Aligning the Classroom and Clinic: A National Study on Pediatric Standardized Outcome Measures

Currently, the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy provides a Fact Sheet of 141 tests and measures used by pediatric physical therapists; however, the inclusion of all measures in professional physical therapist curriculum is not feasible and may not be necessary. Furthermore, there is no existing literature which describes which standardized pediatric outcome measures are taught, which are used in clinical practice, or why they are selected. In response to the lack of evidence, a workgroup was formed during the 2023 Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy Education Summit III to investigate the instruction of standardized pediatric outcome measures in Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs and ensure graduates are prepared for clinical practice. This presentation will highlight the results of the national survey sent to physical therapist educators and clinicians to investigate current instruction of standardized pediatric outcome measures in physical therapist education and use in clinical practice. Findings will be presented in the context of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) framework using Miller’s pyramid to contrast educational practice and clinical expectations. Discrepancies and agreements between entry-level education and clinical practice will be discussed. Audience dialogue will be encouraged to identify facilitators and barriers in teaching pediatric standardized outcome measures and to determine next steps for recommendations.