Influence of residency training on the clinical reasoning development of Kenyan physiotherapists

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical reasoning development of physical therapists participating in an 18-month orthopaedic residency program in Nairobi, Kenya. Methods: A mixed methods research design was utilized. The participants’ clinical reasoning was assessed through a live patient examination prior to entering the residency program and upon graduation. One-on-one interviews were performed with the residents to explore their clinical reasoning during the final examination. Results: Residents (n = 14) demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in their ability to perform an examination of a patient and determine a hypothetical diagnosis. The clinical reasoning process described by the participants included the hypothetical deductive and narrative reasoning models. The residents did not appear to incorporate pattern recognition during the patient assessment. Discussion: Similar to studies on novice and expert practice in physical therapy, residents demonstrated an improvement in cue acquisition, the ability to verify and refute a hypothetical diagnosis, and the ability to match interventions to patients impairments. In addition, the residents utilized a combination of clinical reasoning models during the examination and evaluation of the patient including hypothetical deductive reasoning and narrative reasoning. Level of Evidence: 4.