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A qualitative analysis of radiation therapy students’ professional placement journals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 August 2013

Naomi Findlay ,
Shane E. Dempsey  and
Helen M. Warren-Forward
Naomi Findlay
Affiliation:
Medical Radiation Science, Hunter Building University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
Shane E. Dempsey*
Affiliation:
Medical Radiation Science, Hunter Building University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
Helen M. Warren-Forward
Affiliation:
Medical Radiation Science, Hunter Building University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
*
Correspondence to: Shane E. Dempsey, Medical Radiation Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia. Tel: +61 (0) 2 49216667. Fax: +61 (0) 2 49217053. E-mail: shane.dempsey@newcastle.edu.au
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Abstract

Purpose

Student experience on clinical placement is not well captured with traditional program evaluation tools. This study aims to complete a qualitative analysis of the reflective clinical journals completed during professional placement by radiation therapy (RT) students in order to uncover the issues that affect students on placement and how these change as the student's progress through the program.

Materials and methods

A qualitative descriptive analysis (QDA) was undertaken on the descriptive content of student journals completed by 97 students over 3 consecutive years while undertaking professional placement in Radiation Oncology Treatment Centres within Australia. Two coders used a QDA sourcebook specifically designed for the research to independently analyse the descriptive content of the reflective journals for four main categories and 18 subcategories.

Results

The result revealed a statistically significant increased tendency to discuss clinical environment and a decreased tendency to discuss the patient, 92·9–12·5% (coder 1) and 85·7–18·8% (coder 2), as they progressed through the program.

Conclusions

The results of this study showed some similarities with studies completed in other health professions; however, the breadth of issues explored within the content of these RT student journals demonstrates the true diversity of the RT student experience on professional placement.

Keywords

qualitative analysisradiation therapystudent journals
Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , June 2014 , pp. 131 - 140
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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