Shawn Leng-Hsien Soh
– Researcher – Lecturer – Physiotherapist – Knowledge and Skills Enactivist –
ABOUT
Shawn delves into the realm of his professional practice. He takes on a pragmatic approach to solving problems. In the pursuit of practice betterment, the high echelon of inquiries includes: “What philosophical approaches surround the care of persons beyond traditional reductionism?”; “How do we advance our clinical reasoning approaches”; “Are we sufficiently understanding human agency in the care management of persons in the context of physiotherapy”. Most importantly, are we adequately focused on person-centredness?
For research impact, he explores several issues: (1) the application of clinical-related measurement instruments and the construct of interest studied, such as falls efficacy and balance recovery confidence, and (2) the impact of perceived and actual performance, such as the ability to recover balance in response to different perturbations. On teaching and learning impact, he deliberates about the adequacy of academic-related measurement instruments and embraces ways to improve students’ learning.
Career
Clinical practice:
Restructured hospitals, private clinics, home care services, nursing home
Administrative practice:
Operation management, turnkey projects, clinic management
Education practice:
Physiotherapy education, advanced clinical skills training, professional practice training, continual professional development programs
Interest
Musculoskeletal rehabilitation
Community rehabilitation
Falls efficacy and fear of falling
Rehabilitation technology
Measurement instruments and measurement properties
Healthcare profession education
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), 2022
Queen Margaret University, UK
Doctoral Certificate in Researcher Enhancement and Development, 2021
Queen Margaret University, UK
Master of Physiotherapy (Manipulative Physiotherapy)
University of Queensland, Australia
Bachelor of Health Sciences (Physiotherapy), 2001
University of Sydney, Australia
Diploma in Physiotherapy, 2000
Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore
Featured Publications
Falls efficacy: The self-efficacy concept for falls prevention and management
Falls efficacy has been keenly studied in older people since the introduction of the Falls Efficacy Scale. Given the advances in research on falls efficacy, have we adequately understood this self-efficacy concept and have the most appropriate measure applied for the construct of interest?
This commentary aims to update the understanding of falls efficacy by revisiting Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and then offering a contemporary interpretation. The commentary highlights some selected measures to suggest that appropriate measures should be applied in research surrounding falls efficacy.
Falls efficacy instruments for community-dwelling older adults: a COSMIN-based systematic review
Background: Falls efficacy is a widely-studied latent construct in community-dwelling older adults. Various self-reported instruments have been used to measure falls efficacy. In order to be informed of the choice of the best measurement instrument for a specific purpose, empirical evidence of the development and measurement properties of falls efficacy-related instruments is needed. Methods: The Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist was used to summarise evidence on the development, content validity, and structural validity of instruments measuring falls efficacy in community-dwelling older adults. Databases including MEDLINE, Web of Science, PsychINFO, SCOPUS, CINAHL were searched (May 2019). Records on the development of instruments and studies assessing content validity or structural validity of falls efficacy-related scales were included. COSMIN methodology was used to guide the review of eligible studies and in the assessment of their methodological quality. Evidence of content validity: relevance, comprehensiveness, and comprehensibility and unidimensionality for structural validity were synthesised. A modified GRADE approach was applied to evidence synthesis. Results: Thirty-five studies, of which 18 instruments had been identified, were included in the review. High-quality evidence showed that the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale (FES)-13 items (MFES-13) has sufficient relevance, yet insufficient comprehensiveness for measuring falls efficacy. Moderate quality evidence supported that the FES-10 has sufficient relevance and MFES-14 has sufficient comprehensibility. Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale–Simplified (ABC-15) has sufficient relevance in measuring balance confidence supported by moderate-quality evidence. Low to very low-quality evidence underpinned the content validity of other instruments. High-quality evidence supported sufficient unidimensionality for eight instruments (FES-10, MFES-14, ABC-6, ABC-15, ABC-16, Iconographical FES (Icon-FES), FES–International (FES-I) and Perceived Ability to Prevent and Manage Fall Risks (PAPMFR)). Conclusion: Content validity of instruments to measure falls efficacy is understudied. Structural validity is sufficient for a number of widely used instruments. Measuring balance confidence is a subset of falls efficacy. Further work is needed to investigate a broader construct for falls efficacy.
