Skill acquisition during fieldwork placements in occupational therapy

Area of Science:

• Occupational Therapy Education
• Clinical Competence Assessment
• Healthcare Workforce Studies

Background:

• A critical shortage of occupational therapy fieldwork placements necessitates evaluating current training requirements.
• The existing 1200-hour fieldwork standard is questioned regarding its effectiveness in developing entry-level clinical competence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the optimal number of fieldwork hours required for occupational therapy students to achieve clinical competence.
• To analyze the acquisition of specific occupational therapy skills and techniques during fieldwork placements.

Main Methods:

• Student performance data from the Performance Evaluation of Occupational Therapy Students (PEOT S) over four years were analyzed.
• Statistical analyses were used to evaluate skill acquisition, differentiate core from specialty items, and assess the 1200-hour benchmark.
• Competence was benchmarked against the CAOT Occupational Profile for new graduates.

Main Results:

• Students acquired many occupational therapy skills, but demonstrated competence primarily in core skills experienced frequently across placements.
• Skill acquisition varied, with competence often limited to frequently encountered techniques rather than comprehensive mastery.
• The study suggests that 1200 hours may not be universally optimal for demonstrating broad clinical competence.

Conclusions:

• Entry-level occupational therapy practice expectations may need re-evaluation by the profession.
• Fieldwork hour requirements should potentially be reconsidered to better align with demonstrated competence in core skills.
• The findings highlight the importance of the quality and type of fieldwork experiences over sheer duration.