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Academic performance and satisfaction with face-to-face, distance and blended teaching in entry-level physiotherapy programme : A retrospective comparative study

Dell’isola, Andrea LU ; Longhini, Jessica ; Turolla, Andrea ; Viceconti, Antonello ; Gianola, Silvia ; Beccucci, Giacomo ; Patuzz, Alberto ; Rodeghiero, Lia ; Battista, Simone and Geri, Tommaso , et al. (2024) In Acta Biomedica 95(5).
Abstract

Background and aim: The popularity of remote and blended teachings in physiotherapy higher education is increasing. Initial evidence suggests that these methods are as effective as face-to-face teaching for theoretical and practical skill learning in physiotherapy; however, further research is required. Methods: This was a retrospective comparative study. Three groups of physiotherapy students undertook the courses ‘Biomechanics’ and ‘Kinesiology’ through face-to-face, remote, and blended modalities, respectively. We compared the academic performance and satisfaction of three classes that underwent courses delivered face-to-face in 2019, remote in 2020, and blended in 2021. Each course included a basic observational skills section... (More)

Background and aim: The popularity of remote and blended teachings in physiotherapy higher education is increasing. Initial evidence suggests that these methods are as effective as face-to-face teaching for theoretical and practical skill learning in physiotherapy; however, further research is required. Methods: This was a retrospective comparative study. Three groups of physiotherapy students undertook the courses ‘Biomechanics’ and ‘Kinesiology’ through face-to-face, remote, and blended modalities, respectively. We compared the academic performance and satisfaction of three classes that underwent courses delivered face-to-face in 2019, remote in 2020, and blended in 2021. Each course included a basic observational skills section (25%). Oral examination assessed academic performance (mark range: 0-31). Student satisfaction was self-evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale (‘completely dissatisfied’ to ‘completely satisfied’). Differences in outcomes were explored using Fisher’s exact test and Kruskal Wallis test. Results: In the ‘Biomechanics’ course, the median mark (interquartile range) was 28 (27, 30) for the face-to-face group, 28.5 (27, 29) for the remote group and 29 (27, 30) for the blended group. In the ‘Kinesiology’ course, the median mark was 29 (27, 30) for the faceto-face, 28.0 (28, 30) for the remote and 29 (27, 30) for the blended. No statistically significant differences in academic performance were detected in either course. Satisfaction was good for both courses and teaching modalities; no statistically significant difference was detected. Conclusions: Students had similar satisfaction and academic performance, suggesting the potential efficiency of varying teaching methods in terms of learning and satisfaction. (www.actabiomedica.it).

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
blended learning, education, learning method, pandemic, physiotherapy
in
Acta Biomedica
volume
95
issue
5
article number
e2024106
publisher
Mattioli 1885
external identifiers
  • scopus:85208622439
ISSN
0392-4203
DOI
10.23750/abm.v95i5.15846
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5c36e25c-c6df-4212-90ab-be7e31e1fde0
date added to LUP
2025-01-15 11:00:49
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:41:10
@article{5c36e25c-c6df-4212-90ab-be7e31e1fde0,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background and aim: The popularity of remote and blended teachings in physiotherapy higher education is increasing. Initial evidence suggests that these methods are as effective as face-to-face teaching for theoretical and practical skill learning in physiotherapy; however, further research is required. Methods: This was a retrospective comparative study. Three groups of physiotherapy students undertook the courses ‘Biomechanics’ and ‘Kinesiology’ through face-to-face, remote, and blended modalities, respectively. We compared the academic performance and satisfaction of three classes that underwent courses delivered face-to-face in 2019, remote in 2020, and blended in 2021. Each course included a basic observational skills section (25%). Oral examination assessed academic performance (mark range: 0-31). Student satisfaction was self-evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale (‘completely dissatisfied’ to ‘completely satisfied’). Differences in outcomes were explored using Fisher’s exact test and Kruskal Wallis test. Results: In the ‘Biomechanics’ course, the median mark (interquartile range) was 28 (27, 30) for the face-to-face group, 28.5 (27, 29) for the remote group and 29 (27, 30) for the blended group. In the ‘Kinesiology’ course, the median mark was 29 (27, 30) for the faceto-face, 28.0 (28, 30) for the remote and 29 (27, 30) for the blended. No statistically significant differences in academic performance were detected in either course. Satisfaction was good for both courses and teaching modalities; no statistically significant difference was detected. Conclusions: Students had similar satisfaction and academic performance, suggesting the potential efficiency of varying teaching methods in terms of learning and satisfaction. (www.actabiomedica.it).</p>}},
  author       = {{Dell’isola, Andrea and Longhini, Jessica and Turolla, Andrea and Viceconti, Antonello and Gianola, Silvia and Beccucci, Giacomo and Patuzz, Alberto and Rodeghiero, Lia and Battista, Simone and Geri, Tommaso and Palese, Alvisa and Rossettini, Giacomo}},
  issn         = {{0392-4203}},
  keywords     = {{blended learning; education; learning method; pandemic; physiotherapy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  number       = {{5}},
  publisher    = {{Mattioli 1885}},
  series       = {{Acta Biomedica}},
  title        = {{Academic performance and satisfaction with face-to-face, distance and blended teaching in entry-level physiotherapy programme : A retrospective comparative study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.23750/abm.v95i5.15846}},
  doi          = {{10.23750/abm.v95i5.15846}},
  volume       = {{95}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}