Application of Multi-Attribute Utility Analysis to Values-Based Prioritization of Academic-Clinical Partnerships in Physical Therapist Education

Abstract

Strong partnerships between academic health professions programs and clinical healthcare practice settings, termed academic-clinical partnerships, are essential in providing quality full-time clinical training experiences to health professions learners. However, the precise conditions and factors that promote strong academic-clinical partnerships are unknown. There is a need to investigate the application of systematic, scholarly methods to the problem of understanding and weighting clinical education program values and priorities regarding academic-clinical partnerships. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which one or more existing, evidence-based evaluative frameworks may be used to identify and quantify prioritized stakeholder values in order to render judgment in the evaluation of academic-clinical partnerships. Multi-Attribute Utility Analysis (MAUA) was identified as a decision-making framework that facilitates comparative analysis of multiple alternatives with unique complex attributes, offering a methodological process for identification and quantification of relevant options. In this study, Directors and Co-Directors of Clinical Education (DCEs) in U.S. accredited academic Doctor of Physical Therapist programs were invited to complete a survey regarding perceptions of academic-clinical partnership attribute priorities and relative importance weights in the context of their institution. Analysis of survey results offered insights into partnership preferences, differences between long-term vs. newer DCEs, and a disconnect between philosophical vs. practical priorities. A simulated application of this proposed framework was performed for two example academic programs and three example clinical partners. Findings demonstrated objective differentiation between partnerships dependent upon academic program priorities. Results indicate that MAUA served as an effective methodology to address gaps in partnership evaluation. Overall, the products of the study analysis and applied simulation offer a methodology and flexible framework that may be utilized by academic clinical education faculty to perform a values-based partnership evaluation and make decisions within the context of their institution.