Counseling function of academic coordinators of clinical education from select entry-level physical therapy educational programs.

This study describes the counseling function of academic coordinators of clinical education in the traditional physical therapy programs in the United States (N = 45) that grant a degree following satisfactory completion of 120 semester credit hours or an equivalent. An investigator-designed survey was administered to all of the available clinical coordinators (94%) from the type of program studied. Demographic data related to counseling functions are reported. Other results of specific research objectives showed most (97.9%) of the respondents indicated counseling is a part of their real and ideal roles and little more than half (53.2%) of these believed they were prepared for their counseling role. Real and ideal counseling functions of academic clinical coordinators are described. The means by which the counseling role of the respondents can be facilitated are also reported.