RESUMO
Purpose: Rural and remote Saskatchewan has a shortage of physiotherapists. Positive student experiences in rural and remote communities may influence whether graduates choose to work in these settings. The intention of the first full-time, 4-week clinical placement (CP) in the Master of Physical Therapy programme at the University of Saskatchewan is to provide clinical experiences in rural settings outside Saskatoon and Regina. This study examines the geographic distribution of and yearly variation in these CPs to determine whether this stated intent is being realized. Method: We analyzed the locations of physiotherapy student CPs from 2008 to 2016 using geospatial mapping. Results: Spatial patterning using mapping identified variability in the number of rural placements in geographical regions in Saskatchewan over a 9-year period. An average of 75% of CP experiences occurred in rural locations outside the two major cities in Saskatchewan between 2008 and 2016 (ranging from 58% in 2015 to 84% in 2009). Conclusions: The goal of providing all University of Saskatchewan physiotherapy students with a rural experience for their first CP is not being met. Securing more CPs in rural settings may have a positive impact on recruitment of physiotherapists to these communities.
Objectif : on observe une pénurie de physiothérapeutes dans les régions rurales et éloignées de la Saskatchewan. Les expériences positives des étudiants en milieu rural ou éloigné peuvent influer sur leur choix d'y travailler à la fin de leurs études. Le premier stage clinique (SC) de quatre semaines à temps plein à la maîtrise en physiothérapie de l'université de la Saskatchewan vise à offrir des expériences cliniques en milieu rural à l'extérieur de Saskatoon et de Regina. La présente étude porte sur la répartition géographique et les variations annuelles de ces SC pour déterminer si cette intention exprimée se réalise. Méthodologie : les auteurs ont analysé les lieux où les étudiants en physiothérapie ont fait leur SC entre 2008 et 2016 au moyen d'une cartographie géospatiale. Résultats : la modélisation spatiale par cartographie a contribué à établir la variabilité du nombre de stages en milieu rural dans les régions géographiques de la Saskatchewan sur une période de neuf ans. En moyenne, 75 % des expériences de SC se sont produites dans des milieux ruraux situés hors des deux grandes villes de la Saskatchewan entre 2008 et 2016 (entre 58 % en 2015 et 84 % en 2009). Conclusions : l'objectif d'offrir une expérience en milieu rural à tous les étudiants en physiothérapie de l'université de la Saskatchewan lors de leur premier SC n'est pas respecté. L'obtention d'un plus grand nombre de SC en milieu rural pourrait avoir un effet positif sur le recrutement de physiothérapeutes dans ces localités.
RESUMO
PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to (1) describe the completion rates of the 24 performance criteria (PCs) from the Physical Therapist Clinical Performance Instrument (PT-CPI) by clinical instructors; (2) evaluate change in PC visual analogue scores (VAS) with students' clinical experience; and (3) evaluate scoring patterns over time. METHODS: Final VAS scores for 208 physiotherapy (PT) students (seven cohorts) from 1,039 clinical placements between 2001 and 2008 were analyzed. Completion rates were calculated for each PC. Kruskal-Wallis tests evaluated differences in VAS scores between cohorts. Friedman's tests were used to compare VAS scores for each PC over time. RESULTS: Completion rates were above 90% for 18 PCs. Data from the seven cohorts were combined. All PC scores showed significant change from 10 to 15 weeks and from 15 to 20 weeks of clinical experience (p≤0.001). Although differences in scores decreased over time, 19 PCs showed significant differences between 20 and 25 weeks, and 11 PCs showed significant differences between 25 and 31 weeks of clinical experience (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Certain PCs had lower completion rates. The PT-CPI was used consistently by clinical instructors to evaluate student performance over time. A continual progression in acquisition of clinical competencies was illustrated by PT-CPI scoring patterns as students advanced through their PT education programme.
