# Digital recordings of a clinical encounter facilitate reflection in physical therapy students and clinicians

## TL;DR

This study shows that watching and reflecting on digital recordings of physical therapy sessions helps students and professionals improve their clinical skills.

## Contribution

The study is the first to explore how students and clinicians use digital recordings for self-reflection in physical therapy education.

## Key findings

- Self-rated clinical ability increased with more years of training among students.
- First-year students gave higher performance ratings to the PT in the recording than other groups.
- 75% of participants found the recordings useful for reflection.

## Abstract

Medical and health professions students use digital media in their educational pursuits. No studies have examined the process or utility of reviewing digital recordings of a clinical encounter. This pilot study examined how physical therapy students varied in their approach when compared to practicing physical therapists, in their self-reflection and assessment of a recorded physical therapist (PT) encounter with a standardized patient (SP).

A single site, cross-sectional, mixed-methods design was used. Participants reviewed an 11-minute digital recording of a patient encounter and completed survey questions. Post-survey interview sessions were used to gain additional perspective from participants.

Ninety-two physical therapy students across three levels of training and twenty-seven physical therapists participated in the study. Self-ratings of perceived clinical ability increased with each year of training. First-year students (PY1) gave higher performance ratings to the PT than other groups. Seventy-five percent of respondents found the review of the digital recording to be a useful tool for reflection. A variety of approaches in the review process were found across groups, especially between clinicians and students.

Review of a recording of a physical therapist’s encounter with an SP can be a useful educational tool for reflection across training levels of students and clinicians.