Correspondence and Concordance of Retrospective and Concurrent Responses to Physiotherapists and Sport Psychology Questionnaire Items

Ashlee E. Groover, Britton W. Brewer, Daniel M. Smith, Judy L. Van Raalte and Christine N. May
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Ashlee E. Groover: Department of Psychology, Springfield College, 263 Alden Street, Springfield, MA 01109, USA
Britton W. Brewer: Department of Psychology, Springfield College, 263 Alden Street, Springfield, MA 01109, USA
Daniel M. Smith: Department of Physical Education and Health Education, Springfield College, 263 Alden Street, Springfield, MA 01109, USA
Judy L. Van Raalte: Department of Psychology, Springfield College, 263 Alden Street, Springfield, MA 01109, USA
Christine N. May: Department of Psychology, Springfield College, 263 Alden Street, Springfield, MA 01109, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-11

Abstract: Orthopedic and sport-related injuries are a major public health concern and a common reason for referral to physical therapy. The use of psychological techniques by physical therapists has been assessed in research studies primarily with retrospective self-report questionnaires that have not been validated against concurrent assessments of the same behaviors. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which the results obtained from physical therapists’ retrospective self-reports of their use of psychological techniques reflect their use of the techniques assessed concurrently. Physical therapists ( N = 14) completed the Physiotherapists and Sport Psychology Questionnaire (PSPQ) at the beginning of this study and a checklist based on the PSPQ at the end of the sessions with patients ( N = 306). Patients also completed the checklist at the end of the sessions. Across 12 psychological techniques, the physical therapists’ retrospective (PSPQ) responses showed relatively weak correspondence (mean r = 0.31) and poor concordance with their concurrent (checklist) responses. Compared to the physical therapists’ checklist responses, the patients’ checklist responses showed weaker correspondence (mean r = 0.03) and better concordance with the physical therapists’ PSPQ responses. The findings suggest that retrospective self-reports may not accurately reflect the use of psychological techniques by physical therapists and, consequently, that physical therapists should consider documenting their use of psychological techniques as close to their implementation as possible. Suggestions for improved assessment are provided.

Keywords: measurement; physical therapy; PSPQ; orthopedic; psychology; rehabilitation; validity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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