The Effect of Allied Health International Internships on Subsequent Internships

Y

10

Outcomes of Education; Allied Health Occupations; Education; Occupational Therapy; Internship Programs; Masters Programs; Field Experience Programs; College Faculty; Comparative Analysis; International Education; Active Learning; Foreign Countries; Study Abroad; Scores; Intervention; Graduate Students

Ecuador; India; United States

1812-9129

Minimal research exists investigating the effect short-term international allied health internships have on subsequent higher-level internships. In occupational therapy, these internships are called fieldwork. Researchers completed a retrospective data analysis of the Level II Fieldwork evaluation scores of 274 occupational therapy students attending a Master of Science program. Final Level II Fieldwork performance evaluation scores were compared between one group of 212 students who completed a domestic Level I Fieldwork and 62 students who completed a faculty-led international Level I Fieldwork. An independent t-test comparing all areas of Level II Fieldwork performance revealed that students who attended an international Level I experience scored statistically higher in the Fieldwork II evaluation sections of basic tenets and intervention skills on their second Level II Fieldwork. The corresponding p-value for the basic tenets section was 0.020. Similarly, the average score for intervention skills was significantly higher in the international cohort with a p-value of 0.012. Results show statistical significance in two of the seven evaluation sections for students who completed a faculty-led international Level I Fieldwork supporting the active learning pedagogy that was applied during Level I Fieldwork. Findings provide evidence to support the hypothesis that international fieldwork experiences have a positive effect on student outcomes. Study results can be considered across professional disciplines.

As Provided

2023

EJ1363725