ERIC Number: EJ1441237
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2573-1378
Experiential Learning through ALS Caregiver Learning Labs: Occupational Therapy Student Outcomes
Susan Hoey; Jessica Henaughan
Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, v7 n3 Article 2 2023
Occupational therapy (OT) educators strive to design learning experiences to enhance OT students' clinical reasoning and promote preparedness for the complexities of clinical practice. Occupational therapy programs have collaborated with the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association and taken a novel approach to the development of interprofessional experiential learning through student-led ALS Caregiver Learning Labs (CLLs). A retrospective pre-test post-test study was completed to identify outcomes related to participation in three different ALS CLLs embedded into a master's level OT curriculum. A 6-point rating scale questionnaire was used to assess students' perception of their clinical reasoning, clinical skills, and comfort level. Improvement was noted in the level of comfort when interacting with caregivers and students' perceptions of their clinical skills and clinical reasoning improved across all questions. In addition, students completed a case study assignment to examine clinical reasoning performance. On average, post-lab scores were higher than pre-lab scores for each question, and the differences were statistically significant with the level of significance at p < 0.05. Results suggest that a CLL experience is an effective learning method to increase students' comfort level interacting with caregivers, enhance students' perception of clinical reasoning ability, and improve clinical reasoning skills. Occupational therapy students benefited from the experience at different levels of progression, delivery methods, and opportunities for interprofessional interaction. Occupational therapy programs at other institutions may benefit from embedding a CLL into the curriculum to meet the needs of the community while improving students' clinical reasoning and enhancing the ability to provide client-centered care.
Descriptors: Occupational Therapy, Neurological Impairments, Experiential Learning, Allied Health Occupations Education, Allied Health Personnel, Masters Programs, Program Effectiveness, Caregivers, Student Attitudes, Interaction, Skill Development, Thinking Skills
Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475. e-mail: jote@eku.edu; Web site: https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Iowa
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A

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