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Physiotherapy Undergraduates' Expectations of Online Courses: A Qualitative Study

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Title: Physiotherapy Undergraduates' Expectations of Online Courses: A Qualitative Study
Language: English
Authors: Harikrishnan Ranganathan (ORCID 0000-0002-7743-4590), Saravana Kumar (ORCID 0000-0002-4003-4411), Shobha Sharma (ORCID 0000-0002-3396-7053), Chua Siew Kuan (ORCID 0000-0002-5414-470X), Nabilah Binti Ahmad (ORCID 0000-0003-3377-9711), Kamalambal Harikrishnan (ORCID 0000-0003-0152-4378), Devinder Kaur Ajit Singh (ORCID 0000-0002-6551-0437)
Source: Journal of Learning for Development. 2025 12(3):573-598.
Availability: Commonwealth of Learning. 4710 Kingsway Suite 2500, Burnaby, BC V5H 4M2 Canada. Tel: 604-775-8200; Fax: 604-775-8210; e-mail: jl4d@col.org; Web site: http://www.col.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 26
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Physical Therapy, Online Courses, Undergraduate Students, Allied Health Occupations Education, Student Attitudes, Expectation, Technology Uses in Education, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: Malaysia
ISSN: 2311-1550
Abstract: Online learning has become an integral part of higher education, but many online courses fail to meet undergraduates' expectations, leading to high attrition rates. In this study, we explored physiotherapy undergraduates' (PTUGs) expectations of online courses. A qualitative study was conducted using purposive sampling among PTUGs from four universities. Five focus group discussions were conducted, involving 34 PTUGs. Thematic content analysis identified main themes, including motivation to complete the course, pre-course training, content delivery methods, the role of course facilitators, course communication, and evaluation strategies. PTUGs' expectations for practical topics, varied in terms of course content and delivery. They preferred online courses with multiple components tailored to their needs. The use of videos for content delivery and conventional methods for skill evaluation were the most preferred approaches. The findings of this study could inform the design and development of future online courses in physiotherapy.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1489578
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Physiotherapy Undergraduates' Expectations of Online Courses: A Qualitative Study
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Harikrishnan+Ranganathan%22">Harikrishnan Ranganathan</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7743-4590">0000-0002-7743-4590</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Saravana+Kumar%22">Saravana Kumar</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4003-4411">0000-0002-4003-4411</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shobha+Sharma%22">Shobha Sharma</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3396-7053">0000-0002-3396-7053</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chua+Siew+Kuan%22">Chua Siew Kuan</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5414-470X">0000-0002-5414-470X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nabilah+Binti+Ahmad%22">Nabilah Binti Ahmad</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3377-9711">0000-0003-3377-9711</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kamalambal+Harikrishnan%22">Kamalambal Harikrishnan</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0152-4378">0000-0003-0152-4378</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Devinder+Kaur+Ajit+Singh%22">Devinder Kaur Ajit Singh</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6551-0437">0000-0002-6551-0437</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Learning+for+Development%22"><i>Journal of Learning for Development</i></searchLink>. 2025 12(3):573-598.
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  Data: Commonwealth of Learning. 4710 Kingsway Suite 2500, Burnaby, BC V5H 4M2 Canada. Tel: 604-775-8200; Fax: 604-775-8210; e-mail: jl4d@col.org; Web site: http://www.col.org
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  Data: 26
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physical+Therapy%22">Physical Therapy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Online+Courses%22">Online Courses</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Allied+Health+Occupations+Education%22">Allied Health Occupations Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Expectation%22">Expectation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Technology+Uses+in+Education%22">Technology Uses in Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Malaysia%22">Malaysia</searchLink>
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  Data: 2311-1550
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  Data: Online learning has become an integral part of higher education, but many online courses fail to meet undergraduates' expectations, leading to high attrition rates. In this study, we explored physiotherapy undergraduates' (PTUGs) expectations of online courses. A qualitative study was conducted using purposive sampling among PTUGs from four universities. Five focus group discussions were conducted, involving 34 PTUGs. Thematic content analysis identified main themes, including motivation to complete the course, pre-course training, content delivery methods, the role of course facilitators, course communication, and evaluation strategies. PTUGs' expectations for practical topics, varied in terms of course content and delivery. They preferred online courses with multiple components tailored to their needs. The use of videos for content delivery and conventional methods for skill evaluation were the most preferred approaches. The findings of this study could inform the design and development of future online courses in physiotherapy.
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: EJ1489578
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 26
        StartPage: 573
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Physical Therapy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Online Courses
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      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
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      – SubjectFull: Allied Health Occupations Education
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      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Malaysia
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