This article discussed the results of a study that developed a methodology for documenting time use during placements and investigated the productivity changes associated with occupational therapy clinical education placements in Queensland, Australia. Supervisors' and students' time use during placements and how this changed for supervisors compared to pre- and post-placement is also presented. They used a cohort survey design. Participants were selected from two Queensland universities, and their supervisors employed by Queensland Health. They discovered an increase in supervisors' time spent in patient care activities during the time of the student supervision and decreased after having a student. Students were found to spend more time than supervisors in patient care activities while on placement. Supervisors spent time preparing students and then giving them a caseload for their placement.
Rodger, S., Stephens, E., Clark, M., Ash, S., & Graves, N. (2011). Occupational therapy students' contribution to occasions of service during practice placements in health settings. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 58(6), 412-418. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1630.2011.00971.x
Rodger, S., Stephens, E., Clark, M., Ash, S., & Graves, N. (2011). Occupational therapy students' contribution to occasions of service during practice placements in health settings. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 58(6), 412-418. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1630.2011.00971.x