The lived experiences of Saudi Arabian occupational therapy undergraduate students in internship and the influences of problem-based learning: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Aba-Alkhayl, Faris 2023. The lived experiences of Saudi Arabian occupational therapy undergraduate students in internship and the influences of problem-based learning: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Background: Problem-based learning (PBL) is an educational approach that has been widely used in the education of healthcare professionals (HCPs), including occupational therapists (OTs). The PBL approach engages students in real-world problems through the process of problem-solving, which has a positive impact on students’ ability to apply theoretical knowledge when they move to practice. However, the transition from education to practice is a critical period for new OT graduates. This period is often challenging, as new graduates are expected to apply their knowledge and skills and adapt to new roles and responsibilities while integrating into a new workplace. The internship programme in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was designed to assist newly-qualified OTs in dealing with this transition period. However, there is limited research on OT interns’ experience in internship and the impact of the PBL method on OT interns’ practice. Aim: This thesis aimed to investigate OT internship students’ lived experiences and understand the influences of PBL when they move to practice in SA. Its objectives were to explore the lived experiences and meaning-making of OT interns during their internship, including the enablers and barriers that they encountered, to gain a deeper understanding of the influences of PBL during this transition. Method: An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach was used to discover six OT interns’ experiences. Through purposeful homogeneous sampling and by utilising semi-structured interviews, the data was analysed using Smith et al.’s (2009) six-step process to create themes. Findings: From IPA analysis, six main themes emerged, alongside several subthemes. A key finding of the study was that OT interns recognised many PBL benefits during their undergraduate period that could be gained if the concept and goal of PBL were made clear, PBL scenarios were relevant and applicable to the KSA context. OT interns felt lost, scared, shocked and weird in their early experiences of transition due to new environment and lack of experience, coupled with the theory-practice gap and negative impact of Covid-19. However, some personal factors (e.g., knowledge and skills, confidence) and organizational factors (e.g., supervision, the environment, and social support) facilitated their transition. Finally, OT interns identified that PBL had a positive impact on their internship components including the inter-personal, cognitive and task-supporting impact

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Healthcare Sciences
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	26 April 2024
Last Modified:	26 Apr 2024 08:58
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/168388

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