Student placements--is there evidence supporting team skill development in clinical practice settings?

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Physiotherapy
• Interprofessional Collaboration

Background:

• The clinical setting is proposed as a prime environment for developing collaborative practice skills.
• Interprofessional learning opportunities are integral to physiotherapy clinical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate physiotherapy students' perceptions of interprofessional learning.
• To identify factors facilitating or inhibiting collaborative skills development in clinical placements.

Main Methods:

• Survey of 43 physiotherapy students prior to graduation (1997).
• Exploration of student experiences with interprofessional learning opportunities and outcomes.
• Elicitation of student views on facilitators and inhibitors of learning.

Main Results:

• Interprofessional learning opportunities were present across clinical settings, with acute care showing a more positive view of collaborative practice.
• Case conferences, team meetings, ward rounds, and discharge planning were identified as key interprofessional learning activities.
• Innovative teaching methods by clinical educators and their educational orientation were highlighted as crucial for developing team skills.

Conclusions:

• Clinical placements are valuable for interprofessional skills development.
• Clinical educators' expertise significantly impacts students' collaborative practice skills.
• Strategies used by current therapists can inform future interprofessional clinical education.