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It is reported that the thesis section is available, to publish abstracts of postgraduate theses in the disciplinary field. Who submits your thesis, must present the title, abstract, key words (include Occupational Therapy), and a summary of 2 to 3 pages of your thesis. And `present it in Spanish, English and / or Portuguese.
Occupational therapy undergraduate education in Chile seen from the students’ perspective: what are the students’ perceptions of their undergraduate education?
Abstract
Introduction: Understanding the occupational therapy students’ perception of their undergraduate training is an essential part for the development and improvement of the program.
Aim: To explore the occupational therapy students’ perception of the content and undergraduate education in Chile.
Methodology: In this phenomenological and qualitative study, data were collected through self-administered electronic questionnaires. The questionnaires were provided using information and communication technology, where the respondents submitted their answers anonymously through Internet. The participants are occupational therapy students between 18-40 years old of both genders from various universities across the country. In correlation with the interpretive-descriptive approach of this study, data analysis was performed using the constant comparison method proposed by Glaser and Strauss and the software ATLAS.ti 5.0.
Results: As a result of the findings of this research, three themes were identified: (1) programme of study, (2) teaching methods, and (3) student-teacher relationship.
Discussion: A greater student participation in their own undergraduate education could facilitate the understanding of the content and program aims, as well as provide a better view of the connections between them through the years of study. In addition, this study aims to provide the students with a reflective and critical thinking about the learning contents and the tools that they need to develop in order to reach the learning goals of the program.
Relevance for the OT: The results of this study aim to open a dialogue and discussion between students and scholars from different universities regarding the needs of the undergraduate programs as perceived by students of different years of study. Furthermore, this study aims to discuss the methodologies and teaching methods used to provide the set of courses to the students in order to encourage the development and review of these. Finally, this study seeks to promote and encourage constructive criticism and active participation of students in their learning processes and learning.
