PRECEPTOR EXPERIENCES OF STUDENT-LED COMMUNITY-BASED PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICES: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

K. Mostert¹, N. Mshunqane¹

Background: In line with the primary health care approach and social responsibility of universities towards their surrounding communities, it is imperative that students are educated to work in community-based settings. These settings provide learning opportunities, while serving communities, to develop competencies related to professional roles, such as that of public health practitioner. Nursing literature abound with studies about preceptorship, however, in physiotherapy, especially in South Africa it is under-researched. In this study. In this study preceptors referred to the local contact person between the university supervisor, the students and clients, attending to logistical matters.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of preceptors of the services rendered by the final-year physiotherapy students of the University of Pretoria, during their Public Health placement.

Methods: A descriptive explorative design was carried out.. Students from the University of Pretoria, provided physiotherapy services in three geographical communities. One community was in the inner-city with a diverse population, including immigrants from Africa, one in a low-resourced community and the other with mainly middle class residents. The settings in these communities included community health centra, a community forum, a hospice, a shelter for people who are homeless, an informal settlement and luncheon clubs. All preceptors (n=19) were invited to participate. Questions, such as ‘Describe what stood out as  highlight for you in working with the physiotherapy students’, and ‘What suggestions do you have for improvement? ’were emailed to the participants. Written responses were thematically analysed according to the method by Tesch.

Results: Preceptors were a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, a nurse, social worker, a preceptor appointed by the Department of Family Medicine and two community members. Four themes emerged from the data: 1) Student confidence and knowledge 2) Professionalism 3) Positive influences on clients 4) Appreciation from the preceptors,
The majority of participants found the involvement of students beneficial and having a sustainable impact on their organisations/services. Benefits included improved reported knowledge through health education on various topics with different target groups, raised community awareness specifically about the importance of physical activity at an annual community health fair, promotion of health through side-walk exercise classes, clinical care during home visits and in clinics and peer-education of home-care workers, clinical associates and students from other professions,

Conclusion(s): Preceptors reported overall a positive experience with student–led physiotherapy services, experienced the students as confident, knowledgeable and professional, and the services beneficial. The experience from the perspective of the clients of the services needs to be investigated to identify further areas of possible improvement.

Implications: Education for and orientation to the placement seems relevant and adequate and communication, leadership and professionalism in the curriculum bear fruit in practice. A community-based offer opportunities to develop competencies in different professional roles including that of public health practitioner. Clients have an appreciation for such services. Close cooperation with the university supervisors are essential in the success of the clinical placement. The activities described can be carried out in similar projects elsewhere.

Funding, acknowledgements: No funding werre received for this study

Keywords: Student-provided physiotherapy, Preceptor, primary health care

Topic: Education

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: University of Pretoria

Committee: Health Sciences

Ethics number: 257-2018