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Dependent or Self-directed Learning?
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outcomes of treatment. Therapists must therefore communicate effectively with patients to ensure compliance with their instructions. The aim of the current study was to determine the components of effective communication behaviours between patients and physiotherapists.
FiReen therapists were videotaped in their normal dorkplace. Therapists were grouped according to their specialty and the videotapes were analysed using a variant of the Delphi technique and the critiql incident technique.
behaviours could be categorised uniformly across group into instrumentaland affectivebehaviours. However, the ratio of inehwnental:afFective behaviour varied with the type of patient being treated. The components of effective communication were determined to be a combination of behaviours such as verbal attentiveness, providing adequate explanation and showingconcern for patients in addition to a range of non-verbalbehaviours.
The results showed that effective communication
It is therefore suggested that student therapists should be trained in these social skill behaviours in order to become more effective communicators with their patients. This may ensure greater patient compliance and satisfaction.
Student Autonomy in Physiotherapy Education Anathema or Dealderaten?
that rather than adopting self-directed learning behaviour, the students’ learning was disabled within the clinical environment, leading to a high level of dependency on clinical educators.
The paper explores the students’ lack of selfdirectd learning skills and the factors contributing to this. The main conclusion is that in the highly complex Physiotherapists along with other professionals expect environment of clinical education, the students are ~ d u a ~ e n ~ t h e ~ ~ o n t o b e ‘ g o o d a t t h e i r jinadequately ob’, prepared to apply appropriate learning ie to know how to use effectivelythe knowledge and strategies, and clinical educators are inadequately skills gained in college. At present there is some debate prepared, or supported, to function as facilitators. It is as to whether today’s physiotherapy graduates are recommended that the roles of clinical educator and appropriately prepared to practise within the changing. visiting academic tutor be more clearly defined. In world of health care. particular, it is suggested that visiting academic tutors Undergraduatesmay be judged by college academic etaff should not see themselves primarily as subject to be successful in their role as studenta by virtue oftheir specialists, but should be more concerned with helping graduate status, but aRer qualification may be judged clinical educators and students to develop effective by practising clinicians as unsuccessful in their role teaching and learning strategies. as novice practitioners. The research paradigm adopted for the study was that of naturalistic inquiry, a research methodology As undergraduates these students are likely to have eqjoyed ‘watchful dedication’ from physiotherapy that explores the issues related to human beahviour academic staff throughout their three years in college. by focusing on the perceptions, beliefs, attitudes However, on graduation they are expectedby practising and behaviour of individuals engaged on tasks. Consequently, the research methods used are those of clinicians to be able to function autonomously. critical incident review, interview and non-participant This paper examines this dilemma and propunds that observation, incorporating triangulation to provide paradoxically ‘students must be taught the autonomous reliability. The data gathered were subject to content style’, not simply given autommy upon graduation. It analysis with progressive focusing to identify emergent is proposed that students should not merely be allowed themes. The resulting grounded theory was then shared occasionally ‘to participate in decision-making about and negotiated with the participants in the study to their learning ’, but that they should be taught how to ensure validity. do this and then be expected to do so progressively throughout their three-year degree programme.
Fleur E Kitsell MSc MGST C k r t E m )
Dependent or Self-directed Learning? Jacqui Potter M e DipTP
This study set out to discover whether physiotherapy
students within one educational establishment were displaying effective selfdireded learning behaviour in their clinical education placements. The finding suggest
Medical Humanities: Phyalotherapiats Leadlng the Way
Rowena Murray PhD MA Medical humanities means using literary texts in medical education. It is an approach which has proved effective in developing attitudes and values; it is an
Phyrlothenpy,July 1993, vol79, no 7
outcomes of treatment. Therapists must therefore communicate effectively with patients to ensure compliance with their instructions. The aim of the current study was to determine the components of effective communication behaviours between patients and physiotherapists.
FiReen therapists were videotaped in their normal dorkplace. Therapists were grouped according to their specialty and the videotapes were analysed using a variant of the Delphi technique and the critiql incident technique.
behaviours could be categorised uniformly across group into instrumentaland affectivebehaviours. However, the ratio of inehwnental:afFective behaviour varied with the type of patient being treated. The components of effective communication were determined to be a combination of behaviours such as verbal attentiveness, providing adequate explanation and showingconcern for patients in addition to a range of non-verbalbehaviours.
The results showed that effective communication
It is therefore suggested that student therapists should be trained in these social skill behaviours in order to become more effective communicators with their patients. This may ensure greater patient compliance and satisfaction.
Student Autonomy in Physiotherapy Education Anathema or Dealderaten?
that rather than adopting self-directed learning behaviour, the students’ learning was disabled within the clinical environment, leading to a high level of dependency on clinical educators.
The paper explores the students’ lack of selfdirectd learning skills and the factors contributing to this. The main conclusion is that in the highly complex Physiotherapists along with other professionals expect environment of clinical education, the students are ~ d u a ~ e n ~ t h e ~ ~ o n t o b e ‘ g o o d a t t h e i r jinadequately ob’, prepared to apply appropriate learning ie to know how to use effectivelythe knowledge and strategies, and clinical educators are inadequately skills gained in college. At present there is some debate prepared, or supported, to function as facilitators. It is as to whether today’s physiotherapy graduates are recommended that the roles of clinical educator and appropriately prepared to practise within the changing. visiting academic tutor be more clearly defined. In world of health care. particular, it is suggested that visiting academic tutors Undergraduatesmay be judged by college academic etaff should not see themselves primarily as subject to be successful in their role as studenta by virtue oftheir specialists, but should be more concerned with helping graduate status, but aRer qualification may be judged clinical educators and students to develop effective by practising clinicians as unsuccessful in their role teaching and learning strategies. as novice practitioners. The research paradigm adopted for the study was that of naturalistic inquiry, a research methodology As undergraduates these students are likely to have eqjoyed ‘watchful dedication’ from physiotherapy that explores the issues related to human beahviour academic staff throughout their three years in college. by focusing on the perceptions, beliefs, attitudes However, on graduation they are expectedby practising and behaviour of individuals engaged on tasks. Consequently, the research methods used are those of clinicians to be able to function autonomously. critical incident review, interview and non-participant This paper examines this dilemma and propunds that observation, incorporating triangulation to provide paradoxically ‘students must be taught the autonomous reliability. The data gathered were subject to content style’, not simply given autommy upon graduation. It analysis with progressive focusing to identify emergent is proposed that students should not merely be allowed themes. The resulting grounded theory was then shared occasionally ‘to participate in decision-making about and negotiated with the participants in the study to their learning ’, but that they should be taught how to ensure validity. do this and then be expected to do so progressively throughout their three-year degree programme.
Fleur E Kitsell MSc MGST C k r t E m )
Dependent or Self-directed Learning? Jacqui Potter M e DipTP
This study set out to discover whether physiotherapy
students within one educational establishment were displaying effective selfdireded learning behaviour in their clinical education placements. The finding suggest
Medical Humanities: Phyalotherapiats Leadlng the Way
Rowena Murray PhD MA Medical humanities means using literary texts in medical education. It is an approach which has proved effective in developing attitudes and values; it is an
Phyrlothenpy,July 1993, vol79, no 7