A Contemporary Approach to Clinical Supervision

A rapid review of the impact of COVID‐19 on clinical supervision practices of healthcare workers and students in healthcare settings

“…In contrast, in a U.S. study of 76 social workers and other healthcare workers, 76.6% of survey respondents reported no change to their clinical supervision structure and process. In this study however 82% of supervisees reported a good supervisory relationship with their supervisor, which is a well‐known facilitator of clinical supervision quality (Shklarski & Abrams, 2021 ). Similarly, in an Italian study of neurosurgery residents, those that were involved in the direct management of COVID‐19 patients (65.9%), reported receiving good support from supervisors most of the time.…”

“…Figure 1 (flow diagram of included studies) has further information. Two publications each were from the United Kingdom (Choi et al, 2020 ; Wanis et al, 2021 ), United States of America (Natchaba, 2020 ; Shklarski & Abrams, 2021 ) and Belgium (Kapila et al, 2020 ; Ulenaers et al, 2021 ); and one each from Australia (Bourke et al, 2021 ) and Italy (Zoia et al, 2020 ). Included studies spanned students, residents and practicing (i.e.…”

“…Included studies spanned students, residents and practicing (i.e. post‐qualification) healthcare workers, from allied health ( n = 3: Bourke et al, 2021 ; Natchaba, 2020 ; Shklarski & Abrams, 2021 ); nursing and midwifery ( n = 2: Bourke et al, 2021 ; Ulenaers et al, 2021 ); dentistry ( n = 1: Wanis et al, 2021 ) and medicine ( n = 3: Bourke et al, 2021 ; Kapila et al, 2020 ; Zoia et al, 2020 ). Most included papers were quantitative ( n = 6 cross‐sectional studies: Choi et al, 2020 ; Kapila et al, 2020 ; Natchaba, 2020 ; Ulenaers et al, 2021 ; Wanis et al, 2021 ; Zoia et al, 2020 ); and the remaining two studies (Bourke et al, 2021 ; Shklarski & Abrams, 2021 ), employed a mixed methods design.…”

“…Only one study (Natchaba, 2020 ) used reliable, and four studies (Choi et al, 2020 ; Kapila et al, 2020 ; Natchaba, 2020 ; Ulenaers et al, 2021 ) used valid outcome measures. Only four studies reported results in terms of statistical significance (Bourke et al, 2021 ; Choi et al, 2020 ; Natchaba, 2020 ; Shklarski & Abrams, 2021 ). All studies except one (Kapila et al, 2020 ) used appropriate analysis methods.…”

“…The pandemic was a time of great stress particularly for students undertaking clinical placements, which was manifested as an increased need for support and guidance and concerns for mental health. Even practicing healthcare workers experienced urgent needs to meet with their supervisors at short notice during the first wave of the pandemic given the newness of the situation (Shklarski & Abrams, 2021 ). A Belgian study of 665 nursing students, expressed an increased need to be heard, prepared and supported.…”