A SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECT WITH PHYSIOTHERAPY STUDENTS IN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

Service-Learning (S-L) is a pedagogical learning approach that goes beyond academic preparation. It allows skills acquisition which is especially relevant in health sciences studies. This kind of teaching strategy has been poorly developed among physiotherapy students, and even less outside a specific healthcare context. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of physiotherapy S-L program in different areas of disadvantaged and risk population where institutionalized prevention and health care may be scarce (non-profit organizations and social benefits projects).

During the 2017/2018 academic year, fifteen physiotherapy students (9 females; 6 males) from the Physiotherapy Degree Programme of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Universidad San Jorge, enrolled in Final Degree Project, developed this study in eight different local entities. The project received approval from the Teaching Innovation Unit of Universidad San Jorge. Physiotherapy students and participants in Service-Learning projects provided voluntary consent to take part in the study.

Student expectations and reflections on their experiences were assessed at the end of the S-L projects on a quantitative questionnaire using a 5-point Likert-like scale. The questionnaire included topics about the search of entities needs, the kind of developed physiotherapy intervention and their own conclusions about the experience, among other open questions analysed with a qualitative approach. Furthermore, heads of organizations also assessed both the experience and the quality of the S-L program through a specific questionnaire.

The results showed that Service-Learning is an active learning methodology that engages students to serve to a community, creating a significant impact on their personal and professional development.