Research Agenda for Physical Therapy From the American Physical Therapy Association

Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley; Gregory E Hicks; Kory Zimney; Emily J Slaven; Tara Jo Manal; Lynn M Jeffries

doi:10.1093/ptj/pzad126

Research Agenda for Physical Therapy From the American Physical Therapy Association

Phys Ther. 2023 Oct 3;103(10):pzad126. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzad126.

Authors

Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley¹, Gregory E Hicks², Kory Zimney³, Emily J Slaven⁴, Tara Jo Manal⁵, Lynn M Jeffries⁶

Affiliations

¹ Physical Therapy Program, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
² Department of Physical Therapy, and Clinical & Translational Research, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
³ Department of Physical Therapy, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA.
⁴ Krannert School of Physical Therapy, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
⁵ Scientific Affairs, American Physical Therapy Association, Alexandria, Virginia, USA.
⁶ Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.

Abstract

Research agendas play an important role in directing scholarly inquiry in a field. The Research Agenda for Physical Therapy From the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) outlines research priorities that are vital to advancing physical therapist practice and the profession. The development of the research agenda included multiple iterative steps and feedback from stakeholders. A research agenda subgroup (n = 6) of the APTA Scientific and Practice Affairs Committee (SPAC), with APTA staff support, gathered information on existing research agendas, developed draft priority descriptions, and gathered feedback via surveys. The subgroup first conducted an environmental scan of the research agendas in the physical therapy and rehabilitation fields. To gather information about research priorities, APTA's Technology and Organizational Performance department distributed a survey to 3 samples. APTA staff organized the feedback, and SPAC edited and synthesized a draft agenda. This draft was sent out in survey form to the original samples and to members of the APTA Academy of Research. Concurrently, a repeat environmental scan was conducted. A final draft of the research agenda was sent for final review to a smaller cohort (n = 95) that included content experts in each of the main categories of the agenda as identified by the APTA Academy of Research. The SPAC research agenda subgroup reviewed and incorporated the information into the final draft. The final research agenda includes priorities in topical areas (population health, mechanistic research, clinical research, education/professional development research, health services research, and workforce development) identified as key in the evolution of our profession.

Impact: The Research Agenda for Physical Therapy From APTA identifies research priorities within the profession vital to advancing the practice and profession of physical therapy. The research agenda has 6 key areas of focus: population health research, mechanistic research, clinical research, education and professional development research, health services research, and workforce research. Researchers, funding agencies, and public policy makers can use the research agenda to concentrate research efforts around these areas.

Keywords: APTA; Agenda; American Physical Therapy Association: History; American Physical Therapy Association: Policies, Positions, and Standards; Physical Therapy; Research.

MeSH terms

Health Services Research*
Humans
Physical Therapy Modalities*
Research Design
Surveys and Questionnaires