title: Students' description of factors contributing to a meaningful clinical experience in entry-level physical therapist professional education.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to identify student, clinical instructor (CI), and environmental characteristics and behaviors that make for positive clinical experiences as perceived by physical therapy students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine third-year physical therapist students from entry-level physial therapist education programs around the United States participated in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this phenomenologic study, participants were interviewed using open-ended questions designed to facilitate rich description. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, validated, and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Themes were identified through collaborative analysis using constant comparative coding. Students described student, CI, and environmental factors and behaviors that contribute to a quality clinical experience, including: the students' demonstration of initiative to prepare for the clinical experience and preparation after clinic hours; the importance of the CI's insight, allowing CIs to ascertain how much guidance to give in order to foster independence in the student; and the clinical environment's ability to welcome a student and provide the student with novel learning experiences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The student descriptions, including positive and negative examples shared by the interviewees, demonstrate essential characteristics that contribute to a positive clinical experience. Many of the factors identified by students can be influenced by student and CI training and preparation prior to the clinical experience.
authors: College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. rindflesch.aaron@mayo.edu
authors: Aaron
authors: A
authors: Rindflesch
authors: Kelsey
authors: K
authors: Hoversten
authors: Britta
authors: B
authors: Patterson
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Thomas
authors: Heidi
authors: H
authors: Dunfee
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D059825:Physical Therapists / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty / Q000193:education*; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology*