Exploring clinical learning experiences of novice physiotherapy students in a hospital setting

Exposure to clinical practice experiences ensures undergraduate physiotherapy students meet the clinical competencies required to graduate as autonomous practitioners. Much of the research literature has investigated the clinical experiences of medical students. While recent studies have explored physiotherapy students' experiences with simulation, few have explored their perspectives of a clinical placement in a hospital setting at the early learning stage of a four-year programme.

To explore the perspectives of novice undergraduate physiotherapy students on a clinical placement in a real hospital setting.

Fifteen Year 3 undergraduate physiotherapy students participated in semi-structured interviews midway through a three-week tertiary care clinical placement. Interviews were transcribed, coded and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Three main themes emerged: 1) student attributes affecting placement experience; 2) impact of the educator on student experience; and 3) effects of the clinical environment on student experiences.

The real clinical environment promotes a rich learning experience for students, while the clinical educator is pivotal to guiding student learning through provision of resources and feedback. Provision of early orientation and timely clarification of expectations is important to alleviate anxiety and allow students to prepare themselves.