DefinePK

Abstract

Background
Clinical education is one of the most important aspects of learning to become a skilled and competent physical therapist. Clinical settings establish a strong learning environment that offers realistic scenarios and real-life experiences. Solving problems, taking action, and working together are necessary to resolve these real-world issues. Therefore, understanding the role of clinical educators is crucial for establishing an effective learning environment.
 Methodology
This cross-sectional study was conducted at Dow University of Health Sciences and included 329 participants who were students in Doctor of Physical Therapy Program and physiotherapists who were working at the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IPM&R). The data were collected using adapted standard questionnaires, [14] which have two components. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23.0. A Pearson chi-square test was applied to evaluate differences in opinion among clinical educators and students. A P-value < 0.05 indicates statistical significance at the 95% confidence interval. Data are presented as frequencies and percentages.
Results
The qualities that were most frequently identified by the clinical educators were: Mentor (92.3%), Knowledge Provider (84.6%), Facilitator (80.8%), Demonstrator (73.1%), and Role Model (69.2%). In contrast, students identified Knowledge Provider (88.5%), Facilitator (75.3%), Demonstrator (71.0%), Mentor (63.1%), and Counselor (50.5%).
 Conclusion
It has been observed that pre-planning is one of the most important components of high-quality clinical education for students. Additionally, clinical educators need to change traditional teaching methods to bedside teaching methods for better learning outcomes.