Clinical activity profile of physiotherapy students in a regional student-led musculoskeletal clinic: A retrospective study

Abstract

The study aimed to quantify the clinical activity profile of physiotherapy students within a regional student-led musculoskeletal clinic. A retrospective clinical audit examined all occasions of service (OOS) delivered during 2018. Demographic data and student to clinical educator (CE) ratio were also collected. Descriptive statistics were used to describe patient demographics. The average OOS per student per week between student to CE ratios (i.e., 2:1 and 3:1 group) were analysed using a repeated measures ANOVA. A total of 214 clients were included (mean age 40.9 years (SD 20.4) with 66.5% being female (n = 133)). The shoulder (19.3%) was the most assessed/treated region, followed by the knee (18.9%), and ankle/foot (16.2%). Analysis revealed a main effect of week (p<0.001), but not for student to CE ratio (p=0.125). There was no interaction of week by student to CE ratio (p=0.528). Post hoc analysis revealed the average OOS per student per week was lower for week 1 than in weeks 2, 3, and 4, with a small but statistically significant decrease in average OOS from week 4 to 5. Overall, students attending a regional student-led musculoskeletal clinic see a variety of clinical presentations, from clients across the lifespan, with increasing OOS across the placement.