Date Presented Accepted for AOTA INSPIRE 2021 but unable to be presented due to online event limitations.
There is a paucity of research on student-run pro bono clinics, specifically those that offer OT services. This study has two main objectives: to gather general information about the number of current student-run OT pro bono clinics and to develop a understanding of the barriers and benefits of an OT student-run pro bono clinic from the perspective of OTD and MOT program directors from universities in the United States.
Primary Author and Speaker: Jenna Blausey
Contributing Authors: Kristin Valdes
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the number of current student-run occupational therapy pro bono clinics as well as the perceived barriers and benefits of an occupational therapy student-run pro bono clinic from the perspective of occupational therapy program directors in the United States.
DESIGN: Cross sectional survey research
METHODS: The participants of this descriptive study were recruited from a list of accredited MOT and OTD programs or through the university's website. An email survey was sent out to the program director of 202 accredited occupational therapy programs across the United States. The data was collected from an eight-question survey that was created by two OT doctoral students and their professor who is familiar with survey design. The questions were multiple choice or open-ended. The university IRB committee approved the research. The first survey was sent out on November 5, 2018 and was resent a month later on December 5, 2018. Data was collected from Qualtrics Online Survey Software. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize and analyze survey results. Open-ended responses were organized through the development of themes. Both investigators independently reviewed the qualitative data. Both authors grouped the data and independently completed the initial coding of the data to identify patterns, words, or concepts in the data. Open coding was used and like codes were clustered into categories. The codes were compared between the co-investigators. Co-investigators cross-compared and discussed the themes and revised the themes until agreement was achieved.
RESULTS: The response rate was 55 (27%). The respondents indicated the following as barriers of a student-run pro bono clinic including faculty and student time constraints, cost, space limitations, recruitment of clients, and lack of accessible transportation options for clients. The respondents also indicated the benefits of a student-run pro bono clinic as an excellent experiential learning opportunity for students, a chance to give back to the community, help prepare students for fieldwork, and allows for interprofessional collaboration. Out of the total 55 respondents, 30 (55%) were employed in entry-level MOT programs, 14 (25%) were employed in entry-level OTD programs, and 11(20%) were employed in entry-level Master and Combined Baccalaureate/Master's programs. Thirty (55%) respondents stated their institution has a student-run pro bono clinic. Out of these respondents, 27 offer occupational therapy services. From the survey, respondents reported a number of barriers that has hindered the implementation of a student-run pro bono clinic at their institution, 34 respondents indicated limited faculty and staff time, 23 respondents indicated limited space, 21 respondents indicated cost, 14 respondents indicated administrative support, 11 respondents indicated liability concerns, 7 respondents indicated location and 9 specified other.
CONCLUSION: Many of the MOT and OTD program directors identified faculty and staff time constraints as the most apparent factor that has hindered the implementation of a student-run pro bono clinic at their institution. Many of the program directors that identified their institution to have a student-run pro bono clinic found it beneficial not only for the students but also community members.
References
Rogers, O., Heck, A., Kohnert, L., Paode, P., & Harrell, L. (2017). Occupational therapy’s role in an interprofessional student-run free clinic: Challenges and opportunities identified. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 5(3). https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1387
Hu, T., Cox, K. A., & Nyhof-Young, J. (2018). Investigating student perceptions at an interprofessional student-run free clinic serving marginalised populations. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 32(1), 75-79. https://doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2017.1363724
