title: Effectiveness of clinical supervision of physiotherapists: a survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Limited literature exists on the practice of clinical supervision (CS) of professional physiotherapists despite current Australian safety and quality health standards stating that CS is to be provided to all physiotherapists. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of CS of physiotherapists working in an Australian public health service.
  
  
  METHODS
  CS was measured using the allied health-specific 26-item modified Manchester Clinical Supervision Scale (MCSS-26). Subscales of the MCSS-26 were summed for three domain scores (normative, restorative and formative) and a total score was calculated, which was compared with the reported threshold score of 73 for effective supervision. Sixty registered physiotherapists (response rate 92%), working for a large metropolitan public health service, with six different site locations, completed the survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (± s.d.) total MCSS-26 score was 71.0 ± 14.3 (95% confidence interval (CI) 67.4-74.6). Hospital site was the only variable that had a significant effect on total MCSS-26 score (P=0.005); there was no effect for supervisor or supervisee experience, or hospital setting (acute vs subacute). Physiotherapists scored a significantly lower mean percentage MCSS-26 score on the normative domain compared with the restorative domain (mean difference 7.8%; 95% CI 2.9-12.7; P=0.002) and the formative domain (mean difference 9.6%; 95% CI 6.3-13.0; P<0.001). Of the two subscales that form the normative domain, 'finding time' had a significantly lower mean percentage MCSS-26 score than 'importance/value of CS' (mean difference 35.4%; 95% CI 31.3-39.4; P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within this publicly funded physiotherapy department there was uncertainty about the effectiveness of CS, with more than half the physiotherapists rating their supervision as less than effective, suggesting there is opportunity for improvement in the practice of physiotherapy CS. Physiotherapists scored lowest in the normative domain, indicating that they found it difficult to find time for CS.
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy, The Peter James Centre, Eastern Health, Corner of Mahoneys Road and Burwood Highway, Burwood East, Vic. 3151, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Snowdon
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy, The Peter James Centre, Eastern Health, Corner of Mahoneys Road and Burwood Highway, Burwood East, Vic. 3151, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Millard
authors.affiliation: Allied Health Clinical Research Office, Eastern Health, La Trobe University, Level 2/5 Arnold Street, Box Hill, Vic. 3128, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: Nicholas F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010557:Personnel Administration, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D059825:Physical Therapists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult