Priya Martin1,2,3, Saravana Kumar4, Lucylynn Lizarondo5, Zephanie Tyack6,7,8. 1. Cunningham Centre, Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. preeyamartin99@gmail.com. 2. International Centre for Allied Health Evidence (iCAHE), School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. preeyamartin99@gmail.com. 3. Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. preeyamartin99@gmail.com. 4. International Centre for Allied Health Evidence (iCAHE), School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. 5. Joanna Briggs Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. 6. Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. 7. Metro South Health, Centre for Functioning and Health Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 8. Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Clinical supervision is important for effective health service delivery, professional development and practice. Despite its importance there is a lack of evidence regarding the factors that improve its quality. This study aimed to investigate the factors that influence the quality of clinical supervision of occupational therapists employed in a large public sector health service covering mental health, paediatrics, adult physical and other practice areas. METHODS: A mixed method, sequential explanatory study design was used consisting of two phases. This article reports the quantitative phase (Phase One) which involved administration of the Manchester Clinical Supervision Scale (MCSS-26) to 207 occupational therapists. RESULTS: Frequency of supervision sessions, choice of supervisor and the type of supervision were found to be the predictor variables with a positive and significant influence on the quality of clinical supervision. Factors such as age, length of supervision and the area of practice were found to be the predictor variables with a negative and significant influence on the quality of clinical supervision. CONCLUSION: Factors that influence the perceived quality of clinical supervision among occupational therapists have been identified. High quality clinical supervision is an important component of clinical governance and has been shown to be beneficial to practitioners, patients and the organisation. Information on factors that make clinical supervision effective identified in this study can be added to existing supervision training and practices to improve the quality of clinical supervision.
BACKGROUND/AIM: Clinical supervision is important for effective health service delivery, professional development and practice. Despite its importance there is a lack of evidence regarding the factors that improve its quality. This study aimed to investigate the factors that influence the quality of clinical supervision of occupational therapists employed in a large public sector health service covering mental health, paediatrics, adult physical and other practice areas. METHODS: A mixed method, sequential explanatory study design was used consisting of two phases. This article reports the quantitative phase (Phase One) which involved administration of the Manchester Clinical Supervision Scale (MCSS-26) to 207 occupational therapists. RESULTS: Frequency of supervision sessions, choice of supervisor and the type of supervision were found to be the predictor variables with a positive and significant influence on the quality of clinical supervision. Factors such as age, length of supervision and the area of practice were found to be the predictor variables with a negative and significant influence on the quality of clinical supervision. CONCLUSION: Factors that influence the perceived quality of clinical supervision among occupational therapists have been identified. High quality clinical supervision is an important component of clinical governance and has been shown to be beneficial to practitioners, patients and the organisation. Information on factors that make clinical supervision effective identified in this study can be added to existing supervision training and practices to improve the quality of clinical supervision.