Nim Casper, Smith Nicole, Starmer David, Wang Simon, Choi Grand, Alayed Akram, AlShareef Jomana, Gnjatic Angela, Sloan Keegan, Wong Kitlyn, Funabashi Martha
Medical Research Unit, Spine Centre of Southern Denmark, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Sygehusvej 24, 6000, Kolding, Denmark.
Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
Chiropr Man Therap. 2025 Apr 27;33(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s12998-025-00577-0.
Although distinct, confidence and competence play a valuable role in healthcare education. For chiropractic students, both may be important in mastering motor skills required to perform spinal manipulative therapy (SMT). However, little is known about how individual factors influence students' confidence and competence. Better understanding of these associations would enable the development of tailored training. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate associations between demographics, anthropometrics, and prior SMT experience and confidence and competence in performing SMT with specific force-time characteristics in chiropractic students.
This secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study involved 149 chiropractic students who performed SMT targeting specific peak thrust forces (200 N, 400 N, 800 N). Students were assessed for competence in force-time characteristics (preload, peak thrust force, time to peak force) using the force-sensing table technology, and self-reported their confidence in performing each characteristic. Demographics, anthropometrics, and SMT experience were collected and multivariable linear and logistic regressions were used to assess associations.
Confidence was higher in male students, students in later years of study, and those with more SMT experience. Competence in time to peak force was higher among males and third-year students, whereas males and taller students were more likely to reach the 800 N peak thrust force. No other associations were found for competencies.
While certain demographic and experiential factors are associated with increased confidence, these do not consistently translate to competence in SMT force-time characteristics. Targeted training approaches that account for individual student factors to better support them in developing their SMT motor skills are needed.
尽管信心和能力有所不同，但它们在医疗保健教育中发挥着重要作用。对于脊椎按摩疗法专业的学生而言，两者对于掌握实施脊椎推拿治疗（SMT）所需的运动技能可能都很重要。然而，关于个体因素如何影响学生的信心和能力，我们知之甚少。更好地理解这些关联将有助于制定针对性的培训。因此，本研究旨在调查人口统计学、人体测量学、既往SMT经验与脊椎按摩疗法专业学生在具有特定力-时间特征的SMT操作中的信心和能力之间的关联。
这项横断面研究的二次分析涉及149名脊椎按摩疗法专业的学生，他们实施了针对特定峰值推力（200 N、400 N、800 N）的SMT。使用力感应台技术评估学生在力-时间特征（预负荷、峰值推力、达到峰值力的时间）方面的能力，并让他们自我报告对执行每个特征的信心。收集了人口统计学、人体测量学和SMT经验数据，并使用多变量线性和逻辑回归来评估关联。
男生、高年级学生以及有更多SMT经验的学生信心更高。在达到峰值力的时间方面，男生和三年级学生的能力更高，而男生和身材较高的学生更有可能达到800 N的峰值推力。未发现其他与能力相关的关联。
虽然某些人口统计学和经验因素与信心增强有关，但这些因素并不一定能转化为在SMT力-时间特征方面的能力。需要采取考虑到学生个体因素的针对性培训方法，以更好地支持他们发展SMT运动技能。
