Participatory peer research exploring the experience of learning during Covid-19 for allied health and healthcare science students.
<h4>Introduction</h4>The teaching and learning experience of allied health and healthcare science students has altered because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Limited research has explored the experience on the future healthcare workforce using participatory research design. The aim of this st...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2022-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276180 |
| _version_ | 1811334421242970112 |
|---|---|
| author | Jean Daly Lynn Lucia Ramsey Joanne Marley Johanna Rohde Toni-Marie McGuigan Adam Reaney Brenda O'Neill Andrea Jones Danny Kerr Ciara Hughes Sonyia McFadden |
| author_facet | Jean Daly Lynn Lucia Ramsey Joanne Marley Johanna Rohde Toni-Marie McGuigan Adam Reaney Brenda O'Neill Andrea Jones Danny Kerr Ciara Hughes Sonyia McFadden |
| author_sort | Jean Daly Lynn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Introduction</h4>The teaching and learning experience of allied health and healthcare science students has altered because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Limited research has explored the experience on the future healthcare workforce using participatory research design. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of a global pandemic on the clinical and academic experiences of healthcare student using a co-production approach with student peer researchers.<h4>Methods</h4>A participatory research approach adopting online focus groups facilitated by students trained as peer researchers was adopted. First, second and final year students from occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, healthcare science, diagnostic radiography and imaging, radiotherapy and oncology, and speech and language therapy were recruited to six focus groups. Data generated through focus groups were analysed thematically using the DEPICT model to support a partnership approach.<h4>Results</h4>Twenty-three participants took part in six focus groups. The themes identified were: rapid changes to learning; living alongside Covid-19 and psychological impact. Students preferred blended learning approaches when available, as reduced peer interaction, studying and sleeping in the same space, and technology fatigue decreased motivation.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Due to rapid changes in learning and the stress, anxiety and isolation created by the pandemic, managing study, personal life and placement resulted in a gap in confidence in clinical skills development for students. Students took their professional identity seriously, engaged in behaviours to reduce transmission of Covid-19 and employed a range of coping strategies to protect wellbeing. A challenge with the move to online delivery was the absence of informal peer learning and students indicated that moving forward they would value a hybrid approach to delivery. Higher Education should capitalise on innovative learning experiences developed during the pandemic however it is important to research the impact this has on student skill acquisition and learning experience. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:07:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-10ac77205be6480b8d426ac13fe765c7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:07:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-10ac77205be6480b8d426ac13fe765c72022-12-22T02:38:23ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-011710e027618010.1371/journal.pone.0276180Participatory peer research exploring the experience of learning during Covid-19 for allied health and healthcare science students.Jean Daly LynnLucia RamseyJoanne MarleyJohanna RohdeToni-Marie McGuiganAdam ReaneyBrenda O'NeillAndrea JonesDanny KerrCiara HughesSonyia McFadden<h4>Introduction</h4>The teaching and learning experience of allied health and healthcare science students has altered because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Limited research has explored the experience on the future healthcare workforce using participatory research design. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of a global pandemic on the clinical and academic experiences of healthcare student using a co-production approach with student peer researchers.<h4>Methods</h4>A participatory research approach adopting online focus groups facilitated by students trained as peer researchers was adopted. First, second and final year students from occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, healthcare science, diagnostic radiography and imaging, radiotherapy and oncology, and speech and language therapy were recruited to six focus groups. Data generated through focus groups were analysed thematically using the DEPICT model to support a partnership approach.<h4>Results</h4>Twenty-three participants took part in six focus groups. The themes identified were: rapid changes to learning; living alongside Covid-19 and psychological impact. Students preferred blended learning approaches when available, as reduced peer interaction, studying and sleeping in the same space, and technology fatigue decreased motivation.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Due to rapid changes in learning and the stress, anxiety and isolation created by the pandemic, managing study, personal life and placement resulted in a gap in confidence in clinical skills development for students. Students took their professional identity seriously, engaged in behaviours to reduce transmission of Covid-19 and employed a range of coping strategies to protect wellbeing. A challenge with the move to online delivery was the absence of informal peer learning and students indicated that moving forward they would value a hybrid approach to delivery. Higher Education should capitalise on innovative learning experiences developed during the pandemic however it is important to research the impact this has on student skill acquisition and learning experience.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276180 |
| spellingShingle | Jean Daly Lynn Lucia Ramsey Joanne Marley Johanna Rohde Toni-Marie McGuigan Adam Reaney Brenda O'Neill Andrea Jones Danny Kerr Ciara Hughes Sonyia McFadden Participatory peer research exploring the experience of learning during Covid-19 for allied health and healthcare science students. PLoS ONE |
| title | Participatory peer research exploring the experience of learning during Covid-19 for allied health and healthcare science students. |
| title_full | Participatory peer research exploring the experience of learning during Covid-19 for allied health and healthcare science students. |
| title_fullStr | Participatory peer research exploring the experience of learning during Covid-19 for allied health and healthcare science students. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Participatory peer research exploring the experience of learning during Covid-19 for allied health and healthcare science students. |
| title_short | Participatory peer research exploring the experience of learning during Covid-19 for allied health and healthcare science students. |
| title_sort | participatory peer research exploring the experience of learning during covid 19 for allied health and healthcare science students |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276180 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jeandalylynn participatorypeerresearchexploringtheexperienceoflearningduringcovid19foralliedhealthandhealthcaresciencestudents AT luciaramsey participatorypeerresearchexploringtheexperienceoflearningduringcovid19foralliedhealthandhealthcaresciencestudents AT joannemarley participatorypeerresearchexploringtheexperienceoflearningduringcovid19foralliedhealthandhealthcaresciencestudents AT johannarohde participatorypeerresearchexploringtheexperienceoflearningduringcovid19foralliedhealthandhealthcaresciencestudents AT tonimariemcguigan participatorypeerresearchexploringtheexperienceoflearningduringcovid19foralliedhealthandhealthcaresciencestudents AT adamreaney participatorypeerresearchexploringtheexperienceoflearningduringcovid19foralliedhealthandhealthcaresciencestudents AT brendaoneill participatorypeerresearchexploringtheexperienceoflearningduringcovid19foralliedhealthandhealthcaresciencestudents AT andreajones participatorypeerresearchexploringtheexperienceoflearningduringcovid19foralliedhealthandhealthcaresciencestudents AT dannykerr participatorypeerresearchexploringtheexperienceoflearningduringcovid19foralliedhealthandhealthcaresciencestudents AT ciarahughes participatorypeerresearchexploringtheexperienceoflearningduringcovid19foralliedhealthandhealthcaresciencestudents AT sonyiamcfadden participatorypeerresearchexploringtheexperienceoflearningduringcovid19foralliedhealthandhealthcaresciencestudents |