Experiences With and Impact of an International Clinical Experience on Professional Development: A Qualitative Study

Global health experiences are increasingly integrated into physical therapy curricula to promote cultural humility and global health competencies. While benefits to students are well-documented, less is known about the long-term impact on professional development after graduation. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore the experiences with and impact of an international clinical education experience that occurred during physical therapy education on post-graduate professional development.

A phenomenological qualitative design was used. Data were collected from three semi-structured focus groups. Recordings were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Trustworthiness was established through researcher reflexivity, member checking, and a data audit trail.

Sixteen DPT graduates from a Midwest physical therapy education program who participated in an international clinical education program in the Dominican Republic between 1998 and 2019.Five themes emerged: (1) desire for unique growth opportunities tied to service, (2) providing care from a new perspective, (3) contending with challenges, (4) ongoing professional development with a new perspective, and (5) igniting a calling. Participants reported enhanced adaptability, cultural awareness, resourcefulness, and language proficiency.

An international clinical experience can serve as a catalyst for sustained professional development following graduation. These findings underscore the value of global health experiences in fostering cultural humility and lifelong learning among physical therapists.