Centre for Health Professions Education

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Browsing Centre for Health Professions Education by browse.metadata.advisor "Bester, Juanita"

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    Clinical occupational therapists' experience of their role as clinical educators during the fieldwork experience of occupational therapy students
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012-03) Emslie, Brenda; Louw, A. J. N.; Bester, Juanita; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Health Sciences. Centre for Health Sciences Education.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Fieldwork is an essential part of the occupational therapy student’s education, and optimal learning is dependent on effective facilitation by a clinical Occupational Therapist. This study explored the lived experience of the clinical Occupational Therapists in their role as clinical educators by means of a phenomenological inquiry. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinical Occupational Therapists involved in clinical education. The data was analysed by using thematic content analysis, and was discussed according to the Lived Experience of a Clinical Educator Model. The results indicated that the clinical OTs’ sense of self, which revealed strong humanistic values, acted as the core element influencing the way in which they related to others and were able to juggle many roles in order to perform their role as clinical educator. It furthermore influenced the ways in which they managed balance and harmony in the workplace, as well as the process of growth and development. Incongruence during the performance of their roles as clinical educators was mainly caused by insufficient collaboration between the clinical educators and the university, the prescriptive nature of the fieldwork curriculum, workload pressures, the students’ attitudes and their lack of knowledge, as well as insufficient training of new clinical educators. The results may be helpful in fostering a collaborative relationship between the university and the clinical Occupational Therapists, as well as renewed attention to growth and development, all of which will benefit the students’ education.