Co-design of a neurological physiotherapy student-led clinic with students and patients: an exploratory qualitative study.

Wynne, Donna; Hancock, Elizabeth; Cooper, Kay

Abstract

This study explores students' and patients' views of a UK physical therapy student-led clinic (SLC) for neurological rehabilitation and, using a co-design approach, proposes an optimal design of a physical therapy SLC for neurological rehabilitation for patient participation as well as student learning. There is a paucity of literature examining experiences of neurological rehabilitation SLCs. Although research supports the utilization of codesign methodologies with patients and for curriculum development, there remains a gap regarding its application to SLCs in physical therapy for individuals with neurological conditions. Convenience sampling was used to recruit four patient and four student participants to take part in the study. This qualitative study employed exploratory co-design based on a participatory action research (PAR) approach. Three online co-design workshops were facilitated by the research team. Thematic analysis of each workshop informed the outline for the next. Patients perceived that the SLC improved their overall wellbeing and they highly valued being able to access rehabilitation. Students reported that they developed a range of clinical skills through participation in the SLC but would have liked a more in-depth orientation. The co-design process identified five key elements for the optimal design of the physical therapy neurological SLC: student support, continuity, supervision, peer-assisted learning, and orientation. Findings suggest that the SLC provides both a quality learning experience and a patient service which is safe, effective and sustainable. Future research should be undertaken with different stages of students and in different University settings. The co-design approach has been shown to be feasible for students and patients and could be utilised across other aspects of curriculum design. This novel study using co-design methodology provides initial findings of key elements to optimize student-led clinics in neurological physical therapy, to enhance student learning and patient experience.

Citation

WYNNE, D., HANCOCK, E. and COOPER, K. [2024]. Co-design of a neurological physiotherapy student-led clinic with students and patients: an exploratory qualitative study. Journal of physical therapy education [online], (accepted).

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 9, 2024
• Deposit Date: Oct 1, 2024
• Journal: Journal of physical therapy education
• Print ISSN: 1938-3533
• Publisher: Wolters Kluwer
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: Student-led clinics; Physical therapy; Physiotherapy; Rehabilitation; Neurological rehabilitation; Patient participation; Co-design methodologies
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2508940