Health EducationNCT06945367
Active Learning and EBP Competency in Undergraduate Physiotherapy
A study testing Active Learning-Based Research Methods Course in people with Health Education, run by Universidad Nacional de la Matanza at 1 site in Argentina.
Trial summary
This study aims to evaluate the effect of an active learning-based educational intervention on competencies related to evidence-based practice (EBP) in undergraduate physiotherapy students. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Health Education
- What is being tested?
- Active Learning-Based Research Methods Course
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 38 participants
- Where
- 1 siteArgentina
- Study dates
- 31 Mar 2025to 31 Jul 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Undergraduate students enrolled in the Research Methods course at the Universidad Nacional de La Matanza during the March-July 2024 term.
- Provided written informed consent.
- Attended at least 80% of course sessions.
Who cannot join
- Students who withdrew from the course before completion of the follow-up period.
- Incomplete or missing baseline or final evaluation data.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Argentina1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Universidad Nacional de la Matanza
San Justo, Buenos Aires, B1754
Mauro F Andreu, PhD, 1168788298, mandreu@unlam.edu.ar
Tatiana Dias de Carvalho, PhD, tdiascarvalho@unlam.edu.ar
About this study
Official title: Impact of Active Learning on Beliefs, Attitudes, Perceived Skills, and Application of Evidence-Based Practice in Undergraduate Physiotherapy Students
This study aims to evaluate the effect of an active learning-based educational intervention on competencies related to evidence-based practice (EBP) in undergraduate physiotherapy students. The intervention was embedded within a four-month Research Methods course and focused on small group activities involving literature search, critical appraisal, oral presentations, and formative assessment through rubrics.
The study follows a pre-post quasi-experimental design without a control group. Primary outcomes include students' beliefs, attitudes, perceived skills, and frequency of EBP application, assessed through a custom-developed and validated questionnaire. Secondary outcomes include academic engagement, measured using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale - Student Version (UWES-S), and student satisfaction with the educational approach, measured using the Student Outcomes Survey. Data were collected at baseline, post-intervention, and one week after course completion.
Read the detailed description
This quasi-experimental study without a control group will be conducted at the Universidad Nacional de La Matanza (UNLaM), Argentina, between March and July 2025. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention based on active learning strategies on evidence-based practice (EBP) competencies among physiotherapy students.
The intervention was implemented as part of a four-month Research Methods course and included weekly group-based activities such as literature retrieval, critical appraisal, oral presentations, peer feedback, and structured assessments using rubrics. The course aimed to strengthen students' beliefs, attitudes, perceived skills, and frequency of use related to EBP.
Outcomes were assessed using a custom-developed and validated questionnaire covering four domains and key competencies in EBP. Secondary outcomes included academic engagement, measured with the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale - Student Version (UWES-S), and student satisfaction, assessed through the Student Outcomes Survey. Data collection occurred at baseline, at the end of the course, and one week after completion. The study followed TREND reporting guidelines and was approved by the institutional research ethics committee at UNLaM.
- Conditions
- Health Education
- Being tested
- Active Learning-Based Research Methods Course
- Keywords
- Evidence-Based Practice, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Physical Therapy Specialty, Education, Professional
- Medical subject headings
- Health Education, Behavior
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Active Learning-Based Research Methods CourseBehavioural
Also called AL-EBP
A four-month educational intervention based on active learning strategies, delivered as part of a Research Methods course for fourth-year undergraduate students in physiotherapy. The intervention included weekly group activities focused on literature retrieval, critical appraisal, oral presentations, peer feedback, and structured formative assessments using rubrics. The aim was to improve beliefs, attitudes, perceived skills, and frequency of use of evidence-based practice.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Active Learning Group | Experimental | Participants in this arm are fourth-year undergraduate physiotherapy students enrolled in a Research Methods course. They will receive a four-month educational intervention based on active learning strategies, including weekly group-based activities such as literature search, critical appraisal, structured presentations, peer feedback, and formative assessment using rubrics. The aim was to improve beliefs, attitudes, perceived skills, and frequency of use of evidence-based practice. Receives: Behavioral: Active Learning-Based Research Methods Course |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Beliefs about Evidence-Based Practice
Assessed as part of a custom-developed and validated questionnaire covering four domains and EBP-related competencies. Items were rated on a 5-point Likert scale.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 4-month intervention
Attitudes toward Evidence-Based Practice
Assessed as part of a custom-developed and validated questionnaire covering four domains and seven EBP-related competencies. Items were rated on a 5-point Likert scale
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 4-month intervention.
Perceived Evidence-Based Practice Skills
Assessed as part of a custom-developed and validated questionnaire covering four domains and EBP-related competencies. Items were rated on a 5-point Likert scale.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 4-month intervention.
Frequency of Evidence-Based Practice Application
Assessed as part of a custom-developed and validated questionnaire covering four domains and seven EBP-related competencies. Items were rated on a 5-point Likert scale
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 4-month intervention.
Secondary outcomes (2)
Academic Engagement
Measured using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale - Student Version (UWES-S), a validated 9-item instrument assessing three dimensions: vigor, dedication, and absorption. Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 0 ("never") to 6 ("always")
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the 4-month intervention.
