This study aimed to explore the availability of mental health resources for Doctor of Physical Therapy students and learn potential reasons for lack of utilization.
Doctor of Physical Therapy students currently enrolled at an American University who experienced death (death of patient, co-worker, or loved one) while at their clinical experience were asked to voluntarily participate in a survey. The survey included demographic information, clinical setting, knowledge and accessibility of mental health resources from the clinical site, the University, and via personal health insurance, and if applicable, rationale for not utilizing resources. The mixed-methods design allowed for comments, for students to expand beyond the templated questions.
Ten Doctor of Physical Therapy students completing their clinical experiences at various settings (Acute Care = 30%, In-patient Rehabilitation = 20%, Skilled Nursing Facility = 30%, Outpatient = 10%, Home Health = 10%), experienced patient death. 80% did not have Mental Health Resources made available to them by the clinical site. 30% had a meeting with their Clinical Instructor following death of their patient(s), however, there was no formal debriefing with the healthcare team, counseling, or other forms of mental health care. 60% of the participants did not know their institution had multiple resources available to them. The remaining 40% chose not to utilize the resources secondary to stigma, cultural/societal norms not to seek services, time constraints, or clinical responsibilities. None of the participants took time off to grieve, attend a funeral, or utilize mental health resources. Qualitative results revealed participants felt: unprepared for death, they needed to detach and continue with patient care, they had failed the patient and overall felt unsupported. Specifically, they were not prepared for the emotional toll and did not have any former training on end-of-life care or coping strategies for bereavement.
Many physical therapy clinical sites do not have mental health resources available to their students following an experience with death. Students who knew where to seek mental health resources primarily chose not to utilize them secondary to stigma. As faculty members and healthcare professionals, we need to reduce the stigma and encourage the utilization of mental health resources.
Knowledge of end-of-life care and bereavement coping strategies should be incorporated into Physical Therapy curriculums. Further, clinical sites should implement mental health action plans following an experience with death and should make mental health resources available.
Patient death
Bereavement
