Abstract
Purpose of the study
The purpose of this project was to evaluate whether OHEIs could facilitate student physiotherapy placement training in their educational outpatient clinics.
Background
The National Health Service (NHS) is actively promoting Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) to have a greater role in supporting healthcare delivery. There are challenges to increasing AHP numbers and one of these is providing enough student training placements to meet demand.
Methods
This evaluation used quantitative and qualitative methods. The OHEI clinical tutors and students collected activity data Anonymised questionnaires for physiotherapy students examining expectation were completed online before placement and an experience questionnaire after placement.
Interviews and focus groups were conducted to investigate the experiences of stakeholders involved in the project. This included physiotherapy and osteopathy students, clinic tutors, and placement coordinators in OHEIs and physiotherapy HEIs.
Results
Four universities with physiotherapy courses participated, and 37 students in 2 cohorts completed either five- or six-week placements at three OHEI clinics between April and August 2021. Cohort 1 expressed uncertainties about roles and integration in clinic and with patients. Concerns were addressed for Cohort 2 and physiotherapy student learning experiences were much better with 83% of physiotherapy students satisfied or very satisfied with their placement.
Conclusion
The placement of physiotherapists in OHEI clinics is feasible. Careful expectation management is essential. Future sustainability is dependent upon managing costs to the OHEIs as it is unlikely placements will generate income. The learning environment could be made more reciprocal with time and experience leading to better understanding of the different professions and enhanced multidisciplinary working.
Conflicts of interest: Dawn Carnes and Carol Fawkes are both trained osteopaths.
Sources of funding: Health Education England grant to the Institute of Osteopathy (the professional association for UK osteopaths).