Shawn Leng-Hsien Soh, Judith Lane, Tianma Xu, Nigel Gleeson & Chee Wee Tan
In BMC Geriatrics, 2021
Falls efficacy: Extending the understanding of self-efficacy in older adults towards managing falls
Background: Falls efficacy is a widely studied construct. The understanding of falls efficacy has evolved over time. Falls efficacy was initially perceived to be suitably used as a measure of fear of falling. However, further research suggested that falls efficacy and fear of falling are distinct constructs and, therefore, would be inappropriate to be used as a proxy. Instead, some researchers posited that falls efficacy is synonymous with balance confidence. Falls efficacy has been conventionally understood as the perceived ability of individuals to perform activities without losing balance or falling. A recently conducted systematic review by the authors on existing falls efficacy-related measures revealed a fresh perspective of recognising falls efficacy as a perceived ability to manage the threat of a fall. Falls efficacy, with a broadened interpreted construct, relates to the individual’s perceived self-efficacy of performing necessary actions needed in different scenarios, including pre-fall, near-fall, fall-landing and completed fall. The conventional interpretation of falls efficacy needs a rethinking of perspective. An extended understanding of falls efficacy would provide an integral approach towards improving the agency of individuals to deal with falls and would enhance person-centred care.
Shawn Leng-Hsien Soh, Chee-Wee Tan, Janet I. Thomas, Gideon Tan, Tianma Xu, Yoke Leng Ng, Judith Lane
In Journal of Frailty, Sarcopenia, and Falls, 2021
Can physiotherapy standardised patient program be a comparable substitute for the traditional clinical education model in the preparatory phase of clinical training?
The traditional model of clinical placements places over-reliance on clinical institutions’ supervisors to facilitate learning opportunities. This model may not be effective in the preparatory phase of clinical training due to students’ limited competencies and the necessity for consistent feedback. The opportunistic clinical learning environment, dictated by the availability of caseloads, often results in students having little practice opportunities. The need to ensure the quality of clinical learning yet reduce clinical load led to the development of the NYP Physiotherapy Standardised Patient Program (PSPP). PSPP is a simulated clinical training program, using standardised patients to facilitate the training of our physiotherapy students. The program was identified as a comparable substitute in the early phase of clinical training. It can reduce up to 80 clinical hours per student, without compromising their clinical competency and performance. The use of standardised patient in healthcare training is effective in developing the skillsets needed for successful clinical practice and has been extended to interprofessional education.
Audrey Ei-Ping Lim and Shawn Leng-Hsien Soh
In Transactions of ISATE, 2017
Recent Publications
Falls efficacy: The self-efficacy concept for falls prevention and management.
Soh, Shawn Leng-Hsien. In Frontiers in Psychology 2022. Link to article
Measures of falls efficacy, balance confidence, or balance recovery confidence for perturbation-based balance training
Soh, Shawn Leng-Hsien. In Frontiers in Sports and Active Living 2022. Link to article
The Balance Recovery Confidence Scale
Soh, Shawn Leng-Hsien, Tan, Chee-Wee, Xu, Tim, Yeh, Ting-Ting, Abdul Rahman, Fahria, Soon, Benjamin, Gleeson, Nigel, & Lane, Judith In Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 2022. Link to article
Interventions and measurement instruments used for falls efficacy in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review
Soh, Shawn Leng-Hsien, Lane, Judith, Lim, Ashleigh Yoke Hwee, Mujtaba, Mariana Shariq, & Tan, Chee-Wee In Journal of Frailty, Sarcopenia, and Falls 2022. Link to article.
