title: An Australian mixed methods pilot study exploring students performing patient risk screening.
abstract: Clinical placement shortages and rising costs have created demand to provide low-resource, high value student learning opportunities. Malnutrition screening provides a vehicle for achieving this. A mixed methods explanatory sequential intervention study investigated time costs, and students' perceptions of preparedness after performing routine patient screening tasks, as well as students' overall views on their feelings of confidence and preparedness when commencing their first clinical placements. Pre-clinical student dietitians commencing initial placements participated (n=58), with 16 of these forming a subgroup who performed malnutrition screening tasks while the others attended usual placement orientation. The time saved when students undertook screening tasks usually assigned to nurses was substantial. Questionnaires revealed that student perceived confidence increased in the screening group when compared with controls. Focus group themes included "anxiety and confidence," "learning in the clinical learning environment," "communication skill development," and "the pre-placement screening experience." Students performing routine patient-screening tasks prior to initial clinical placement has potential cost savings for healthcare organizations and was perceived to be valuable for learning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Monash University, Notting Hill, Vic, Australia.
authors.forename: Simone J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0008-9020
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Monash Health, Dandenong Hospital, Dandenong, Vic, Australia.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Golder
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Berwick, Vic, Australia.
authors.forename: Robyn P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Cant
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Monash University, Notting Hill, Vic, Australia.
authors.forename: Zoe E
authors.initials: ZE
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D010865:Pilot Projects; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D013338:Students, Nursing
keywords: capacity building; clinical placements; education - nursing; health screening; qualitative methods; students - health occupations