HSO418 -

Due: 30/8/2020
Word count :1500
Shane Howard I & E Project Interim Report 2

Introduction

‘Practice Education’ is the definitive term used by the Deakin Occupational

Therapy department when describing clinical placement, fieldwork, work intergraded

learning or supervised learning, as defined by the literature surrounding the topic. In

2014 the Occupational Therapy department created a Practice Education (PE)

resource page to support and prepare students for the variety of settings that PE can

take place in. The PE resource page was developed to be beneficial to all year levels

of student undertaking the bachelor’s degree with the design for the best and most

beneficial gains during PE, as seen in their mission statement, Deakin (2017)( refer

to appendix 1). Dr Kelli Nicola-Richards is currently the Practice Educator

coordinator and in charge of the maintenance of the page. Dr Nicola-Richards has

identified its potential as a resource and also that there has been limited

maintenance and updating of the Practice Education page. This has been due to a

limited staffing, prioritising of workload and a consistently filled position to manage it

over the past 3 years.

As the mothed of education is rapidly progressing to an online platform,

making sure that the PE resource page is actively being engaged by student to help

with their PE. The identified problem Is if the PE resource page is being used at all,

are they satisfied and what can be improved to promote a better learning experience

or is it using valuable resources that can be redirected.

Aim

1. Identify the level of student use as a resource for placement preparation.

2. Provide recommendations on updates to the site and content based on what

students want and based on my knowledge gathered.

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Objectives – Aim 1

1. Complete literature review on PE.

2. Collect data on student’s awareness, current used of page, satisfaction and

perspective through a survey.

Objectives – Aim 2

1.Identify current drawback and quality of site against literature.

2. Determining its relevance and importance.

3. Identify student needs.

4. Create a list of achievable recommendations for project page.

Current

Method.

This project utilised a survey that was administered electronically, using

surveymonkey.com as a medium to collect the data from students.

- 5-point Likert scales and an option to provide personal feedback were used to

collect quantitative data

- 7 statements and one open question were used.

- No ethical approval was needed.

- Data is private and anonymous

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Supporting literature.

Peer reviewed academic journals published in English from 20010-2020. Data bases

used; the Deakin Library, Google Scholar and EBSCO. Full literature summary in

appendix 2. Research was limited.

Relevant Literature found:

Hitch & Nicola-Richmond, (2016), Ingwersen, Lyons & Hitch, ( 2016)

(Lyons et al., 2017), Nicola-Richmond, Butterworth & Hitch, (2016), Shaw et al.,

(2018)

Key themes:

- Environmental (habitation) – where the placement takes place can have a

higher rate off challenges faced.

- Motivation and confidence. – when the student feel ready and informed on

what to expect they often perform better at the beginning of placement.

- Using interdisciplinary styles of communication.

- Preparation prior to practice education reduces stress and anxiety

- Using appropriate skills in clinical setting.

- Access to supports

- Additional insight.

Through-out the literature it is identified that student preparation, perception and

feeling of readiness are key to student success in practice education. This confirms

the need and relevance of the PE page. Working with the staff and student to identify

it current practicality and the areas that can be improved to provide support,

knowledge and insight for the best possible outcomes for student while completing

their practice education. Student perception and anticipation of placement is key

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component of anxiety and quality of performance. The scaffolding framework is

present throughout majority of the studies even if not directly identified. Self directed

leaning is a habit and its promotion is consistently present throughout the studies.

On top of this evidence based practice is a fundamental skill used throughout

practice education

Project progress
At the halfway mark of the project, the amount of progress has been slow and

only one milestone of the literature review and development of the uploading of the

survey have been completed. During the middle portion of the project i was unable to

provide proficient amounts of time to the project due to bereavement issues,

considerably slowing the progress of the project down. In appendix 3, a table

displayed the contrast and adaption made to my plan as meetings and consultation

with key stakeholder progressed. These set back occurred in the initial first meeting

with key stakeholder in week 1, as my initial search criteria as was too broad and

needed to be refined, this pushed my completed review back by 1 week.

Additionally, in developing the survey I initially opted to create 2 surveys separating

the data collection points for me two aims (appendix 4). This was discovered to be

largely time consuming and unnecessary. With refinement of questions for the

survey through several emails and meetings with the key stakeholder. The cost of

using the first survey collection website and the passing of family delayed the launch

of the survey. Only becoming available in week 5.

Further ideas to ask for staff involved being practice educators to make a short video

describing their placement experiences we also retracted as time would be a

restraint and it was a few steps ahead of the aims of the project. With these
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adjustments to the projects objectives, the project is looking to be on track and

completed as intended.

Project plan
Due to completing HSO401 in a different year, there was no previous gantt

chart made to outline the plan. A simple template for achieving milestones was made

knowing that there could be changes and adaptions need to be made to the project

plans. The plan for the project at this stage appears feasible and achievable, as

presented in apendix1.

