Researching clinical placements

The project team have developed a methodology for studying clinical placements, after conducting pilot studies at the RVC and SVMS intra-mural rotations (IMRs). Examples of research questions include:

• Before the placement
• How are students prepared for the clinical work placement?
• What knowledge and skills do they have before going on placement?
• During the placement
• What happens on a clinical work placement?
• How is student learning on placement monitored?
• After the placement
• What knowledge and skills do students gain by the end of each placement?
• How do they apply new knowledge and skills to subsequent placements?

Using a grounded theory approach, research methods include unstructured observations, pre-interview and post-interviews with students and placement providers (clinicians, residents, interns, nurses). Data is being collected, subject to ethical approval, using digital audio and video recorders and handwritten notes. It is anticipated that this strand of research will allow us to develop a good practice model of student learning in the clinical workplace.