Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student supervision and education in health care settings: A state-wide survey of health care workers.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate student supervisor experiences of supervising students on clinical placements since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND

Studies on the impact of COVID-19 on student clinical placements have focused largely on student reports and have been specific to individual professions or topic areas. There is a need to investigate student supervisor experiences. This study was conducted in Queensland (Australia) in four regional and rural public health services and four corresponding primary health networks.

METHODS

The anonymous, mixed methods online survey, consisting of 35 questions, was administered to student supervisors from allied health, medicine, nursing and midwifery between May and August 2021. Numerical data were analysed descriptively using chi-square tests. Free-text comments were analysed using content analysis.

RESULTS

Complete datasets were available for 167 respondents. Overall trends indicated perceived significant disruptions to student learning and support, plus mental health and well-being concerns for both students and supervisors. Extensive mask wearing was noted to be a barrier to building rapport, learning and teaching. Some positive impacts of the pandemic on student learning were also noted.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has highlighted the perceived impact of the pandemic on supervisors' mental health, and on the mental health, learning and work readiness of students. This study provides evidence of the pandemic impacts on student clinical placements from a supervisor point of view. Findings can assist in future-proofing clinical education and ensuring that students continue to receive learning experiences of benefit to them, meeting curriculum requirements, in the event of another pandemic.