Coping strategies used by occupational therapy students during fieldwork: an exploratory study

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy education
• Graduate student well-being
• Clinical fieldwork

Background:

• Level II fieldwork is a critical component of occupational therapy (OT) education.
• Graduate students face unique stressors during intensive clinical placements.
• Understanding student coping mechanisms is vital for supporting their academic and professional development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the coping strategies employed by OT graduate students during their second Level II fieldwork.
• To examine students' perceptions of the fieldwork experience, including stress levels and impact.
• To identify common challenges and successful adaptation methods in OT fieldwork.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory study involving 24 occupational therapy graduate students.
• Utilized the revised Ways of Coping Checklist (WCCL) to assess coping strategies.
• Administered a custom questionnaire to gather perceptions of the fieldwork experience.

Main Results:

• Students predominantly used Problem-Focused and Seeks Social Support coping strategies.
• Blamed Self, Wishful Thinking, and Avoidance strategies were utilized less frequently.
• The majority perceived fieldwork as important, controllable, and stressful, but not disruptive.

Conclusions:

• OT graduate students favor proactive and supportive coping mechanisms during fieldwork.
• Fieldwork is perceived as a significant, albeit manageable, stressor.
• Findings inform educators and supervisors on supporting student adaptation in clinical settings.