The Perceptions of Clinical Educators on Different Components of an Internship training Program for PLM Clinic for Physical Therapy. 6

ABSTRACT : PLM-CBR provides internship training in areas of out-patient and of community - based rehabilitation. The board - approved manual for the training program lacks important components. To aid in improving the program , a focus group discussion (FGD) with the clinical educators was undertaken to identify what they perceived as essential yet feasible cahracterisitcs of an internship training programfor PLM-CBR; what clinical competencies should be focused on including their related learning objective and content : what teaching - learning activities and supervisory strategies; and what evaluation methods/tools that should be used. The clinical educators believed that the internship training should provide enough learning experiences within a conducive environment in order to develop competencies related to independent learning and professionalism. However, the identified components focus only on out-patient rehabilitation training with the teaching-learning activities being primarily institutionally - based. Changed should be made in order to provide an introductory learning experience in community -based rehabilitation. 56

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