Learning from a situation of discomfort – a qualitative study of physiotherapy student practice in mental health

PURPOSE: This qualitative study aimed to explore how physiotherapy students learn during practice as physical activity mentors for mentally ill individuals. The practice took place in an everyday environment without the presence of a supervisor. METHODS: Information was collected through three focus group interviews with 16 students in their second year of study. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, based on a sociocultural learning perspective. RESULTS: Three main categories summarize the students' experiences. 1) Experimenting and adapting the activities. The students were challenged through communication and relationship-building, and they had to adapt the activities to the clients' state of mind; 2) Experiencing clients breaking social and cultural codes. The students felt responsible for ensuring the clients did not draw unwanted attention to themselves, which forced them to explore creative solutions; and 3) Learning from situations of discomfort. The students learned from having to cope with unpredictable and embarrassing situations without a supervisor present. CONCLUSIONS: Practice as physical activity mentors for mentally ill individuals can stimulate students' learning through reflection in and on action. To avoid stigmatizing behaviors, process experiences and enhance learning, we suggest a frequent and standardized access to supervision.