Exploring an online clinical competency assessment: an alternative to a traditional in-person assessment for internationally trained physiotherapists
Abstract Background The assessment of clinical competence is crucial for the education and accreditation of health professionals. Although traditional in-person methods, such as objective structured clinical examinations and case-based clinical assessments are widely used, the COVID-19 pandemic prom...
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07559-z |
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| author | Brooke Flew Lucy Chipchase Darren Lee Jodie A. McClelland |
| author_facet | Brooke Flew Lucy Chipchase Darren Lee Jodie A. McClelland |
| author_sort | Brooke Flew |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The assessment of clinical competence is crucial for the education and accreditation of health professionals. Although traditional in-person methods, such as objective structured clinical examinations and case-based clinical assessments are widely used, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the exploration of online formats. This study examined conducting a clinical case-based assessment in an online environment as an alternative to a traditional in-person assessment for evaluating the competence of internationally trained physiotherapists seeking registration in Australia. Methods A single-cohort observational study was conducted, where participants completed both online and in-person assessments. Participants were internationally trained physiotherapists seeking registration in Australia. Participants were scored as pass/fail on 8 domains and for overall outcome. Data were analysed by calculating pass/fail rates, absolute agreement, false negative and positive rates and predictive values. Results There was a 63% agreement in outcomes between each format, with comparable pass rates (online: 54%, in-person: 68%, p = 0.09). The online assessment demonstrated a strong positive predictive value (79%), indicating its potential to regularly predict competence as determined by the in-person assessment. However, online pass rates were significantly lower than in-person pass rates (60% and 78% respectively, p = 0.04) for the domain that scored competency in hands-on skills. Conclusion The findings suggest that online assessment could serve as a viable alternative to the in-person assessment. However, further refinements may be needed to address hands-on skill assessment in online assessments. This study adds to the current evidence base supporting the use of online assessments as an alternative to traditional in-person methods for evaluating clinical competence. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d9236ba384fa49c5910c8e5b3e51eba1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-d9236ba384fa49c5910c8e5b3e51eba12025-08-20T04:03:07ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202025-07-012511910.1186/s12909-025-07559-zExploring an online clinical competency assessment: an alternative to a traditional in-person assessment for internationally trained physiotherapistsBrooke Flew0Lucy Chipchase1Darren Lee2Jodie A. McClelland3School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe UniversityCaring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders UniversityAustralian Physiotherapy CouncilSchool of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe UniversityAbstract Background The assessment of clinical competence is crucial for the education and accreditation of health professionals. Although traditional in-person methods, such as objective structured clinical examinations and case-based clinical assessments are widely used, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the exploration of online formats. This study examined conducting a clinical case-based assessment in an online environment as an alternative to a traditional in-person assessment for evaluating the competence of internationally trained physiotherapists seeking registration in Australia. Methods A single-cohort observational study was conducted, where participants completed both online and in-person assessments. Participants were internationally trained physiotherapists seeking registration in Australia. Participants were scored as pass/fail on 8 domains and for overall outcome. Data were analysed by calculating pass/fail rates, absolute agreement, false negative and positive rates and predictive values. Results There was a 63% agreement in outcomes between each format, with comparable pass rates (online: 54%, in-person: 68%, p = 0.09). The online assessment demonstrated a strong positive predictive value (79%), indicating its potential to regularly predict competence as determined by the in-person assessment. However, online pass rates were significantly lower than in-person pass rates (60% and 78% respectively, p = 0.04) for the domain that scored competency in hands-on skills. Conclusion The findings suggest that online assessment could serve as a viable alternative to the in-person assessment. However, further refinements may be needed to address hands-on skill assessment in online assessments. This study adds to the current evidence base supporting the use of online assessments as an alternative to traditional in-person methods for evaluating clinical competence.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07559-zPhysical therapistsOnline assessmentClinical competenceAccreditationProfessional competence |
| spellingShingle | Brooke Flew Lucy Chipchase Darren Lee Jodie A. McClelland Exploring an online clinical competency assessment: an alternative to a traditional in-person assessment for internationally trained physiotherapists BMC Medical Education Physical therapists Online assessment Clinical competence Accreditation Professional competence |
| title | Exploring an online clinical competency assessment: an alternative to a traditional in-person assessment for internationally trained physiotherapists |
| title_full | Exploring an online clinical competency assessment: an alternative to a traditional in-person assessment for internationally trained physiotherapists |
| title_fullStr | Exploring an online clinical competency assessment: an alternative to a traditional in-person assessment for internationally trained physiotherapists |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring an online clinical competency assessment: an alternative to a traditional in-person assessment for internationally trained physiotherapists |
| title_short | Exploring an online clinical competency assessment: an alternative to a traditional in-person assessment for internationally trained physiotherapists |
| title_sort | exploring an online clinical competency assessment an alternative to a traditional in person assessment for internationally trained physiotherapists |
| topic | Physical therapists Online assessment Clinical competence Accreditation Professional competence |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07559-z |
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