The role of the Clinical Supervisor (CS) in interprofessional pre-registration student clinical education – the unmet educational need in university wide health studies clinical practice – stage two

This interprofessional study was funded by the Hunter & Coast Interdisciplinary Clinical Training Network (H&C ICTN) to research the role of the interprofessional Clinical Supervisor (CS) in pre-registration student clinical education. Students from Medicine, Physiotherapy, Nutrition & Dietetics, Radiation Science and Occupational Therapy in the final year of their degree were interviewed either in focus groups, or individually about their experience of clinical supervision during their compulsory clinical practice events. Allied health and medicine clinical supervisors of final year students were surveyed using a previously validated and reliable opinion tool (Clinical Preceptor Experience Evaluation Tool - CPEET) across two NSW health districts. The survey was to ascertain supervisor opinion about the value of clinical supervision in the context of the roles they play as clinical supervisors, the challenges they face, educational and professional preparation for the role of clinical supervisor, and their overall satisfaction having final year students to Supervise in clinical practice.