Affiliations: College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN,
USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Aaron Rindflesch, Director of
Clinical Education and Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, College of
Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Siebens 1103, 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905,
USA. Tel.: +1 507 284 4327; Fax: +1 507 284 0656; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: Students' description of factors contributing to a meaningful
clinical experience in entry-level physical therapist professional
education. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify student,
clinical instructor (CI), and environmental characteristics and behaviors that
make for positive clinical experiences as perceived by physical therapy
students. PARTICIPANTS: Nine third-year physical therapist students from
entry-level physial therapist education programs around the United States
participated in this study. METHODS: In this phenomenologic study, participants were interviewed
using open-ended questions designed to facilitate rich description. Interviews
were recorded, transcribed, validated, and analyzed. RESULTS: Themes were identified through collaborative analysis using
constant comparative coding. Students described student, CI, and environmental
factors and behaviors that contribute to a quality clinical experience,
including: the students' demonstration of initiative to prepare for the
clinical experience and preparation after clinic hours; the importance of the
CI's insight, allowing CIs to ascertain how much guidance to give in order to
foster independence in the student; and the clinical environment's ability to
welcome a student and provide the student with novel learning experiences. CONCLUSION: The student descriptions, including positive and
negative examples shared by the interviewees, demonstrate essential
characteristics that contribute to a positive clinical experience. Many of the
factors identified by students can be influenced by student and CI training and
preparation prior to the clinical experience.
