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The Effect Of Early Contextual Learning On Student Physical Therapists’ Self-Perceived Level Of Clinical Preparedness, Kevin E. Brueilly, T. Kirk Nelson, Tamara Gravano, Penny G. Kroll

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Context: Students in health care often describe their feelings of self-inadequacy in clinical skills and report these feelings abate with experience.

Objective: To determine whether early contextual learning experiences can improve entry-level student physical therapists’ self-perceived level of clinical preparedness.

Design: A pair-wise comparison of pre vs. post intervention. Survey of students self-perceived level of clinical preparedness before and after a series of three planned small group contextual learning experiences involving the assessment of actual hospital patients.

Setting: Academic institution and associated medical center

Participants: Thirty-nine first-year student cohort in the 10th month of a 36-month entry-level Doctor of Physical …