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A collaborative student and faculty research project from St. Scholastica鈥檚 doctor of physical therapy program (DPT) has earned national acclaim. The project 鈥淩elationship Among Student Mental Health, Student Self Efficacy and PT Education Attributes鈥� was selected to receive the Physical Therapy Learning Institute鈥檚 2021 Education Influencer Award.

This award is presented to a project that has the potential to positively influence excellence in physical therapy education and aligns with the organization鈥檚 vision and mission.

Physical therapy professor and program chair John Borstad oversaw the project with DPT students Zach Borer, Jacob Carlson, Justin Keller, Anne Spears and Logan Viegut. The national dialogue about student mental health issues inspired Borstad to reflect on an important question, 鈥淚s there anything we are doing in our program that is contributing to the [mental health] problem?鈥� His students were also interested in considering how self-efficacy, or confidence, related to their experiences within the program.

Together, they compiled a list of all of the possible factors within the program that could positively or negatively impact mental health. The students customized an existing measurement tool for depression, anxiety, stress and self-efficacy and used this research to distribute a survey to all 144 students in the PT program. The survey was administered in February 2021 and resulted in 72 responses.

Among the survey鈥檚 main findings: instructor feedback and student anxiety are strongly related, and instructor feedback is also related to student self-efficacy. 鈥淎nxiety is lower in students related to getting feedback, for example, immediate feedback in how they performed on a practical or written exam or from their time in the labs.鈥�

The survey also offered Borstad and his faculty an opportunity to make meaningful adjustments: professors now build in time at the end of a practical exam to give students immediate feedback and they make a concerted effort to return exams within 24 hours and assignments within three days.

鈥淥ne of my next hypotheses is that it doesn鈥檛 really matter whether that feedback is good or bad, positive or negative,鈥� said Borstad. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the lack of knowing where you stand as a student that is anxiety-producing.鈥�

Borstad presented the project at the Education Leadership conference in October of 2021 and received news of the project鈥檚 award in December. Additionally, the program鈥檚 second-year students routinely present at the state association meeting and national meetings.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 been a focus of the program is to give students these types of experiences where they can present their research and have a dialogue with other colleagues,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great growth opportunity for them.鈥�

To learn more about the College鈥檚 doctor of physical therapy program, visit css.edu/dpt.