Browsing by Author "Fobian, Noeline"

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    Physiotherapy students perceptions of clinical reasoning
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03) Fobian, Noeline; Couper, Ian D.; Meyer, Ilse S.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Centre for Health Professions Education.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : Clinical reasoning is a vital competency of professional physiotherapy practice that contributes to the effectiveness of physiotherapy patient outcomes. Research on clinical reasoning and the physiotherapy student is limited. The purpose of this study was to explore physiotherapy students’ perceptions of clinical reasoning and its development during clinical practice. This study used a qualitative research approach guided by a phenomenological framework. Individual semi-structured interviews were the chosen method of collecting data. An external interviewer conducted the interviews. The participants in the study were ten third- and fourth-year physiotherapy students from the Division of Physiotherapy, Stellenbosch University. Data were analysed applying an inductive, iterative process and using coding analysis to organise the data into themes and sub-themes. Students offered a conceptualisation of clinical reasoning that included the core dimensions of knowledge and cognition, elements of hypothetical deductive reasoning, and an interactive process of including the patient. Clinical exposure was expressed as critical to the development of clinical reasoning. Various factors were described as influencing the development of clinical reasoning, and especially the enabling Community of Practice, and a disabling lack of explicit teaching of clinical reasoning. The study concludes that the development of clinical reasoning in the physiotherapy student can be enhanced through clinical exposure and supported by an explicit and student-centred approach to teaching clinical reasoning.