Document Type (Journals)
Original Research
Abstract
Occupational therapy fieldwork helps students refine their professional and technical skills to achieve competency required of entry-level occupational therapists. While fieldwork is traditionally completed in an in-person setting, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in some students completing fieldwork in a virtual format. Yet, minimal research has explored perceptions of skill development among students who complete virtual fieldwork placements. This qualitative descriptive study examined the perceptions of skill development among graduate-level occupational therapy students and graduates who participated in a virtual fieldwork placement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight participants from 3 different states completed semi-structured interviews of no longer than 60 minutes duration via Microsoft Teams. Verbatim interview transcriptions were analyzed by the researchers using a constant-comparative data analysis approach. Four key themes emerged: participants initially experienced uncertainty and had concerns regarding the development of their professional and technical skills; professional and technical skills improved during virtual fieldwork but skill development was perceived to be more difficult to accomplish; communication, peer support, online resources, and utilization of their fieldwork educator were primary strategies for facilitating skills development during virtual fieldwork; and virtual fieldwork provides valuable lessons that are applicable to future practice, but students did not recommend it for other occupational therapy students. The results of this study suggest that while virtual fieldwork placements may be valuable in some situations, educators must carefully consider the benefits and drawbacks before placing students in virtual fieldwork placements in the future and ensure that proper support is provided before and during the placement.
Biography
Spencer Morris, MS, OTR/L is a graduate of Saginaw Valley State University's Occupational Therapy program. Spencer received his Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Medicine in 2021 and his Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in December of 2022. Spencer currently works at Life After Incarceration: Transition & Reentry with justice-involved individuals.
Shay Riker, MS, OTR/L is a graduate of Saginaw Valley State University's Occupational Therapy program. Shay received her Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Medicine in 2021 and her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in December of 2022. Shay’s passions in occupational therapy include orthopedics.
Benjamin Poirier, MS, OTR/L is a graduate of Saginaw Valley State University's Occupational Therapy program. Benjamin received his Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Medicine in 2021 and his Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in December of 2022. Benjamin’s passions in occupational therapy include pediatrics.
Kasia Smith, MS, OTR/L is a graduate of Saginaw Valley State University's Occupational Therapy program. Kasia received her Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Medicine in 2021 and her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in December of 2022. Kasia’s passions in occupational therapy include orthopedics and mental health.
Ellen Herlache-Pretzer, Ed.D., MA, OTRL, CPDT-KA is a Professor in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program at Saginaw Valley State University. She has 20 years experience in settings including acute care inpatient, outpatient, and community-based practice; low vision rehabilitation; assistance dog evaluation, training, and placement; and animal-assisted interventions.
Stacey Webster, OTD, OTRL is an Academic Fieldwork Coordinator in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program at Saginaw Valley State University. She has 13 years experience in settings including acute care, sub-acute rehabilitation, and home healthcare, with expertise in geriatric rehabilitation, aging-in-place, dementia care and staging, and fall prevention.
Jean Prast, OTD, MSOT, OTRL, CHSE is a Professor and Department Chair in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program at Saginaw Valley State University. She has 20 years’ experience in settings including acute care, outpatient, and community-based practice, with expertise in fieldwork, program development and simulation.
Declaration of Interest
The authors report no declarations of interest.
Recommended Citation
Morris, S. G., Smith, K., Poirier, B., Riker, S. L., Herlache-Pretzer, E., Webster, S., & Prast, J. (2023). Perceptions of Skill Development Among Occupational Therapy Students Who Participated in Virtual Fieldwork: A Qualitative Descriptive Study. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 7 (2). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2023.070211
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