Occupational Therapy Level II Fieldwork Impact on Clinicians: A Preliminary Time Study

ABSTRACT

The aim of this preliminary study was to quantify the amount of time clinicians spend at work with and without a student and identify predictors of time spent at work with a student. A quasi-experimental design evaluated 22 occupational therapists that supervised a student. The occupational therapists completed a time log for 3 months without a student and 3 months while supervising a student. A statistically significant difference in overall time spent at work while supervising a student compared to when not supervising a student was found. Clinicians spent an average additional 25 minutes at work per day when supervising a student. Clinician years of experience and time spent without a student were found to be predictive of the time spent at work with a student. The additional time spent at work when supervising a level II fieldwork student should be considered along with all of the documented benefits of supervising a student by potential fieldwork educators.

KEYWORDS:

• Fieldwork
• Occupational Therapy

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Rush University Occupational Therapy Department for their support of this project. In addition, we would like to thank Alison Schnackel for her contributions to the manuscript, Dr. Mary Ellen Stoykov for her guidance and support and Dr. Patricia Murphy and Dr. Lauren Little for their statistical guidance.