Effective Clinical Teaching Strategies in Audiology: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis

Effective clinical education is foundational to developing competent audiologists, yet limited research has explored which specific clinical teaching approaches students perceive as most effective. Much of the existing evidence is drawn from researcher and clinical educator perspectives, rather than student perspectives of effective clinical education approaches.

The purpose of this qualitative research project was to identify themes from clinical teaching strategies that doctor of audiology (AuD) students perceive as most effective during clinical placements with community clinical instructors.

Using Braun and Clarke's six-step reflexive thematic analysis framework, open-ended survey responses from 62 AuD students at the University of Pittsburgh were analyzed. Data reflected responses to the question "What teaching strategy(s) used by your clinical instructor most positively impacted your learning this term?" These data were coded and subsequently grouped into themes.

Five themes were identified: engaging student thought, independence, productive feedback, supportive approach, and teaching strategies. Many responses revealed overlapping codes across themes, indicating the interconnected nature of effective clinical instruction practices.

The most reported effective strategy included a clear pathway to independent learning. Students commonly noted the value of productive feedback and questioning techniques to engage their thinking. The clinical instructor's openness and support were highly valued, as was intentional explanation and modeling of clinical skills. The components of effective clinical instruction identified in this study align with durable themes that emerged in prior research on clinical education across health professions. Students felt that the most effective clinical teaching strategies incorporate aspects from the five identified themes. Although these themes may help guide better clinical teaching approaches, individual student needs and the most effective clinical education strategies will vary for each student. These findings can be incorporated into audiology clinical instructor training and practices, ensuring clinical education strategies that align with student learning needs.

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.31049815.