From the Guidelines
Clinical experience is essential for physical therapy educators as it significantly enhances their teaching effectiveness, student outcomes, and ability to provide high-quality patient education. According to the EULAR recommendations for patient education for people with inflammatory arthritis 1, teaching competence is necessary alongside clinical expertise to deliver high-quality patient education. This implies that physical therapy educators should have both the knowledge and skills to provide effective education, as well as the clinical experience to inform their teaching.
Some key aspects of clinical experience that are important for physical therapy educators include:
- The ability to provide clear explanations about test results, medication, and self-management techniques
- The ability to provide emotional support and focus on acceptance of the patient's illness and its consequences
- The use of creative learning methods, such as guided discovery, metaphors, poetry, music, and visual materials, to facilitate emotional and behavioral change processes
- The ability to interact with patients and exchange knowledge and experiences with other patients, as perceived by healthcare providers 1.
By maintaining active clinical practice, physical therapy educators can bring real-world relevance to their teaching, illustrate theoretical concepts with current patient examples, and demonstrate up-to-date techniques. This clinical currency helps bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical application, preparing students more effectively for their future careers. Educators with ongoing clinical experience can better identify the evolving skills needed in the field and adjust curriculum accordingly, demonstrating greater confidence in teaching clinical skills and providing more nuanced feedback on student performance 1.
From the Research
Importance of Clinical Experience
- Clinical experience is essential for physical therapy educators as it enhances their teaching effectiveness and improves learning outcomes for students 2
- Experiential learning, which includes clinical practice, can provide students with hands-on experience and help them develop skills in a real-world setting 3
- Clinical instructors play a crucial role in physical therapist education, and their teaching competencies can be categorized into three domains: learner-centered educator, assessor/evaluator, and professional role model 4
Factors Affecting Clinical Experience
- Factors such as American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) certification, American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program (CCIP) level 1 and level 2, and mentoring students regularly can positively impact clinical teaching effectiveness 2
- The quality of clinical education is influenced by various factors, including the clinical education framework, sites, structure, assessment, and faculty 5
- Clinician productivity can be affected by student clinical experiences, with an overall increase in productivity observed during full-time clinical experiences 6
Benefits of Clinical Experience
- Clinical experience can help physical therapy students develop practical skills and apply theoretical knowledge in a real-world setting 3
- Experiential learning can enhance student engagement, knowledge application, and retention, and can be integrated into physical therapy education curricula 3
- Clinical instructors with more experience and specialized training can provide better guidance and support to students, leading to improved learning outcomes 2, 4