An Innovative Program to Support Internationally Educated Health Professionals and Their Instructors: Role of the...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare professional integration
• Clinical education
• International health workforce

Background:

• Internationally educated health professionals face linguistic and cultural barriers in new clinical settings.
• Bridging programs are crucial for successful practice integration.
• The Clinical Practice Facilitator (CPF) role was established to support these professionals and their instructors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Clinical Practice Facilitator (CPF) role from the perspectives of internationally educated physical therapists and their clinical instructors.
• To identify the benefits and challenges associated with the CPF role in clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative survey was administered to two cohorts (2013, 2015) of internationally educated physical therapists and clinical instructors.
• Participants reported on their interactions with CPFs, focusing on educator and mentor roles, and perceived benefits and challenges.

Main Results:

• High satisfaction was reported with CPF interactions (face-to-face, email).
• CPFs were recognized for facilitating reflection (educator role, >80%) and answering questions/providing feedback (mentor role, >70%).
• Insufficient time for CPF access and addressing learner needs, along with differing views on cultural support, were noted.

Conclusions:

• The CPF role offers valuable support, encouragement, and advice for internationally educated health professionals.
• Further research is needed to explore the divergent views on the CPF's role in navigating cultural differences in clinical practice.