Patient Simulations Improve Dietetics Students’ and Interns’ Communication and Nutrition-Care Competence

To investigate the impact of simulated patients on dietetics students’ and interns’ communication and nutrition-care competence. Pre-post observational study in which students’ communication and nutrition-care competence was evaluated during the first and final clinical nutrition simulations in wint...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of nutrition education and behavior 2020-04, Vol.52 (4), p.377-384
Main Authors: Buchholz, Andrea C., Vanderleest, Kaitlyn, MacMartin, Clare, Prescod, Alexia, Wilson, Ann
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Clinical Competence
Communication
competence
dietetics
Dietetics - education
Educational Measurement
Humans
interns
Internship and Residency
Learning
Patient Simulation
simulation
Students
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Summary:To investigate the impact of simulated patients on dietetics students’ and interns’ communication and nutrition-care competence. Pre-post observational study in which students’ communication and nutrition-care competence was evaluated during the first and final clinical nutrition simulations in winter, 2017. University of Guelph, Canada. Seventeen undergraduate students enrolled in Applied Clinical Skills (NUTR*4120) and 15 graduate students/interns enrolled in Practicum in Applied Nutrition II (FRAN*6720). Selected communication and nutrition-care performance indicators (PI) (undergraduates = 18; graduate = 33) included in the Canadian Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice, each measured out of a maximum of 3 points. Grand means of communication and nutrition-care PI scores were compared across 2 time points using paired t tests, at a significance level of .05. Undergraduates’ (n = 15) communication and nutrition-care PI scores increased by 0.9 ± 0.35 (49.7%) and 0.8 ± 0.22 (45.8%) points, respectively (both P < .001). Graduate students’ communication and nutrition-care PI scores increased by 0.4 ± 0.45 (18.5%) and 0.7 ± 0.59 (37.9%) points, respectively (both P < .01). Simulated patients incorporated into clinical nutrition courses increase dietetics students’ and interns’ communication and nutrition-care competence. More research using comprehensive practice-based competency assessment tools is needed in larger samples of students and interns.
ISSN:1499-4046
1878-2620
DOI:10.1016/j.jneb.2019.09.022