title: Learner : preceptor ratios for practice-based learning across health disciplines: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Practice-based learning is a cornerstone of developing clinical and professional competence in health disciplines. Practice-based learning systems have many interacting components, but a key facet is the number of learners per preceptor. Different learner : preceptor ratios may have unique benefits and pose unique challenges for participants. This is the first comprehensive systematic review of the topic. Our research questions were: What are the benefits and challenges of each learner : preceptor ratio in practice-based learning from the perspectives of the learners, preceptors, patients and stakeholder organisations (i.e. the placing and health care delivery organisations)? Are any ratios superior to others with respect to these characteristics and perspectives?
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative systematic review of published English-language literature since literature database inception, including multiple health disciplines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-three articles were included in this review. Eight learner : preceptor ratio arrangements were identified involving nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, dietetics, speech and language therapy, and medicine. Each arrangement offers unique benefits and challenges from the perspectives of learners, preceptors, programmes and health care delivery organisations. Patient perspectives were absent. Despite important advantages of each ratio for learners, preceptors and organisations, some of which may be profession specific, the 2 : 1 and 2+ : 2+ learner : preceptor ratios appear to be most likely to successfully balance the needs of all stakeholders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regardless of the learner : preceptor ratio chosen for its expected benefits, our results illuminate challenges that can be anticipated and managed. Patient perspectives should be incorporated into future studies of learner : preceptor ratios.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Loewen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Legal
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gamble
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Kieran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services / BC Children's and Women's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tkachuk
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zed
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D011231:Preceptorship / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013663:Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*