Exploring the thoughts and feelings of novice speech-language pathology students: a qualitative investigation

Purpose: To explore the thoughts and feelings of novice Australian speech-language pathology students about undertaking their first therapy placement. Method: Data was collected with Australian novice graduate-level speech-language pathology students immediately prior to their first therapy placement via open-ended responses to two questions on a questionnaire. The data was analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis. Result: 265 students participated in the study. Data analysis led to the construction of two themes: "I hope that my placement will support me on my way to becoming a confident speech-language pathologist" and "I hope my clients do well, but I fear that I might be inadequate". The analysis of these results led to the development of guidelines for supporting novice students on clinical placement. Conclusion: Novice speech-language pathology students are keen to apply their knowledge to authentic clinical cases but are concerned about their own personal circumstances and whether they will receive sufficient support during their placement. An enhanced understanding of students' concerns and hopes may help practice educators implement appropriate support strategies.