Developing a capability assessment tool for physiotherapists managing patients with blunt chest trauma.

PURPOSE: The aim was to develop a capability assessment tool (CAT) for physiotherapists managing patients with blunt chest trauma.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A nominal group technique incorporating a cross-sectional survey was used. A panel of 10 international physiotherapist experts developed and tested the content validity of the domains and items to be included in the tool. For each item, an item-level content validity index (I-CVI) was calculated based on the panel members' rating. Panel members rated each item for relevance to physiotherapy management of patients with blunt chest trauma.

RESULTS

The final proposed CAT comprised 11 key capabilities, each with a subset of descriptors. Key capabilities included; 1) core aspects of care, 2) pre-hospital setting, 3) respiratory assessment, 4) recognition of patient progression and deterioration, 5) respiratory interventions 6) functional/musculoskeletal assessment, 7) functional/musculoskeletal interventions, 8) evaluation of interventions, 9) adjunctive analgesia management, 10) discharge home from hospital, and 11) community rehabilitation. The tool had a scale-level content validity index of 0.80.

CONCLUSIONS

This study developed a comprehensive CAT for physiotherapists managing blunt chest trauma. The tool encompasses the entire recovery process, from pre-hospital to community settings following discharge from the hospital, and is applicable to all specialties.