Strategies to Address Problems Encountered in Physical Therapy Clinical Internship

Cheryll Didi Nellie  N. Obra,

Strategies to Address Problems Encountered in Physical Therapy Clinical Internship

Abstract:

Clinical internship plays a role in the professional development of students in healthcare disciplines because it provides for the application of theory learned inside the classroom into practice needed in clinical sites. However, there is little investigation of how to better prepare students for their clinical internship and how best to utilize the available clinical placements to develop necessary competencies for the performance of expected professional roles. Thus, this study aimed to determine the problems encountered by physical therapy students during clinical internship. Qualitative research design was used to explore perceptions of the stakeholders on the clinical education process. A semi-structured instrument was used for the survey. Focus group discussions and interviews were audiotaped and were transcribed verbatim. Fifty-seven interns, 22 clinical instructors, 4 clinical supervisors, and 4 internship coordinators were purposively selected to participate in this study. Seven themes emerged from the surveys and focus group interviews. The main problems associated with the clinical experience of interns are: theory-practice gap, initial clinical anxiety, insufficient clinical supervision, unclear professional role, difficulty coping in the workplace, heavy patient load, and poor communication skills. The identified areas of need within the internship program should be effectively addressed by stakeholders to promote students’ seamless transition from the academic to the clinical sites.

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