Evaluating a wayfinding video.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Therapy Education
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Occupational therapy students often experience anxiety and distraction in new clinical settings.
• Effective orientation processes are crucial for student comfort and integration into unfamiliar environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a revised wayfinding video designed to reduce anxiety in first- and second-year occupational therapy students.
• To assess the video's impact on students' pre-placement anxiety and preparedness.

Main Methods:

• A revised 3-minute 40-second wayfinding video was created by final-year students.
• A paper-based descriptive survey was used to evaluate the video, with data analyzed via content analysis.

Main Results:

• 71 students responded (47% response rate), indicating the video addressed key pre-placement anxieties.
• Anxiety-reducing features included facility overviews, peer experiences, and clear expectations.
• The vast majority of students would watch the video if included in their welcome pack.

Conclusions:

• The wayfinding video successfully mitigated student anxieties regarding clinical placements.
• The video is now integrated into broader occupational therapy student orientation materials.
• Collaboration and planning are key to overcoming limitations in developing effective wayfinding videos.