Student and Preceptor Experiences at an Inter-Professional Student-Run Clinic: A Physical Therapy Perspective

Student-run clinics (SRCs) provide a unique opportunity for inter-professional education; they prepare health care students for a collaborative future by enabling them to interact with other such students in a clinical setting focused on inter-professional learning and collaboration. Physical therapy (PT) students are increasingly being included in SRCs; however, most research on student experiences in SRCs has been carried out with medical students. This qualitative study explores the perceived benefits of the PT experience in an SRC through the lens of PT students and their preceptors. A qualitative interpretive-descriptive approach consisting of face-to-face, semi-structured interviews was used. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using a constant comparative approach. Seven PT students and eight preceptors who volunteered at the SRC between September 2013 and May 2015 participated in the study. Three themes emerged from the interviews: (1) exposure to marginalized patient populations, (2) learning through inter-professional interactions, and (3) experience with different patient care approaches. Participating in an SRC enhances PT students' understanding of their and other health care professionals' roles. Students gained an appreciation for the social determinants of health and improved their knowledge of inter-professional collaboration. The knowledge gained from this study has the potential to inform PT professional development, SRCs, and PT education.