An exploration of factors influencing physiotherapists' involvement in student clinical education.

Background: The demand for physiotherapy student clinical placements is increasing in many countries, including Australia, and there is continued reliance on physiotherapists to assume the student clinical educator role. Exploring factors influencing physiotherapists' decision to be involved in clinical education is essential to maintaining and building clinical education capacity for the future.

Objective: To explore factors influencing Australian physiotherapists' decision to be involved in student clinical education.

Methods: A qualitative study using data collected from a valid and reliable online survey tool. Respondents were physiotherapists representing public and private workplaces across varied geographical settings in Australia. Data were thematically analyzed.

Results: Surveys were completed by 170 physiotherapists. Most respondents were employed in hospital (81/170, 48%) and private (53/170, 31%) settings in metropolitan locations (105/170, 62%). Six themes representing factors influencing physiotherapists' involvement in student clinical education were identified, including perceptions of: professional duty, personal benefits or gains, suitability of workplace, support requirements, role related challenges, and readiness to be a clinical educator.

Conclusion: Many factors influence physiotherapists' decisions to assume the clinical educator role. This study could assist clinical education stakeholders to provide practical and targeted strategies to overcome challenges, and optimize support, for physiotherapists in the clinical educator role.