Director of Clinical Education Training in Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs

Authors

Michele (Shelly) Lewis, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Eric Folkins, Saint Joseph's UniversityFollow

Abstract

Purpose: Directors of clinical education (DCEs) need knowledge and skills in many areas to succeed in their roles.Not only does the DCE need to master the traditional faculty roles of scholarship, service, and teaching, but the DCE also needs to become competent in administrative duties. Lack of training, especially in research, can negatively affect the DCEs’ ability to perform their responsibilities effectively and efficiently. In this study, we aimed to examine how DCEs learn their numerous roles and how training and experience influence self-perceived competence. Method: In this quantitative, non-experimental study, we used an online survey to obtain information from 143 DCEs for Doctor of Physical Therapy programs in the United States. We examined the data obtained from the surveys using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U tests, regression analyses, and scatterplots. Results: The primary way DCEs reported learning their role was through mentorship. Respondents reported inadequate training for their administrative, scholarship, service, and teaching workloads but reported feeling competent in all workloads except scholarship. Those with an academic doctorate described significantly higher perceived competency in all workload categories than those without an academic doctorate. Training and experience influenced the perceived competence of the DCE. Only training, not experience, was independently associated with perceived competence for scholarship tasks. Conclusion: For DCEs new to academia, formal training and mentorship, especially in scholarship, should be considered when designing a DCE’s onboarding. Reduction in expectations for non-clinical education activities may be needed until a DCE has gained experience and learned to perform their role competently. Another method for DCEs to master their role is obtaining an academic doctorate, as this positively impacts the DCEs’ perceived role performance.

Author Bio(s)

Michele (Shelly) Lewis, PT, DPT, EdD is an associate professor and co-director of clinical education in the department of physical therapy at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. She is also an ABPTS board-certified geriatric clinical specialist.

Eric Folkins, PT, DPT, DHSc is a clinical associate professor at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA, and vice chair and former director of clinical education in the department of physical therapy. He is also an ABPTS board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist.

Recommended Citation

Lewis M, Folkins E. Director of Clinical Education Training in Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. 2024 Jun 26;22(3), Article 24.