Week 5 – Take the findings in the literature review and use them to identify areas of

the PE page to provide recommendation.

Week 6.- Collect data from survey to identify demographics and student needs.

- Additionally, compares them to the literature and refine recommendations.

- Create a list of achievable recommendations for project page.

Week 7- develop PowerPoint presentation.

Self reflection

During this initial stages of the project I took the lead on the research and

begun to find as much as I could prior to the first meeting. As this is a trait I have

(refer to appendix 5) it also caused me to use valuable hours in research with the

librarian and at home. The adjustment timeline shows how it I missed the milestone

(appendix 3). Spelling and grammar is always an area that has needed constant

improvement and slowed progress of completing projects (refer to appendix 6). With

support from my supervisor I have been able to receive feedback and improve the

quality of survey and the information I was providing (appendix 7). I didn’t receive

feedback on my executive summary (appendix 8). I delivered my executive summary

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on time, but to external factors I was unable to deliver any feedback to peers or

receive mine. When realising this the situation I sort feedback from peers who are

currently working as occupational therapists. I took their feedback about writing more

in-depth and fixing grammatical errors in my work. This has prolonged the

submission of this report; however the readability and effectiveness are more

important. Finally I have made a greater effort to be more proficient in communication. I

have decreased the time between responses and being proactive to resolve issues that have

come up. As seen in my email exchange to resolve an issue with the survey (appendix 9). To

meet the demands of the project, I need to increase my communication for clarity with the

key stakeholder to ensure clarity in direction of the project. My attitude to not be a bother

and hassle the key stakeholder has become a hindrance and I have taken their advice to

increase that meaningful contact to deliver a quality evaluation of the practice education

page.
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References
Curtin, J., & Hitch, D. (2018). Experiences and perceptions of facilitators of The
WORKS. Work, 59(4), 607-616. doi: 10.3233/wor-182701
Hitch, D., & Nicola-Richmond, K. (2016). Instructional practices for evidence-
based practice with pre-registration allied health students: a review of recent
research and developments. Advances In Health Sciences Education, 22(4),
1031-1045. doi: 10.1007/s10459-016-9702-9
Ingwersen, K., Lyons, N., & Hitch, D. (2016). Perceptions of fieldwork in
occupational therapy. The Clinical Teacher, 14(1), 55-59. doi:
10.1111/tct.12518
Lyons, N., Shaw, N., Nicola-Richmond, K., Curtin, M., Rowan, S., & Igwersen, K.
(2017). Occupational Therapy Enhanced Practice Education Approach:
Student Perspectives. International Journal Of Practice-Based Learning
Inhealth And Social Care, 5(2), pages 51-68. doi: DOI:
10.18552/ijpblhsc.v5i2.40651
Nicola-Richmond, K., Butterworth, B., & Hitch, D. (2016). What factors
contribute to failure of fieldwork placement? Perspectives of supervisors and
university fieldwork educators. World Federation Of Occupational Therapists
Bulletin, 73(2), 117-124. doi: 10.1080/14473828.2016.1149981
Shaw, N., Hitch, D., Lyons, N., Alharthi, K., Grant, B., & Laupert, B. (2018).
Evaluating a wayfinding video. The Clinical Teacher, 16(3), 226-231. doi:
10.1111/tct.12911

Key stakeholder

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Appendices.

Appendix 1.

Appendix 2.
Summary of literature findings.

1 2
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3 4

Appendix 3
Plan and milestones.
Week Original Milestones Adapted and achieved millstones
1 -Literature review - Refine literature review and
-review current content on Prac ED completed
page
-Develop questionnaire
2 -Complete questionnaire and send out - Completed literature
-Collect and input data summary
-Develop secondary questionnaire of - Condense surveys into one
preposed changes.
- Send email to staff for possible video
for preparation.

3 -Collect data.
-Contact with supervisor.
-Find additional research.
4 -Close questionnaire and complete data - Completed draft survey and
entry. submitted for review from key
-Compare data to research stakeholder.
-Prepare findings and
recommendations
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5 -Present recommendations and - Evaluate literature against PE

midway report page to present
-Evaluate and explore implementation recommendations.
methods - Launched survey
- send out second questionnaire of
preposed changes.

6 -Revise initial data and collect - Close survey and analyse data.
secondary questionnaire data.
7 -Develop infographic and slide show for -Develop infographic and slide show
presentation. for presentation.
8
9
10

Appendix 4. original preposed idea of 2 surveys. As it can be seen there are overlapping
questions and questions are poorly written.
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Appendix 5.
Example of work ethic and proactiveness during previous placement.
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Appendix 6.

Appendix 7.
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Appendix 8.

Appendix 9.
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