Professional Experience Related to Self-Assessed Teaching Effectiveness Among Physical Therapist Clinical Instructors

Physical therapist (PT) students learn through clinical practice with the supervision of a clinical instructor (CI). Clinical instructors have teaching, education, and practice experiences that can positively affect their self-assessed clinical teaching effectiveness (CTE), which may improve learning outcomes for students.

Identifying CI experiences, such as specific teaching, education, or practice expertise, as they relate to effective clinical teaching may be beneficial in the selection of PT CIs and allow instructors to focus on professional experiences that will elevate their self-assessed teaching abilities.

The study included 851 PTs from a large geographical area. The participants had varying educational, clinical, and professional experiences and each had been a CI for at least 1 student clinical education experience.

Specific PT CI professional experiences associated with CTE were determined through a correlation study using quantitative data collected online through a validated survey instrument, the Clinical Teaching Effectiveness Questionnaire. This study examined degree earned, PT residency and PT fellowship training, the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS), American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program (CCIP) level 1 and level 2, years of clinical experience, number of students taught, and number of years of clinical teaching.

Results indicated that a higher level of self-assessed CTE was associated with ABPTS certification, CCIP level 1 and level 2, and a higher number of students mentored by a CI. Physical therapist residency training, PT fellowship training, years of clinical experience, and number of years of clinical teaching were not related to self-assessed CTE.

Specific teaching, clinical, and practice experiences were related to CTE. To increase PT CI CTE, CIs are encouraged to consider ABPTS certification, CCIP level 1 and level 2, and mentoring students regularly. The PT profession, APTA, and Doctor of Physical Therapy programs should support these endeavors.