The Effectiveness of Student-Driven Pro Bono Physical Therapy Services on Self-Reported Outcomes of Community-Dwelling Adults with Musculoskeletal Conditions

Authors

Elise Harris, Franklin Pierce UniversityFollow
Tamara Hefferon, Franklin Pierce UniversityFollow
Peyton Oules, Franklin Pierce UniversityFollow
Katherine Sarnacki, Franklin Pierce UniversityFollow
Benjamin Galaviz, Franklin Pierce UniversityFollow
Jake Robert Gaston, Franklin Pierce UniversityFollow

Abstract

Purpose: Student-driven pro bono clinics provide a profound clinical education experience for health professional students while serving members of the community. Currently, there is little research on how the pro-bono clinic impacts the community members involved. The purpose of this study was to examine outcomes following discharge from a pro bono clinic held through an entry-level physical therapy program. Methods: Forty-one volunteer community members, 19 males (M) (46.3%) and 22 females (F) (53.6%), participated in this study. Ages ranged from 20-90 years, with a mean age of 41(17) years. Each community member completed the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WBFS), Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS), and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) during the initial evaluation and discharge sessions. Community members were seen for 60 minutes once per week for a total of 2-5 visits. Descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon Signed Rank test, and means of the pre-test data and the post-test data were performed. Results: Wilcoxon Signed Rank test revealed significance at Z=-4.37, pConclusion: Community members who participated in the student-driven pro bono clinic achieved statistically significant improvement in pain and physical function. In addition to the established benefit of experiential learning received by the student, our study supports a received benefit to the community member.

Author Bio(s)

Elise Harris, PT, DPT, OCS is an Assistant Professor at the Arizona Academic Center, Department of Physical Therapy, Franklin Pierce University.

Tamara Hefferon, PT, DPT, OCS is an Associate Professor at the Arizona Academic Center, Department of Physical Therapy, Franklin Pierce University.

Peyton Oules, SPT is a physical therapy student at the Arizona Academic Center, Department of Physical Therapy, Franklin Pierce University and expected to graduate in October 2023.

Katherine Sarnacki, SPT is a physical therapy student at the Arizona Academic Center, Department of Physical Therapy, Franklin Pierce University and expected to graduate in October 2023.

Benjamin Galaviz, SPT is a physical therapy student at the Arizona Academic Center, Department of Physical Therapy, Franklin Pierce University and expected to graduate in October 2023.

Jake Robert Gaston, SPT is a physical therapy student at the Arizona Academic Center, Department of Physical Therapy, Franklin Pierce University and expected to graduate in October 2023.

Acknowledgements

We would also like to acknowledge the contribution to data analysis made by Dr. RuiPing Xia, MS, PhD. Permission was obtained from Dr. RuiPing Xia for this acknowledgement. Dr. RuiPing Xia, MS, PhD is an Associate Professor at the Arizona Academic Center, Department of Physical Therapy, Franklin Pierce University.

Recommended Citation

Harris E, Hefferon T, Oules P, Sarnacki K, Galaviz B, Gaston J. The Effectiveness of Student-Driven Pro Bono Physical Therapy Services on Self-Reported Outcomes of Community-Dwelling Adults with Musculoskeletal Conditions. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. 2023 Dec 15;22(1), Article 10.