Vestibular Rehabilitation Education:
Clinical Confidence Among Entry-Level Physical Therapists (Pilot Survey)

Title of Project: Vestibular Rehabilitation Education: Perceived Clinical Confidence Among Entry-Level Physical Therapists

IRB Number: 26-0825-066-CA

You are being asked to participate in a research study. The box below highlights key information about this research for you to consider when making a decision whether or not to participate. Carefully consider this information and the more detailed information provided below the box. Please ask questions about any of the information you do not understand before you decide whether to participate.

Key Information for You to Consider

Voluntary Consent. You are being asked to volunteer for a research study. It is up to you whether you choose to participate or not. There will be no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled if you choose not to participate or discontinue participation. Purpose. The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between perceived vestibular education exposure during entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy education and clinical confidence in evaluating and treating individuals with vestibular disorders. The study aims to better understand how educational experiences may relate to preparedness and clinical confidence. Duration. It is expected that your participation will last 10 to 15 minutes. Procedures and Activities. You will be asked to complete a one-time, online survey. The survey will include demographic questions and questions about vestibular education exposure, content-specific instruction, perceived preparedness, and confidence in evaluating and treating individuals with vestibular disorders. Participants may skip any question they do not wish to answer and may stop the survey at any time. Risks. The risks associated with participation in this study are minimal and are no more than those encountered in everyday life. Participants may choose to skip any question they do not wish to answer and may stop the survey at any time without penalty. Benefits. Potential benefits of this study include contributing to a better understanding of the relationship between vestibular education, clinical confidence, and preparedness, which may help inform future DPT curriculum development and better prepare physical therapists to evaluate and treat individuals with vestibular disorders. Alternatives. Participation is voluntary, and the only alternative is to not participate.

Why is this research being done?

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between vestibular education received during entry-level physical therapy education and perceived clinical confidence among final-year physical therapy students and entry-level physical therapists. Specifically, the study will explore participants’ confidence in evaluating and managing individuals with dizziness, balance problems, and other vestibular disorders. Findings may help identify opportunities to enhance vestibular education within DPT curricula and better prepare future physical therapists for clinical practice.

What Will Happen in This Research Study?

Individuals who are interested in participating will access the study through a secure survey link provided in recruitment materials distributed electronically through professional organizations, alumni networks, and social media. Before beginning the survey, potential participants will review this electronic informed consent document that explains the purpose of the study, what participation involves, the voluntary nature of participation, potential risks and benefits, and measures taken to protect confidentiality. Completion of the survey will indicate a participant’s informed consent. The survey will begin with eligibility questions to determine whether participants meet the study criteria. Eligible participants will then complete survey questions regarding their demographic information, educational experiences related to vestibular rehabilitation, perceived preparedness for practice, and current confidence in evaluating and treating patients with vestibular disorders. The survey also includes three optional open-ended questions that allow participants to provide additional comments regarding their educational experiences. Participation consists of completing the survey one time only. The survey is expected to take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and may be completed on a computer, tablet, or smartphone at a location chosen by the participant. No experimental procedures, treatments, medications, physical examinations, pregnancy testing, or clinical interventions are involved in this study. Participants will not be assigned to study groups, and there are no follow-up visits or additional study activities after the survey has been completed. Survey responses will be collected anonymously through SurveyMonkey. No names or other directly identifying information will be collected. Participants may skip any question they do not wish to answer and may discontinue participation at any time by closing their web browser before submitting the survey. Once the survey has been submitted, responses cannot be withdrawn because they will not be linked to participants' identities. The ways we will protect your privacy and confidentiality are described in a separate section later in this form. You will be one of approximately 150 subjects who will be asked to be in the study.

Risks and Discomforts

This study involves minimal risk, and the risks associated with participation are no more than those encountered in everyday life. Some participants may experience mild discomfort when reflecting on their educational preparation or confidence in evaluating and managing individuals with vestibular disorders. Participants may skip any question they do not wish to answer or stop the survey at any time without penalty. No physical, legal, financial, or significant social risks are anticipated from participation in this study.

Potential Benefits

You will receive no direct benefit from being in this study. Your being in this study may help the investigators learn how vestibular content is delivered in entry-level DPT programs and how educational experiences relate to perceived clinical confidence. Findings from this study may help inform curriculum development, identify gaps in vestibular education, and support efforts to better prepare future physical therapists to evaluate and treat patients with vestibular disorders. The knowledge gained may ultimately contribute to improved educational practices and patient care.

Costs

There are no costs to you for being in this research study.

Payment

You will not be paid for being in this study.

We will not record your name or any information that shows your identity. You will not be signing this form. We will store survey answers in ways we believe are secure. We will store paper files in locked filing cabinets. We will store electronic files in computer systems with password protection and encryption. However, we cannot guarantee complete confidentiality. If you agree to be in the study by participating in the survey, we will share survey answers with the following groups of people:

· People who do the research or help oversee the research, including safety monitoring.

· People from Federal and state agencies who audit or review the research, as required by law. Such agencies may include the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health.

We will share research data where we have removed anything that we think would show your identity. There still may be a small chance that someone could figure out that the information is about you. Such sharing includes:

· Publishing results in a book or journal.

· Adding results to a Federal government database.

· Using research data in future studies, done by us or by other scientists.

Potential Conflict of Interest:

None.

Subject’s Rights

By participating in this study, you do not waive any of your legal rights. Consenting means that you have been given information about this study and that you agree to participate in the study. If you do not agree to be in this study or if at any time you withdraw from this study you will not suffer any penalty or lose any benefits to which you are entitled. Your participation is completely up to you. Your decision will not affect your ability to get health care or payment for your health care. It will not affect your enrollment in any health plan or benefits you can get.

Questions

The investigator or a member of the research team will try to answer all of your questions. If you have questions or concerns at any time, contact Dr. Rachael Arabian at 703-717-2146.

You may also call 760-410-5279 or email mganesan@usa.edu. You will be talking to Mohan Ganesan, the university-wide IRB chair at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. The IRB is a group that helps monitor research. You should call or email the IRB if you want to find out about your rights as a research subject. You should also call or email if you want to talk to someone who is not part of the study about your questions, concerns, or problems.