# Collaborative work within the ENPHE research working group: Physiotherapy Education - Aiming at Excellence through Collaboration - Savonia AMK

> Description of the results of research team presented at the ENPHE conference.

## Overview
The ENPHE fall conference took place in Warsaw, Poland, at the Faculty of Rehabilitation of the Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education. The conference brought together physiotherapy teachers, researchers, and students to discuss the latest research results in physiotherapy education and the outcomes of ENPHE’s working groups. The theme of the conference was "Physiotherapy Education: Aiming at Excellence through Collaboration."

The Research Working Group (WG) of the European Network of Physiotherapy in Higher Education (ENPHE) is dedicated to advancing scientific inquiry and promoting Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) engagement among its members.

## Ongoing Research Projects

### Systematic Review: Assessing the "EBP Clinician Profile"
Following an exploratory review published in 2023 on teaching sequences for EBP, the group is conducting a systematic review to identify the best tool for assessing an "EBP clinician profile." The study follows AMSTAR-2 and PRISMA 2020 guidelines. After searching over 18 databases and identifying more than 32,000 articles (reduced to 17,000 after removing duplicates), the team is currently in the article selection phase.

### Blended Intensive Programme (BIP)
A group of lecturers conducted a BIP program to introduce Evidence-Based Physiotherapy to 40 international students at the University of Savonia. Following the success of this intensive week, a second edition is being planned for next autumn in Prague, coordinated by Prof. Dagmar Pavlu, involving students from Finland, Spain, and the Czech Republic.

### "More Life to Your Years" Project
Marlies Wagener presented an overview of student projects from Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences regarding the health perceptions and support needs of people aged 60 and older, utilizing the EFIP questionnaire. Future work will focus on pre-frailty through both quantitative and qualitative studies, including a new scoping review.

### Teacher Survey Project
The team has finalized the research plan, items, and sections for a questionnaire targeting physiotherapy educators in European universities. The study will utilize a cross-sectional methodology, and the team is preparing to conduct a pilot study.

## Authors
* **Marja Äijö**, PhD, principal lecturer of rehabilitation and gerontology, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Finland.
* **Zeltia Naia-Entonado**, PT, MSc, PhD, University of a Coruña, Spain.
* **Verónica Robles García**, PhD, MSc, PT, OT, University of a Coruña, Spain.
* **Dagmar Pavlů**, physiotherapist, associate professor, Charles University, Czech Republic.
* **Anne Griet Brader**, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.
* **Merita Qorolli**, University of Prishtina, Faculty of Medicine, Physiotherapy Branch, Kosovo.
* **Wagener Marlies**, PhD, lecturer and senior researcher, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.
* **Adrien Pallot**, Physiotherapy Department, CEERRF and Institut d’Ingénierie de la Santé, UPJV, France.

## References
* Boshnjaku A, Arnadottir AS, Pallot A, Wagener M, Äijö M. 2023. Improving the Evidence-Based Practice Skills of Entry-Level Physiotherapy Students through Educational Interventions: A Scoping Review of Literature. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(16), 6605; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20166605
* de Vries NM, Staal JB, Olde Rikkert MG, Nijhuis-van der Sanden MW. 2013. Evaluative frailty index for physical activity (EFIP): a reliable and valid instrument to measure changes in level of frailty. Phys Ther. 93(4):551-61. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20120127.
* The European Network of Physiotherapy in Higher Education (ENPHE). 2023. Available: https://www.enphe.org/en
* Äijö M, Boshnjaku A, Pallot A, Griet Brader A, den Ouden I, Schoo P, Naia Entonado Z, Pojerová J, Pavlu D. 2023a. Educating Physiotherapists for a Global Mindset – ENPHE and research groups results. Published: 18.10.2023. Available: https://www.savonia.fi/en/articles/educating-physiotherapists-for-a-global-mindset-enphe-and-research-groups-results/
* Äijö M, Wagener M, Pallot A, Pavlu D, Arnadottir SA. 2023b. Evidence-based Practice – Experiences from Teachers and Students. Savonia article. Published: 27.1.2023. Available: https://www.savonia.fi/en/articles/savonia-article-evidence-based-practice-experiences-from-teachers-and-students/