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Examining the Relationship between Musculoskeletal Knowledge and Fieldwork Performance among Canadian Student Occupational Therapists

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Title: Examining the Relationship between Musculoskeletal Knowledge and Fieldwork Performance among Canadian Student Occupational Therapists
Language: English
Authors: Madelyn Walther, Viansa Guiotto, Rhona Anderson, Emily S. Ho
Source: Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. 2026 10(1).
Availability: Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475. e-mail: jote@eku.edu; Web site: https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 23
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Allied Health Occupations Education, Occupational Therapy, Knowledge Level, Clinical Experience, Anatomy, Grades (Scholastic), Graduate Students, Foreign Countries, Experiential Learning, Interdisciplinary Approach, Performance Factors
Geographic Terms: Canada
ISSN: 2573-1378
Abstract: To evaluate the physical aspects of occupational performance, occupational therapists must understand the anatomical structure and function of the body. As such, occupational therapy academic programs must provide sufficient foundational musculoskeletal (MSK) education to prepare student occupational therapists for successful clinical practice. There is a paucity of research on MSK educational needs, and the relationship between student occupational therapists' MSK academic outcomes and fieldwork performance. This study examined the relationship between MSK anatomy course academic grades and fieldwork performance indicators on the Competency-Based Fieldwork Evaluation for Occupational Therapists (CBFE-OT) of student occupational therapists. A mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was conducted among first year student occupational therapists who completed an MSK course and participated in non-mental health focused early-level fieldwork placements. Researchers correlated retrospective cross-sectional data of academic grades and CBFE-OT scores. Following, content analysis of CBFE-OT comments was used to supplement quantitative findings. Researchers inductively coded CBFE-OT comments to identify MSK concepts and used Bloom's Taxonomy to reveal how MSK concepts were expressed. The correlations between MSK grades and CBFE-OT scores were largely insignificant, with five weak positive correlations found. Content analysis revealed an expectation for students to express MSK-focused knowledge through experiential learning. Comparatively, higher-level critical thinking involved in intervention and discharge planning was more often expressed as integrated interdisciplinary knowledge. Findings will strengthen integrated learning of MSK knowledge with practice in occupational therapy programs, with hopes to optimally support faculty, students, and clinical partners.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1502382
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Examining the Relationship between Musculoskeletal Knowledge and Fieldwork Performance among Canadian Student Occupational Therapists
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Madelyn+Walther%22">Madelyn Walther</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Viansa+Guiotto%22">Viansa Guiotto</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rhona+Anderson%22">Rhona Anderson</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Emily+S%2E+Ho%22">Emily S. Ho</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Occupational+Therapy+Education%22"><i>Journal of Occupational Therapy Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 10(1).
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  Data: Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475. e-mail: jote@eku.edu; Web site: https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Allied+Health+Occupations+Education%22">Allied Health Occupations Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Occupational+Therapy%22">Occupational Therapy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Knowledge+Level%22">Knowledge Level</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Clinical+Experience%22">Clinical Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Anatomy%22">Anatomy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grades+%28Scholastic%29%22">Grades (Scholastic)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduate+Students%22">Graduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experiential+Learning%22">Experiential Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interdisciplinary+Approach%22">Interdisciplinary Approach</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Performance+Factors%22">Performance Factors</searchLink>
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  Data: To evaluate the physical aspects of occupational performance, occupational therapists must understand the anatomical structure and function of the body. As such, occupational therapy academic programs must provide sufficient foundational musculoskeletal (MSK) education to prepare student occupational therapists for successful clinical practice. There is a paucity of research on MSK educational needs, and the relationship between student occupational therapists' MSK academic outcomes and fieldwork performance. This study examined the relationship between MSK anatomy course academic grades and fieldwork performance indicators on the Competency-Based Fieldwork Evaluation for Occupational Therapists (CBFE-OT) of student occupational therapists. A mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was conducted among first year student occupational therapists who completed an MSK course and participated in non-mental health focused early-level fieldwork placements. Researchers correlated retrospective cross-sectional data of academic grades and CBFE-OT scores. Following, content analysis of CBFE-OT comments was used to supplement quantitative findings. Researchers inductively coded CBFE-OT comments to identify MSK concepts and used Bloom's Taxonomy to reveal how MSK concepts were expressed. The correlations between MSK grades and CBFE-OT scores were largely insignificant, with five weak positive correlations found. Content analysis revealed an expectation for students to express MSK-focused knowledge through experiential learning. Comparatively, higher-level critical thinking involved in intervention and discharge planning was more often expressed as integrated interdisciplinary knowledge. Findings will strengthen integrated learning of MSK knowledge with practice in occupational therapy programs, with hopes to optimally support faculty, students, and clinical partners.
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 23
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      – SubjectFull: Allied Health Occupations Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Occupational Therapy
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      – SubjectFull: Knowledge Level
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      – SubjectFull: Clinical Experience
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      – SubjectFull: Anatomy
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      – SubjectFull: Grades (Scholastic)
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      – SubjectFull: Graduate Students
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Experiential Learning
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      – SubjectFull: Interdisciplinary Approach
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      – SubjectFull: Performance Factors
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      – SubjectFull: Canada
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      – TitleFull: Examining the Relationship between Musculoskeletal Knowledge and Fieldwork Performance among Canadian Student Occupational Therapists
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