Developing a capability assessment tool for physiotherapists managing patients with blunt chest trauma

The aim was to develop a capability assessment tool (CAT) for physiotherapists managing patients with blunt chest trauma. A nominal group technique incorporating a cross-sectional survey was used. A panel of 10 international physiotherapist experts developed and tested the content validity of the domains and items to be included in the tool. For each item, an item-level content validity index (I-CVI) was calculated based on the panel members’ rating. Panel members rated each item for relevance to physiotherapy management of patients with blunt chest trauma. The final proposed CAT comprised 11 key capabilities, each with a subset of descriptors. Key capabilities included; 1) core aspects of care, 2) pre-hospital setting, 3) respiratory assessment, 4) recognition of patient progression and deterioration, 5) respiratory interventions 6) functional/musculoskeletal assessment, 7) functional/musculoskeletal interventions, 8) evaluation of interventions, 9) adjunctive analgesia management, 10) discharge home from hospital, and 11) community rehabilitation. The tool had a scale-level content validity index of 0.80. This study developed a comprehensive CAT for physiotherapists managing blunt chest trauma. The tool encompasses the entire recovery process, from pre-hospital to community settings following discharge from the hospital, and is applicable to all specialties. Recovery from blunt chest trauma is a complex process, in which therapists are considered to have an important role as part of a wider inter-professional team.Capability assessment tools are a method used to standardise practice delivered to a patient group.This new capability assessment tool for therapists managing blunt chest trauma encompasses the entire recovery process, from pre-hospital to community settings following discharge from the hospital. Recovery from blunt chest trauma is a complex process, in which therapists are considered to have an important role as part of a wider inter-professional team. Capability assessment tools are a method used to standardise practice delivered to a patient group. This new capability assessment tool for therapists managing blunt chest trauma encompasses the entire recovery process, from pre-hospital to community settings following discharge from the hospital.