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Document Type (Journals)

Original Research

Abstract

To evaluate the physical aspects of occupational performance, occupational therapists must understand the anatomical structure and function of the body. As such, occupational therapy academic programs must provide sufficient foundational musculoskeletal (MSK) education to prepare student occupational therapists for successful clinical practice. There is a paucity of research on MSK educational needs, and the relationship between student occupational therapists’ MSK academic outcomes and fieldwork performance. This study examined the relationship between MSK anatomy course academic grades and fieldwork performance indicators on the Competency-Based Fieldwork Evaluation for Occupational Therapists (CBFE-OT) of student occupational therapists. A mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was conducted among first year student occupational therapists who completed an MSK course and participated in non-mental health focused early-level fieldwork placements. Researchers correlated retrospective cross-sectional data of academic grades and CBFE-OT scores. Following, content analysis of CBFE-OT comments was used to supplement quantitative findings. Researchers inductively coded CBFE-OT comments to identify MSK concepts and used Bloom’s Taxonomy to reveal how MSK concepts were expressed. The correlations between MSK grades and CBFE-OT scores were largely insignificant, with five weak positive correlations found. Content analysis revealed an expectation for students to express MSK-focused knowledge through experiential learning. Comparatively, higher-level critical thinking involved in intervention and discharge planning was more often expressed as integrated interdisciplinary knowledge. Findings will strengthen integrated learning of MSK knowledge with practice in occupational therapy programs, with hopes to optimally support faculty, students, and clinical partners.

Biography

Madelyn Walther, OTS is a Student Occupational Therapist in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto. She received a Bachelor of Human Kinetics from the University of British Columbia Okanagan. This project was completed as a part of her MScOT program.

Viansa Guiotto, OTS is a Student Occupational Therapist in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto. She received a Bachelor of Human Kinetics from the University Windsor. She completed this project as a part of the MScOT program.

Rhona Anderson, DSc, OT Reg. (Ont.) is an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream and Director of Clinical Education in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto. Her research interests are health professions education research, student leadership, and curriculum development in occupational therapy. ORCID 0000-0001-6334-5477

Emily S. Ho, PhD, OT Reg. (Ont.) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto. She is the primary course coordinator and instructor of the Musculoskeletal Foundations for Occupational Therapy practice course. Her research interest is upper limb musculoskeletal function and rehabilitation. ORCID 0000-0003-4082-1770

Declaration of Interest

Funding Statement: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Conflicts of Interest: The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

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