Developing consensus on competency-based educational standards in orthopaedic manual physical therapy fellowship training: findings from a modified Delphi: part 3: communication and education

Authors

• Megan Donaldson, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
• Ngozi Akotaobi, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
• Jake Awruch, Physical Therapy Program, Augustana University, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
• Jennifer Bent, Department of Rehabilitation, Duke University Health System, Durham, NC, USA.
• Derek Clewley, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Doctor of Physical Therapy Division, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
• Kyle Covington, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Doctor of Physical Therapy Division, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
• Chad E. Cook, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Doctor of Physical Therapy Division, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
• Nathan Hutting, Department of Occupation and Health, School of Organization and Development, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
• William H. Kolb, Department of Physical Therapy, Waldron College of Health Professions, Radford University, Roanoke, VA, USA.
• Kenneth Learman, Department of Graduate Studies in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH, USA.
• Paul Mintken, Physical Therapy Program, Graduate College of Health Sciences, Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, HI, USA.
• Mark Shepherd, Department of Physical Therapy, Bellin College, Green Bay, WI, USA.
• Brett Windsor, North American Institute of Orthopedic Manual Therapy, Eugene, OR, USA.
• Damian Keter, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-31-2026

Publication Title

The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To achieve international consensus on communication and education competencies and associated graduation milestones for Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (OMPT) fellowship training. METHODS: A modified three-round Delphi process was conducted. This study was part of a larger project aimed at reaching consensus on competencies and graduation milestones across seven domains of expertise. A panel of content experts developed and approved proposed competencies in Round I. Rounds II and III involved stakeholders, identified as members of IFOMPT member organizations, who selected domains to rank and voted using a four-point Likert scale. Consensus was established beforehand at 80% agreement. RESULTS: Experts identified four competencies and 18 milestones for communication, and four competencies with nine milestones for education. In subsequent rounds, 124 participants from 12 countries evaluated communication competencies, and 135 participants from 15 countries evaluated education competencies. All competencies achieved consensus. Strong support was observed for person-centered communication, cultural humility, feedback and reflection, clinical teaching, and learner assessment. No significant differences were found between the ratings of Rounds II and III. CONCLUSION: This study provides the first internationally agreed-upon framework for communication and education competencies in OMPT fellowship training. These findings offer a foundation for curriculum design, assessment, and global standardization. Future research should validate assessment tools and expand consensus to additional domains.

First Page

1

Last Page

10

PubMed ID

41915912

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Comments

Featured in Faculty Publications Display; May 2026

Rights

© 2026 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Recommended Citation

Donaldson, Megan; Akotaobi, Ngozi; Awruch, Jake; Bent, Jennifer; Clewley, Derek; Covington, Kyle; Cook, Chad E.; Hutting, Nathan; Kolb, William H.; Learman, Kenneth; Mintken, Paul; Shepherd, Mark; Windsor, Brett; and Keter, Damian, "Developing consensus on competency-based educational standards in orthopaedic manual physical therapy fellowship training: findings from a modified Delphi: part 3: communication and education" (2026). School of Allied Health Professions Faculty Publications. 82.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/soah_facpubs/82
10.1080/10669817.2026.2650505