ERIC Number: EJ1450021
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2637-8965
EISSN: N/A
An Exploration of Psychological Safety in Allied Healthcare Clinical Education
Educational Research: Theory and Practice, v35 n4 p192-200 2024
Psychological safety impacts learning in various professions and settings, including healthcare. While the construct has been investigated in medical and nursing education, less is known within allied health education. This study aimed to investigate athletic training and physical therapy students' perceptions of psychological safety within clinical experiences using the Psychological Safety Scale. Participants of this quantitative, cross-sectional survey were students and recent graduates of Master of Athletic Training and Doctor of Physical Therapy programs. Data was collected anonymously via Qualtrics using a convenience sample. Following data cleaning and imputation, the study returned 338 usable responses, 169 from each profession. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic data, and ANOVA analyses were used for between-group comparisons. No differences in psychological safety were found based on age, gender identity, profession, student versus graduate status, degree progress, or number of clinical experiences completed. Although not statistically significant, data analysis revealed students early in their degree progression reported the highest levels of psychological safety, 5.73 (SD = 1.16) which declined with degree progress, reaching the lowest levels among recent graduates at 5.46 (SD = 1.20). Psychological safety was remarkably similar between athletic training and physical therapy students and was higher than reported findings for nursing and medical students. This study provides a baseline understanding of psychological safety within allied health professions' clinical experiences. Further research is needed to understand the influence of psychological safety in clinical experiences.
Descriptors: Safety, Security (Psychology), Allied Health Occupations Education, Clinical Experience, Physical Therapy, Athletics, Graduate Students, Doctoral Students
Northern Rocky Mountain Educational Research Association. Web site: http://www.nrmera.org/educational-research-theory-practice/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A