Falls efficacy: Extending the understanding of self-efficacy in older adults towards managing falls
Soh, Shawn Leng-Hsien; Tan, Chee-Wee; Thomas, Janet I.; Tan, Gideon; Xu, Tianma; Ng, Yoke Leng; Lane, Judith. In Journal of Frailty, Sarcopenia, and Falls 2021. Link to article.
Validation of a new patient-reported outcome measure of balance recovery confidence (BRC) for community-dwelling older adults: A study protocol
Soh, Shawn Leng-Hsien; Lane, Judith; Gleeson, Nigel; Xu, Tianma; Bte Abdul Rahman, Fahria; Yeh, Ting-Ting; Soon, Benjamin; Tan, Chee-Wee. In Physical Therapy Reviews, 2021. Link to article.
Constructing a measure of balance recovery confidence for older persons: Content themes from different stakeholders
Soh, Shawn Leng-Hsien; Gilmour, Fiona; Lane, Judith; Asokan, Shalini; Ling Woan, Kang; Tan, Chee-Wee. In International Practice Development Journal. Link to article.
Near-falls in Singapore community-dwelling older adults: A feasibility study
Soh, Shawn Leng-Hsien; Tan, Chee-Wee; Lane, Judith; Yeh, Ting-Ting; Soon, Benjamin. In Pilot and Feasibility Studies. Link to article.
Falls efficacy instruments for community-dwelling older adults: A COSMIN-based systematic review.
Soh, Shawn Leng-Hsien; Lane, Judith; Xu, Tianma; Gleeson, Nigel; Tan, Chee-Wee. In BMC Geriatrics. 2021. Link to article.
Researcher as instrument: A critical reflection using nominal group technique for content development of a new patient-reported outcome measure.
Soh, Shawn Leng-Hsien; Lane, Judith; Tan, Chee-Wee. In International Practice Development Journal, 2020. Link to article.
Reflecting the Journey
In Scotland, UK
The diversity of cultures, experiences and study domains have provided enrichment in our discussions. Insights on ontology and epistemology, research methodology and methods, researcher reflexivity, critical reflections are just some of our favourite daily conversations over many cups of coffee.
In Manchester, UK 
The enactive approach. An appointment was arranged to have a fruitful discussion with the falls expert, Professor Chris Todd at the University of Manchester.
In Geneva, Switzerland
Attending the World Physiotherapy Congress in Switzerland. Always important to stay updated with the current professional landscape.
In Driebergen, Netherland 
The best way to learn is to ask questions to the experts. Learning clinimetrics from Professor Riekie de Vet, Dr. Wieneke Mokkink, Dr. Caroline Terwee and Dr. Alessandro Chiarotto.
In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Sharing my work at the 1st World Congress on Falls and Postural Stability. The systematic review evaluated the methodological quality of studies on the content development and validation as well as structural validity of falls efficacy-related measurement instruments
In Jiangsu, China 
An opportunity to lead the program, “TF-Jiangsu Nursing and Healthcare Training Programme (Rehabilitation Therapist Course)”. A visit to the different rehabilitation centres to appreciate the rapid progress of China’s healthcare system.
In Bangkok, Thailand
Listening to the work of Professor Shirley Sahrmann with a group of final year physiotherapy students.
In Singapore 
Playing a small role towards building healthcare capability and capacity. Basking in the joy of a group of physiotherapy students celebrating their research journey.
Projects
- Measurement properties of the Balance Recovery Confidence Scale
- Conceptual understanding of falls efficacy
- Perceived and actual self-efficacy of balance recovery control in community-dwelling older adults and various clinical population
- Systematic reviews on related topics such as fall efficacy, falls-related measurement instruments and interventions
- The use of standardised patients and standardised examiners in students’ learning
- The measurement instruments for student’s theoretical and practical skills learning
Contact
shawn.soh@singaporetech.edu.sg
@Shawnsohpt
Singapore Institute of Technology, 10 Dover Dr, Singapore 138683