J Educ Eval Health Prof.  2017;14:4. 10.3352/jeehp.2017.14.4.

Improving student-perceived benefit of academic advising within education of occupational and physical therapy in the United States: a quality improvement initiative

• Barnes LJ
• Parish R

• KMID: 2406667
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2017.14.4

Abstract

Academic advising is a key role for faculty in the educational process of health professionals; however, the best practice of effective academic advising for occupational and physical therapy students has not been identified in the current literature. The purpose of this quality improvement initiative was to assess and improve the faculty/student advisor/advisee process within occupational and physical therapy programs within a school of allied health professions in the United States in 2015. A quality improvement initiative utilizing quantitative and qualitative information was gathered via survey focused on the assessment and improvement of an advisor/advisee process. The overall initiative utilized an adaptive iterative design incorporating the plan-do-study-act model which included a three-step process over a one year time frame utilizing 2 cohorts, the first with 80 students and the second with 88 students. Baseline data were gathered prior to initiating the new process. A pilot was conducted and assessed during the first semester of the occupational and physical therapy programs. Final information was gathered after one full academic year with final comparisons made to baseline. Defining an effective advisory program with an established framework led to improved awareness and participation by students and faculty. Early initiation of the process combined with increased frequency of interaction led to improved student satisfaction. Based on student perceptions, programmatic policies were initiated to promote advisory meetings early and often to establish a positive relationship. The policies focus on academic advising as one of proactivity in which the advisor serves as a portal which the student may access leading to a more successful academic experience.

Keyword

Health occupations; Health personnel; Quality improvement; Student; United States

MeSH Terms

Cohort Studies
Education*
Health Occupations
Health Personnel
Humans
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Quality Improvement*
United States*

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Quality improvement process over time. PT, physical therapy; OT, occupational therapy; PDSA, plan-do-study-act model.

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  Fig. 2. Perceived benefit of the advisor/advisee relationship. Baseline: 80 students surveyed at the end of first academic year experiencing the original process. After pilot: 88 students surveyed at the end of their first academic semester with new process. After academic year 1: same 88 students after one year with new process.

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  Fig. 3. Number of meetings with advisors compared to perceived benefit of the advisor/advisee program. Baseline: 80 students surveyed at the end of first academic year experiencing the original process. After pilot: 88 students surveyed at the end of their first academic semester with new process. After academic year 1: same 88 students after one year with new process.

Reference

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