Physiotherapy clinical education in Australia: Educator profile, support needs and innovation in professional development.

In Australia, and many international settings, clinical education is essential to prepare entry-level physiotherapy students for professional practice. Registered physiotherapists, commonly referred to as ‘clinical educators’, are responsible for facilitating student learning during clinical education. This involves providing opportunities for students to develop competence in clinical practice and regular performance feedback. Clinical educators are also responsible for assessing student competence against professional standards, remediating underperformance, and managing challenging situations. Consequently, the clinical educator role is often perceived as complex and difficult. Physiotherapists’ lack of preparedness for the clinical educator role may impact on student learning experiences and readiness for professional practice. Despite the vital contribution of clinical educators to entry-level student training, information regarding the involvement of Australian physiotherapists in clinical education is lacking. This includes details relating to their professional profile, and perceived confidence and skills in the role. Furthermore, little is known about physiotherapists’ perspectives on being a clinical educator and specific support requirements, including continuing professional development (CPD). Addressing these gaps in literature is essential to ensure physiotherapists are adequately prepared to be a clinical educator, and manage challenges associated with the role. The aims of this research were to explore the professional profile of Australian physiotherapists involved in clinical education, including their support requirements. In addition, this research sought to develop, and trial, innovative methods of professional development used to support Australian physiotherapy clinical educators. Therefore, the overarching purpose of this body of research was to contribute new knowledge regarding physiotherapy clinical education in an Australian context

Allied Health Student Clinical Placements in Residential Aged Care Facilities: Staff Opinions, Attitudes, and Support Needs

Purpose: As the population ages, the incidence and prevalence of chronic health issues requiring allied health management is increasing. Currently, there is an undersupply of appropriately skilled allied health professionals working in aged care. This has also been identified as a setting in which many beginning health practitioners are reluctant to seek employment. In order to address this workforce shortage, it is imperative that students are prepared for a possible future career within aged care facilities. Early clinical experience within this setting may increase student confidence, raise awareness of the need for services, and encourage students to consider working in aged care. At present, student clinical placements within aged care facilities are limited, potentially contributing to difficulties addressing workforce needs. The reasons for the lack of clinical placements and the relative contribution of the opinions, attitudes, training, and support needs of staff are unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the opinions, attitudes, support, and training needs of physiotherapists, dieticians, and managers working in residential aged care regarding allied health professional student clinical placements. Method: A written survey of allied health professionals (dieticians and physiotherapists, n=26) and managers (n=40) working in residential aged care was conducted. Responses were analysed using qualitative and quantitative methods. Results: Participants had generally positive attitudes towards student placements in residential aged care. Managers were significantly more positive regarding the scope for student clinical placements within their facilities than allied health professionals (p\u3c 0.05). The biggest barrier to student placements identified by both managers and allied health professionals was the nature of employment of allied health professionals in the sector. Participating allied health professionals also indicated that they required specific training in student supervision and the provision of clinical education. Conclusion: The attitudes and opinions of allied health professionals and managers did not appear to contribute to a lack of allied health professional student placements in aged care facilities. The main barriers to placement were the nature of allied health professional employment and a lack of staff experience in supervising students on clinical placement. Specific training and mentoring of allied health professionals may facilitate increased student placement capacity in the aged care setting

Australian critical care nursing professionals' attitudes towards the use of traditional “chest physiotherapy” techniques

Background: Chest physiotherapy techniques, such as percussion, postural drainage, and expiratory vibrations, may be employed in a critical care setting. Physiotherapists are primarily responsible for their provision; however, nurses have also traditionally implemented these treatments. It is unclear whether nurses consider chest physiotherapy to be a part of their role, or how they perceive their knowledge and confidence pertaining to these techniques. Objective: To investigate the attitudes of nurses towards traditional chest physiotherapy techniques. Method: A total of 1222 members of the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey. Results: There were 142 respondents (12%) with the majority (n = 132, 93%) having performed chest physiotherapy techniques in clinical practice. Most of them considered that the provision of chest physiotherapy was a part of nurse's role. Commonly cited factors influencing nurses' use of chest physiotherapy techniques were the availability of physiotherapy services, adequacy of nursing staff training and skill, and perceptions of professional roles. Conclusions: Nurses working in critical care commonly utilised traditional chest physiotherapy techniques. Further research is required to investigate the reasons why nursing professionals might assume responsibility for the provision of chest physiotherapy techniques, and if their application of these techniques is consistent with evidence-based recommendations

Australian critical care nursing professionals' attitudes towards the use of traditional “chest physiotherapy” techniques

Background: Chest physiotherapy techniques, such as percussion, postural drainage, and expiratory vibrations, may be employed in a critical care setting. Physiotherapists are primarily responsible for their provision; however, nurses have also traditionally implemented these treatments. It is unclear whether nurses consider chest physiotherapy to be a part of their role, or how they perceive their knowledge and confidence pertaining to these techniques. Objective: To investigate the attitudes of nurses towards traditional chest physiotherapy techniques. Method: A total of 1222 members of the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey. Results: There were 142 respondents (12%) with the majority (n = 132, 93%) having performed chest physiotherapy techniques in clinical practice. Most of them considered that the provision of chest physiotherapy was a part of nurse's role. Commonly cited factors influencing nurses' use of chest physiotherapy techniques were the availability of physiotherapy services, adequacy of nursing staff training and skill, and perceptions of professional roles. Conclusions: Nurses working in critical care commonly utilised traditional chest physiotherapy techniques. Further research is required to investigate the reasons why nursing professionals might assume responsibility for the provision of chest physiotherapy techniques, and if their application of these techniques is consistent with evidence-based recommendations