Learning by leading: A qualitative inquiry into the perceived academic, personal, and professional development of PAL study group leaders in physiotherapy education.

Background: Peer assisted learning (PAL), where student leaders facilitate their peers' learning, is prevalent in higher education. However, PAL leaders' development in physiotherapy education and their role perceptions relating to their future professional practice are understudied. Purpose: We aim...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physiotherapy Theory & Practice Vol. 41; no. 5; pp. 1022 - 1035
Main Authors: Christensen, Lene, Hilde, Gunvor, Eik, Hedda
Format: research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd May2025
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=184921530&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 184921530
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        09593985
        BCJ
      jtl: Physiotherapy Theory & Practice
      issn: 09593985
      maglogo: Y
    pubinfo:
      dt: May2025
      vid: 41
      iid: 5
      pid: 377
      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    artinfo:
      ui:
        184921530
        179252163
        184921530
        184921530
        10.1080/09593985.2024.2393206
        184921530
      ppf: 1022
      ppct: 13
      formats:
        fmt:
          – @attributes:
              type: T
          – @attributes:
              type: P
      tig:
        atl: Learning by leading: A qualitative inquiry into the perceived academic, personal, and professional development of PAL study group leaders in physiotherapy education.
      aug:
        au:
          Christensen, Lene
          Hilde, Gunvor
          Eik, Hedda
        affil: Department of Rehabilitation Science and Health Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
      sug:
        subj:
          Students, Physical Therapy Psychosocial Factors
          Education, Physical Therapy Psychosocial Factors
          Learning Methods
          Peer Group
          Leaders
          Personal Growth
          Professional Development
          Physical Therapy Practice
          Academic Achievement
          Student Attitudes
          Human
          Norway
          Funding Source
          Male
          Female
          Adolescence
          Adult
          Qualitative Studies
          Focus Groups
          Interviews
          Descriptive Statistics
          Thematic Analysis
          Student Knowledge
          Experiential Learning
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Background: Peer assisted learning (PAL), where student leaders facilitate their peers' learning, is prevalent in higher education. However, PAL leaders' development in physiotherapy education and their role perceptions relating to their future professional practice are understudied. Purpose: We aimed to understand how PAL leaders in physiotherapy education perceive their own academic learning and personal development, and how they view their experiences as PAL leaders in relation to future physiotherapy practice. Methods: Focus group interviews were used to collect qualitative data from third-semester students who had been PAL leaders (n = 19). Data were analyzed using a reflexive, thematic analysis. Results: Three main themes were generated: "Being a PAL leader consolidates knowledge and facilitates new learning," "Personal growth through experiential learning outside the comfort zone within a community of practice," and "Learning by leading – transferability of being a PAL leader to future physiotherapy practice." Conclusion: Overall, physiotherapy students leading PAL study groups demonstrated academic, personal, and professional growth via experiential learning in a community of practice. They developed skills likely transferable into their future physiotherapy roles. Our findings propose PAL study groups as an arena for PAL leaders to practice complex physiotherapy competences, positioning PAL study groups as valuable preclinical practice for physiotherapy students.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Unknown
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N