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While rural health-care settings are said to be ideal places for the facilitation of interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP) in students, little is known about the rural-IPECP interface. This study explored this interface through student and clinical educator experiences following implementation of a structured IPECP student placement model. Data were gathered through 11 focus groups with 34 students and 24 clinical educators. Content analysis was used to analyze data and two categories were developed for reporting. The power of place and space, highlighting the importance of flexibility, co-location, and lack of hierarchy in promoting IPECP, as well as the role of shared accommodation in enhancing social connectedness within and outside placement were highlighted. This study unpacks the characteristics of rural health-care settings that make it ideal for IPECP despite the resource constraints. Future studies can investigate the rural-IPECP interface through a patient lens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on clinical supervision practices of health care workers in health care settings in one Australian state. Method: A bespoke survey was developed and administered online using Qualtrics™. The survey consisted of Likert scale and closed questions, with options for free text comments. Numerical data were analysed descriptively and using Chi‐Square tests. Textual data were analysed through content analysis. Results: Of the 178 survey respondents, 42% were from allied health disciplines, 39% from nursing and midwifery, and 19% from medicine. The type and mode (i.e., face‐to‐face, telesupervision) of clinical supervision prior to the pandemic and at the time of survey completion (i.e., July–August 2021) were similar. Eighteen percent of respondents had a change in supervision arrangements but only 5% had a change in supervisor. For the 37% who changed roles due to COVID‐19, 81% felt their current supervisor was still able to support them, 69% were still having their supervisory needs met. Analyses of textual data resulted in the development of two categories: Supervision deteriorating, and some clinical supervision functions (i.e., formative and restorative) being more impacted than others (i.e., normative). Conclusion: There were substantial disruptions to several parameters of clinical supervision due to COVID‐19, that may pose a threat to high quality supervision. Health care workers reported pandemic‐induced stress and mental health challenges that were not always addressed by effective restorative supervision practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Many healthcare workers have switched from face-to-face clinical supervision to telesupervision since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the rise in prevalence of telesupervision and continuing remote working arrangements, telesupervision is no longer only limited to rural areas. As this remains an under-investigated area, this study aimed to explore supervisor and supervisee first hand experiences of effective telesupervision. Methods: A case study approach combining in-depth interviews of supervisors and supervisees, and document analysis of supervision documentation was used. De-identified interview data were analysed through a reflective thematic analysis approach. Results: Three supervisor-supervisee pairs from occupational therapy and physiotherapy provided data. Data analysis resulted in the development of four themes: Benefits vs limitations and risks, not often a solo endeavour, importance of face-to-face contact, and characteristics of effective telesupervision. Discussion: Findings of this study have confirmed that telesupervision is suited to supervisees and supervisors with specific characteristics, who can navigate the risks and limitations of this mode of clinical supervision. Healthcare organisations can ensure availability of evidence-informed training on effective telesupervision practices, as well as investigate the role of blended supervision models to mitigate some risks of telesupervision. Further studies could investigate the effectiveness of utilising additional professional support strategies that complement telesupervision, including in nursing and medicine, and ineffective telesupervision practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]