Sains Malaysiana 41(6)(2012): 787–793

Reflection of Physiotherapy Students in Clinical Placement:

A Qualitative Study

(Refleksi Pelajar Prasiswazah Fisioterapi dalam Penempatan Klinikal: Kajian Kualitatif)

Ayiesah Ramli*, Aida Safra Ruslan & Noor Shahida Sukiman

Physiotherapy Programme, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,

Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 20 July 2011 / Accepted: 25 October 2011

ABSTRACT

Clinical education provides students with opportunities to integrate knowledge and skills at progressively higher levels of performance. This study determined the significant events that undergraduate physiotherapy student reflects on during their clinical experiences as they learn to become a physiotherapist. A qualitative study using reflective instruments of structured debriefing sessions and diary writing was carried out. This involves 25 fourth-year students from the Faculty of Health Sciences, UKM during their 12 weeks of clinical placements in 3 different modules (first semester). They were required to describe an event, its value and their reaction to it, and to discuss the effect of the new learning experience and how it would influence their respond in the future. Our findings confirmed that the process of writing a diary makes a considerable impact to the student experience during clinical placement. The subjects begin to construct a personal identity of becoming a physiotherapist through the process of developing confidence, confirmation of practices and assimilating of knowledge. In conclusion, the main themes generated from a reflective diary included their reflection of personal growth, on how they learnt in a clinical setting, and on the ethical and professional behaviors of themselves and colleagues. This provides the clinical educators with valuable information to design meaningful clinical learning experiences that would assist students to become a good physiotherapist for the future.

Keywords: Clinical educator; clinical placement; diary; reflection

ABSTRAK

Pendidikan klinikal menyediakan para pelajar dengan peluang untuk mengintegrasikan pengetahuan dan kemahiran pada tahap prestasi yang lebih tinggi dan progresif. Kajian ini mengenalpasti peristiwa penting pelajar fisioterapi ijazah sarjana muda, mencerminkan pengalaman klinikal mereka untuk menjadi ahli fisioterapi. Satu kajian kualitatif yang menggunakan instrumen sesi soal jawab berstruktur dan penulisan diari dijalankan. Dua puluh lima pelajar tahun empat dari Fakulti Sains Kesihatan,UKM telah melibatkan diri dalam kajian sepanjang 12 minggu mereka menjalani penempatan klinikal dalam 3 modul yang berbeza (semester pertama). Mereka dikehendaki menggambarkan peristiwa, membuat penilaian dan mengenal pasti reaksi mereka, dan membincangkan pengalaman baru yang dipelajari dan bagaimana perubahan yang berlaku akan mempengaruhi tindak balas mereka di masa akan datang. Hasil kajian mengesahkan bahawa proses menulis diari memberi impak yang besar kepada pengalaman pelajar semasa menjalani penempatan klinikal. Subjek  mula membina identiti peribadi untuk menjadi ahli fisioterapi melalui proses keyakinan diri, pengesahan amalan dan pengetahuan mengasimilasikan pengalaman mereka. Sebagai kesimpulan, tema-tema utama yang dikenal pasti daripada diari mencerminkan pertumbuhan peribadi mereka, bagaimana mereka belajar dalam persekitaran klinikal, tingkah laku yang beretika dan pembentukan profesional diri sendiri dan rakan-rakan. Maklumat yang berharga ini penting kepada pendidik klinikal bagi menyediakan pengalaman pembelajaran klinikal yang bermakna, yang akan membantu pelajar untuk menjadi ahli fisioterapi yang baik pada masa akan datang.

Kata kunci: Diari; pengajar klinikal; penempatan klinikal; reflektif

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*Corresponding author; email: kamalia086@gmail.com