Date
7-22-2025
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Leadership (PhD)
Chair
Brian S. Pinzer
Keywords
Biblical, Christian, servant, leadership, physical therapy, breast cancer
Disciplines
Leadership Studies | Rehabilitation and Therapy
Recommended Citation
Carter, Cleve III, "Biblical Servant Leadership and Physical Therapists' Clinical Decision Making for Breast Cancer Patients after Breast Cancer Surgery: A Correlational Study" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7218.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7218
Abstract
The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to determine whether a relationship exists between physical therapists’ (PTs’) perceptions of their manager’s or director’s application of BSL and the clinical decision-making of the PT when treating patients of varying socioeconomic status (SES) and race after breast cancer surgery (e.g., mastectomy, lumpectomy) in the United States (U.S.). This study utilized case-based vignettes for a patient population seeking skilled physical therapy services after breast cancer surgery within the U.S. healthcare system context. The sample population consisted of PTs from across the U.S. who actively evaluate and treat patients following breast cancer (BC) surgery. Case-based vignettes and follow-up questions from the vignettes were employed to assess PTs’ clinical decision-making, while the Servant Leadership Survey (SLS) was utilized to gauge PTs’ perceptions of their manager’s or director’s application of BSL. BSL and SES did not affect the expected wait time or frequency of treatment. SES was a significant negative predictor of the total duration of treatment, meaning individuals with lower SES had longer treatment durations. BSL was a significant positive predictor of the total duration of treatment, indicating that higher perceptions of BSL were associated with longer treatment times. Race was a marginal predictor of the frequency of treatment, suggesting potential racial differences in treatment frequency. Interaction effects did not significantly explain additional variance in any of the models. These results indicate that while BSL and SES have some impact on treatment duration, they do not strongly predict expected wait times or frequency of treatment. Additionally, race and interactions between SES, race, and BSL did not significantly influence treatment-related outcomes.
