturers' experiences with digital technology in higher education. Methods: We performed a convergent mixed-method study using an online survey instrument for Italian physiotherapy lectures. We employed a 5-point Likert to evaluate perceived knowledge, confidence, and frequency of digital technology use, with consensus defined as an agreement of ≥70% on a statement. An optional qualitative section explored lecturers' experiences with technology, which we analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Results: Between June and September 2023, 118 lecturers (mean age: 45 ± 11; 69% female, n = 81) completed the survey. Participants expressed confidence in utilizing digital tools such as videoconferencing (95%), online repositories (88%), and communication apps (78%). On average, 32% reported using technologies "often" or "always." In the qualitative section, completed by 77 participants, we generated three themes: 1) "Technology can promote a constructive educational approach"; 2) "Action of technologies on students' learning process," with mixed results on their impact; and 3) "Technology is not within everyone's reach," due to barriers to its implementation in didactics. Qualitative and quantitative findings confirmed one another, allowing for a deeper understanding of digital technologies among Italian physiotherapy lecturers. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that digital tools are still underutilized among Italian physiotherapy lecturers. The main barriers include inadequate infrastructure and a lack of digital competencies.

Indexed as

Allied health personnelDigital technologyEducationMixed methodsPhysical therapy modalitiesPhysical therapy specialtyPublic health professional

Identifiers

PMID40078578
PMCPMC11897798

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.