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Research Topic
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Research Topic - September 24, 2000 10:57:00 AM
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jma
Posts: 2415
Joined: August 24, 2000
From: NY
Status: online
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Hello, its time to choose a research topic for my Master's thesis. I wanted to look into the dominance of foreign physical therapists in a clinical setting. I got wind of this idea when I talked to a lot of my fellow classmates about their affiliations and they noticed a lot of PT's from other countries working in clinical settings. This got me wondering if this is a possible reason why there is not such a strong demand for PT's who graduate from the U.S from the same facilities. It is a rough topic and I'm sure it can be narrowed down. My problem is that when I tried looking up articles about it, there isn't much if any literature on it. How can I persue this idea if I cannot get enough information for the literature review. Your comments will be greatly appreciated and received.
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Re: Research Topic - September 24, 2000 12:07:00 PM
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Andrew M. Ball, MS, PT
Posts: 500
Joined: October 8, 1999
From: Chapel Hill, NC, USA
Status: offline
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JMA,
Your topic is a good one for a marketing research study (survey design), or for a qualitative research study. But you've got a lot of work to do. I've got a few suggestions though:
First of all, you will want to make your research question a bit tighter than simply "foreign-trained physical therapists". As it stands now, your topic is way too broad. Narrow it down to issues of cultural competence, professional skill, passage of the licensing exam, hiring patterns among administrators of PT services etc. Try writing it in the form of a question. What is your hypothesis? What are you going to try to prove or disprove?
As far as the research base is concerned, I had a similar problem when completing my MBA thesis. I examined the marketability of physical therapists with post-professional degrees earned through distance education. There were no articles on this subject, so I expanded my literature search to include competence of PT students trained through distance education, distance education issues in OTHER health professions (e.g. marketability and competence), and distance education with respect to education and curriculum design. There was MORE THAN enough general information for my literature review . . . and the paucity of specific information justified my research quite nicely.
You're not in a difficult position, you're in a prime one. Your problem is that you searched the literature with too narrow a focus, loosen up.
Instead of using the search string
"foreign trained physical therapist"
Use the search term:
"foreign trained"
at the MEDLINE portal at [URL=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=&DB=PubMed]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=&DB=PubMed[/URL]
Be sure to include the quotes, and you will generate 53 hits. Most will be applicable for general information, and you'll get some ideas on how to make your hypothesis a little tighter. Hell, you may just want to take one of the studies, correct for any errors in the study, or modify a foreign article for use in the United States, and simply do a repeat study. In the meantime, here's a few articles that I think will give you a good starting point in narrowing down your hypothesis:
Zwanger L. Foreign-trained Jewish nurses in Palestine and Israel 1900-1965.
Pflege. 2000 Apr;13(2):115-9.
Mick SS, Lee SY, Wodchis WP. Variations in geographical distribution of foreign and domestically trained physicians in the United States: 'safety nets' or 'surplus exacerbation'? Soc Sci Med. 2000 Jan;50(2):185-202.
Majumdar B, Keystone JS, Cuttress LA. Cultural sensitivity training among foreign medical graduates. Med Educ. 1999 Mar;33(3):177-84.
No Author Listed. Foreign-trained PTs flunking US exam. Rehab Manag 1998 Aug-Sep;11(5):14
Brooks TR. How patients stress, con, and intimidate physicians to file dubious disability reports. J Natl Med Assoc. 1996 May;88(5):300-4. (This one is kinda neat, it suggests that foreign trained clinicians are more ethical).
Fox T. Department of Labor looks at foreign-trained nurses. Fla Nurse 1993 Feb;41(2):3, 19.
Brooks TR. Pitfalls in communication with Hispanic and African-American patients: do translators help or harm? J Natl Med Assoc. 1992 Nov;84(11):941-7. (Does this justify the immigration of Latin American trained therapists . . . maybe).
Barnett JR. Foreign medical graduates in New Zealand 1973-79: a test of the 'exacerbation hypothesis'. Soc Sci Med. 1988;26(10):1049-60.
Baker SR, Broe DM, Kumar V. Characteristics of the distribution of emigrant Indian radiologists, pathologists and anesthesiologists in the United States.
Soc Sci Med. 1984;19(8):885-91.
Politzer RM, Morrow JS, Sudia RK. Foreign-trained physicians in American medicine: a case study. Med Care. 1978 Aug;16(8):611-27.
You will also want to include discussion on the recent bill to be discussed in US Congress regarding immigration of foreign trained therapists. If the bill, as amended, passes . . . foreign trained PT's will have to hold a master's degree to practice in the US. Few, if any, foreign programs train PT's at this level
Good luck with your Master's research, and please let us know how you progress.
Respectfully,
Andrew M. Ball, MS, MBA, PT
[This message has been edited by Andrew M. Ball, MS, PT (edited September 24, 2000).]
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Re: Research Topic - September 24, 2000 4:43:00 PM
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jma
Posts: 2415
Joined: August 24, 2000
From: NY
Status: online
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Thank you Andrew for your informative reply. Since I am a novice at this, I knew I would generate a response from someone. You are absolutely correct in the search patterns that I should look into. I never considered them before but now I will definately look into this topic with a new resolve and perspective. If all goes well, I will keep you informed of my progress. Once again, thank you for your invaluable advice.
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