Ideas of Coherence Between Theory and Practice in the Training of Health Professionals: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The main objective of this scoping review is to collect and systematically map research literature on pedagogical strategies and activities that target the relationship between theory and practice in clinical education within undergraduate healthcare programmes. We searched the Scopus and CINAHL databases for peer-reviewed papers in English, Swedish, Norwegian and Danish, published since 2016, and specific to professional undergraduate programmes in biomedical laboratory science, midwifery, nursing, nutrition and health, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychomotor therapy and radiography that explicitly refer to curriculum activities aiming to bridge the theory–practice gap. The process was guided by two research questions: (1) In connection with which undergraduate healthcare programmes are there published studies on pedagogical strategies and activities designed to help students integrate academic and clinical knowledge; how are they described; and what kind of clinical activities do they address? and (2) What epistemological assumptions underpin (explicitly and implicitly) these strategies and activities, as well as the definitions and the understanding of relationships between forms of knowledge? We identified 5,693 studies and found 24 eligible for inclusion. The studies employed different methodologies, with qualitative design the most frequent across all studies (n = 15). Most studies originated from North America and Australia (n = 11), and about a third were from Scandinavian countries. The 24 papers cover pedagogical strategies and activities ranging widely from technology-based models to peer support and tools for reflective learning. The vast majority (n = 18) referred to nursing programmes. The results show that the relationship between theory and practice is addressed mainly in clinical education in connection with nursing education. Definitions of central concepts and an outline of epistemological underpinnings are lacking. The pedagogical strategies and activities identified in clinical education can provide information for managers, policymakers, and academic and clinical educators, and guide future curriculum reforms. The review identifies a knowledge gap concerning pedagogical strategies and activities in clinical education within a range of healthcare programmes that extend beyond nursing.

Keywords

• pedagogical strategies
• clinical education
• healthcare
• theory–practice gap
• allied health professions