Instructional Use of Computers for Entry-level Physical Therapy Education

Academic administrators of all accredited entry-level physical therapy programs in the United States were surveyed using a mail questionnaire. The purposes of the study were to find the extent of use of computer-assisted instruction, the perceived value of computer-assisted instruction, and what factors affect its implementation and use. The response rate was 86.9%. The number of programs using computer-assisted instruction was 29.9%. Use of computer-assisted instruction within these physical therapy programs was low. A Likert-type scale was used to quantify the perceived value of computerassisted instruction. Respondents rated the value of computer-assisted instruction at a median score of 117 (range=76-143; possible range=21-147). A 5-point scale was used to quantify the effect of resource, faculty, and student factors on the implementation and use of computer-assisted instruction. The availability of relevant computer-assisted instruction software was rated as having the strongest effect. Demographic characteristics of physical therapy programs were not correlated with use of computer-assisted instruction or its perceived value.