Performance Patterns Among Internationally Educated Physical Therapist During Clinical Education in a Bridging Program
Authors
Kalu, Michael
Date
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
Bridging Program , Canadian Physiotherapy Assessment of Clinical Performance , Clinical Internship , Internationally Educated Physiotherapist , Professional Competency Profile , Rehabilitation Science
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background: The Ontario Internationally Educated Physical Therapy Bridging (OIEPB) program was designed to help internationally educated physiotherapists (IEPTs) increase their success at entering practice in Canada. The learners (IEPTs) in the OIEPB program undertake two clinical internships, at which they are assessed by preceptors using the Canadian Physiotherapy Assessment of Clinical Performance (ACP). Our overall goal was to understand the professional competencies and deficiencies in IEPTs as they attempt to integrate into the Canadian physiotherapist workforce.
Methods: Phase 1 was a review of literature to explore the experiences of internationally educated healthcare professionals in their new country; data were analyzed using a conventional content analysis, mapped to the professional competency roles. Phases 2 and 3 were secondary analyses of the data in learners' ACP forms. Phase 2: we descriptively analyzed the scores in the ACP forms. Phase 3: we employed deductive direct content analysis to describe the content of the comment sections of the ACP forms.
Results: For phase 1, 13 studies were included. Communicator role was the most frequently discussed role. Cultural-language and confidence deficits contributed to deficiencies in roles and competencies among IEHPs. For phase 2, most of the 61 learners' scores indicated entry-level performance for 18 of 21 ACP items at the end of both internships. Most IEPTs (84%) either had high scores throughout or had improvements from lower scores to at least 'advanced intermediate' performance level at the end of the second internship. For phase 3, 100 learners’ comment sections were analyzed. Professional conduct and professional practice were the two central themes, with 11 categories for areas of strength (4) and areas of weakness (7).
Conclusion: Most IEPTs showed a progressive improvement in their clinical education performance across internships as judged by ACP scores. Areas of strength included subjective assessment, treatment delivery, patient confidentiality, and inter-professional respect. Areas of weakness included objective assessment, setting SMART goals, logical clinical reasoning, communication, confidence, time management and patient safety. The findings about IEPTs in the OIEPB program are partially congruent with the literature in showing the importance of cultural-language competency and confidence in fulfilling professional roles.
Description
Citation
Publisher
License
Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.