Standardization of clinical training process in physiotherapy in Clalit - The first step towards improvement of clinical instuction and instructors' satisfaction
Goni Meron, Igal Levran
Abstract
Background: Recognizing the key role of the clinical instructor in promoting the physiotherapy profession, the Clalit HMO has invested a great deal of resources towards the professional advancement of clinical instructors.
Long term Objectives: 1. Nationwide standardization of a qualitative clinical training program. 2. Improving accredited physiotherapists’ rate of participation as clinical instructors.
Aims: To gain an understanding of the instructors’ perceptions of and attitudes towards the clinical training process, and to assess their degree of satisfaction with the organizational support provided to clinical instructors.
Method: The process included three stages: Stage A - A survey was anonymously administered through a website link. Stage B - Based on the survey outcomes, and in consultation with experts in the field of clinical instruction in physiotherapy, an intervention program was designed. The core of the program was to provide educational training courses for the regional coordinators of clinical instruction and develop working procedure guidelines for the clinical instructors. Stage C - Nine months after the first survey was conducted, the clinical instructors completed the survey again. The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Clalit HMO.
Measurement tools: The survey included six statements assessing clinical instructors’ satisfaction with the services provided through the Clalit. The level of agreement with each statement was rated between 1(do not agree at all) and 5 (strongly agree). Data regarding the instructors’ seniority and areas of expertise were collected as well. For each responder, a total score was calculated, ranging from 6 to 30.
Results: Stage A - The survey was completed by 124 of 200 active instructors who were approached and who represented the full range of physiotherapy subfields. The total average score was 20.9 ± 4.1. The highest scores were in places which were already being covered by the regional clinical training coordinator. Stage C - The survey was completed by 134 of the 220 active instructors who were approached for this purpose. The total average score increased to 24.2 ± 3.3 (P < .000). The total survey scores of the experienced instructors (22.68 ± 3.59) were significantly lower than either those of the newer instructors (24.68 ± 3.05; P =.019), or those of the instructors with mid-range seniority (24.57 ± 3.14; P = .15). The amount of students guided in Clalit increased significantly, by 13%, from 370 students during 2014-2015 to 420 students during 2015-2016.
Conclusions and implications: The clinical instructors’ satisfaction from the support given by the organization, significantly improved in the second survey. It seems that the role of regional clinical training coordinator is essential to the clinical instructors’ satisfaction. However, the low satisfaction rates of the experienced instructors merits further consideration.
Key words: clinical training, physiotherapy, clinical instructor, Clalit
