A Pilot Study of the Effects of S-LP Practicum Students on Service Delivery

• Published in: Journal of speech-language pathology and audiology Vol. 22; no. 3; pp. 141 - 150
• Main Authors: Hancock, Jennifer J, Hagler, Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.1998
• ISSN: 0848-1970

The purpose of this pilot study was to lay the foundation for further investigation of speech-language pathology students' impact on service delivery in the institutions in which they do their clinical training. The participants were 11 speech-language pathologist supervisors & their 11 speech-language pathologist student interns in final, full-time practicum placements. Data related to patient care & non-patient care (research, institutional, & community service) activities were obtained from the Speech/Language Pathology & Audiology Workload Measurement System (1988) computer database. Four 2 X 2 mixed analyses of variance (ANOVA) were used to determine the effects of student presence & two indices of supervisor experience on the amount of patient care & the amount of non-patient care activities. Results indicated that students were not a liability in terms of patient care & were an asset in terms of non-patient care. Results are discussed in terms of their limitations & their potential implications for service delivery & for future research. 5 Tables, 1 Appendix, 21 References. Adapted from the source document