Assessing Student Learning of Spinal Mobilization With Real-time Objective Feedback

Sampling: Subjects will be recruited using convenience sampling from second-year physical therapy students on the campus of Youngstown State University. Research Design: Randomized controlled trial (RCT). Subjects will be randomly assigned to the experimental group or control group. Subjects will attend a spinal mobilization lecture followed by a practice lab. Randomization: Once enrolled in the study, each student will be randomly assigned to experimental or control groups. Randomization will occur via a random number generator and allocation will be concealed in opaque envelopes. Intervention: The experimental group will use a force sensor (Active5) while learning spinal mobilization during the practice lab portion of the class. The force sensor will provide objective feedback to the students. Each student will be instructed on how to use the Active 5 device prior to utilizing it in the classroom setting. The device can display the amount of force generated by the student on a smartphone or a tablet in real-time so the students would be able to adjust the amount of force. The Control group will participate in the same classroom lecture and activity. However, during the practice lab portion of the class, the control group will only receive traditional subjective feedback from the class instructor and/or student peers. A perceived competence scale survey (score between 0-10 with 10 being confident and 0 being not confident) with demographic information will be administered immediately after the intervention. An independent blinded instructor will serve as the assessor of student skill level to avoid bias immediately after the intervention/procedure. Student t-test will be used for data analysis.