Student Satisfaction with Teaching and Assessment
Measured using the Student Outcomes Survey (Fieger, 2012), which includes 20 closed-ended items rated on a 5-point Likert scale. The scale is organized into three domains: satisfaction with teaching (items 1-6), assessment methods (items 7-11), and learning experience (items 12-19). Item 20 assesses overall satisfaction.
Measured: One week after the completion of the 4-month intervention.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Apr 2025
- Study start31 Mar 2025
- Primary completion31 Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Jul 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Health EducationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Pre-post quasi-experimental design without a control group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 38 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Universidad Nacional de la Matanza
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Mauro Federico Andreu, Universidad Nacional de la Matanza
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06945367
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UNLaM-AL
- Status last verified
- Apr 2025
- First submitted
- 18 Apr 2025
- Last updated
- 25 Apr 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 25 Apr 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Impact of Active Learning on Beliefs, Attitudes, Perceived Skills, and Application of Evidence-Based Practice in Undergraduate Physiotherapy Students
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06945367
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UNLaM-AL
- Conditions
- Health Education
- Keywords
- Evidence-Based Practice, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Physical Therapy Specialty, Education, Professional
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 38 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Universidad Nacional de la MatanzaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 31 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Jul 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 25 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to evaluate the effect of an active learning-based educational intervention on competencies related to evidence-based practice (EBP) in undergraduate physiotherapy students. The intervention was embedded within a four-month Research Methods course and focused on small group activities involving literature search, critical appraisal, oral presentations, and formative assessment through rubrics.
The study follows a pre-post quasi-experimental design without a control group. Primary outcomes include students' beliefs, attitudes, perceived skills, and frequency of EBP application, assessed through a custom-developed and validated questionnaire. Secondary outcomes include academic engagement, measured using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale - Student Version (UWES-S), and student satisfaction with the educational approach, measured using the Student Outcomes Survey. Data were collected at baseline, post-intervention, and one week after course completion.
Detailed description
This quasi-experimental study without a control group will be conducted at the Universidad Nacional de La Matanza (UNLaM), Argentina, between March and July 2025. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention based on active learning strategies on evidence-based practice (EBP) competencies among physiotherapy students.
The intervention was implemented as part of a four-month Research Methods course and included weekly group-based activities such as literature retrieval, critical appraisal, oral presentations, peer feedback, and structured assessments using rubrics. The course aimed to strengthen students' beliefs, attitudes, perceived skills, and frequency of use related to EBP.
Outcomes were assessed using a custom-developed and validated questionnaire covering four domains and key competencies in EBP. Secondary outcomes included academic engagement, measured with the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale - Student Version (UWES-S), and student satisfaction, assessed through the Student Outcomes Survey. Data collection occurred at baseline, at the end of the course, and one week after completion. The study followed TREND reporting guidelines and was approved by the institutional research ethics committee at UNLaM.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Pre-post quasi-experimental design without a control group
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Active Learning Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Active Learning-Based Research Methods CourseParticipants in this arm are fourth-year undergraduate physiotherapy students enrolled in a Research Methods course. They will receive a four-month educational intervention based on active learning strategies, including weekly group-based activities such as literature search, critical appraisal, structured presentations, peer feedback, and formative assessment using rubrics. The aim was to improve beliefs, attitudes, perceived skills, and frequency of use of evidence-based practice. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Undergraduate students enrolled in the Research Methods course at the Universidad Nacional de La Matanza during the March-July 2024 term.
- Provided written informed consent.
- Attended at least 80% of course sessions.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Students who withdrew from the course before completion of the follow-up period.
- Incomplete or missing baseline or final evaluation data.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Active Learning-Based Research Methods CourseAlso: AL-EBPA four-month educational intervention based on active learning strategies, delivered as part of a Research Methods course for fourth-year undergraduate students in physiotherapy. The intervention included weekly group activities focused on literature retrieval, critical appraisal, oral presentations, peer feedback, and structured formative assessments using rubrics. The aim was to improve beliefs, attitudes, perceived skills, and frequency of use of evidence-based practice. | Behavioural | Active Learning Group |
Primary outcome
Beliefs about Evidence-Based Practice
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 4-month intervention
Assessed as part of a custom-developed and validated questionnaire covering four domains and EBP-related competencies. Items were rated on a 5-point Likert scale.
Attitudes toward Evidence-Based Practice
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 4-month intervention.
Assessed as part of a custom-developed and validated questionnaire covering four domains and seven EBP-related competencies. Items were rated on a 5-point Likert scale
Perceived Evidence-Based Practice Skills
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 4-month intervention.
Assessed as part of a custom-developed and validated questionnaire covering four domains and EBP-related competencies. Items were rated on a 5-point Likert scale.
Frequency of Evidence-Based Practice Application
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 4-month intervention.
Assessed as part of a custom-developed and validated questionnaire covering four domains and seven EBP-related competencies. Items were rated on a 5-point Likert scale
2 secondary outcomes
Academic Engagement
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 4-month intervention.
Student Satisfaction with Teaching and Assessment
Time frame: One week after the completion of the 4-month intervention.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 25 Apr 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Active Learning-Based Research Methods Course in people with Health Education, run by Universidad Nacional de la Matanza at 1 site in Argentina.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Apr 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Argentina. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Mauro F Andreu, PhD ((+54) 9 11 6 878 8298, mfandreu@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Beliefs about Evidence-Based Practice (time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 4-month intervention). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 Apr 2025.