A Systematic Review of Physical Therapist Clinical Instructor Demographics and Key Characteristics: Impact on Student Clinical Education Experiences

Abstract

Background. The clinical instructor (CI) plays a significant role in a physical therapist (PT) student's clinical education (CE) experience. Authors have reported previous systematic reviews concerning effective teaching behaviors and communication styles across the allied health professions, but physical therapist CIs have not been closely analyzed. Purpose. To identify key CI demographics/characteristics that impact PT students’ CE experiences. Data Sources. PubMed, PEDro, Pro-Quest, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and ERIC were searched up through September 2015. Data Extraction. Quantitative data extracted included CI demographics, CI teaching behaviors, and fundamental characteristics that have an effect on CI teaching effectiveness. Data Synthesis. Eight articles were selected. Three elements emerged from a qualitative descriptive thematic analysis: CI demographic data, CI credentialing status, and communication/teaching styles. The most effective communication skills exhibited by CIs included giving timely feedback to the student, using clear and concise communication, and clearly explaining responsibilities to the student. It is unclear from this review whether American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) credentialing influences CI effectiveness. Limitations. Publication bias and regional bias may limit generalizability of results. Conclusions. The data from this review identified key CI demographic and personal/environmental characteristics that positively impacted student outcomes. Higher level evidence and using reliable standard outcome measures is recommended to determine if CI effectiveness correlates with being an APTA-credentialed CI or any other demographic data. Innovative training programs could be designed to highlight the personal and environmental characteristics related to positive student outcomes.