Values and Challenges of MS Specialist Certification

Background: Specialty certification recognizes individuals with advanced knowledge and skills designed to promote quality patient care, encourage continued personal and professional growth in caring for patients, and enhance the health care institution’s recognition for exceptional service.

Objectives: Study purposes were: 1) determine perceived value and perceived challenges and/or barriers to specialist certification among MS certified specialists (MSCSs) who are a) currently MS certified and b) those who’s MS certification lapsed; and 2) determine if differences existed between currently certified MSCSs and those with lapsed MS certification regarding perceived value and challenges and/or barriers to specialist certification.

Methods: The sample consisted of 66 currently certified MSCSs and 19 MS specialists with lapsed certification. Scales included: 18-item Perceived Value of Certification Tool (PVCT), 11-item Perceived Challenges and Barriers Scale (PCBS), and Demographic Form. Data analysis included descriptive, correlation, independent t-tests, factor analysis, and alpha reliability procedures.

Results:  The sample consisted of 86.2% females, 90.6% Caucasian, with mean age of 49. MS certification specialty areas included Physical Therapists (41.5%), Occupational Therapists (15.9%); and fewer Physician Assistants, Neurologists, Psychologists and Social Workers. Work facility included Outpatient Center (44.2%), Physician’s Office (15.1%), Hospital (10.3%), and fewer Rehabilitation Centers, Private Practices, Long Term Care Rehabilitation, and Academic Institutions.  Primary service areas included Patient Care (63.2%) and fewer Teaching, Consultation, and Research. Factor analysis of the PVCT yielded four subscales: Personal Value, Employment Value, Practice Standard, and Recognition with alpha reliabilities ranging between .75 and .86 for subscales and .91 for the total scale. Factor analysis of the PCBS yielded three subscales: Practice Irrelevance, No Reward, and Unavailability of preparatory test material with alpha reliabilities ranging between .60 and .86 for subscales and .691 for the total scale. Currently certified MSCSs had significantly higher scores for total PVCT than lapsed MS certification subjects (t = 2.290, p = .025); higher PVCT subscale, Employment Value (t = 2.35, p = .021, and PVCT subscale, Recognition, (t = 3.294, p= .013). No statistically significant differences were observed for total PCBS and its subscales.  Reasons cited for lapsed certification were: retirement, no longer worked with MS patients, inconvenience, costs, no rewards, and no close test site.

Conclusions: Important study findings are the identification of specific valued areas by MSCSs using reliable and valid scales and identification of reasons re-certification of MSCS was not undertaken.