The Effect of an Online Journal Club on Fieldwork Educators’ Perspectives on Student Professionalism

This study examined the effect of an online journal club on fieldwork educators’ perspectives on student professionalism. Fieldwork educators participated in a five-week journal club on the topic of professionalism. Thirty-nine fieldwork educators completed the experience, which entailed a pre-posttest survey, reading one article, and participating in a weekly, asynchronous discussion. Ratings of confidence in supervising students who exhibit unprofessional behaviors increased at a statistically significant level from pretest to posttest. Qualitative themes are presented for pre-posttest questions, in addition to the weekly discussion responses. An online journal club for fieldwork educators increased self-ratings of confidence in supervising students who exhibit unprofessional behaviors, cultivated discussion on how to best convey their expectations of professionalism to their students, and facilitated enrichment of their concept of professionalism within the field of occupational therapy.