title: Development and evaluation of an online, interactive information and advice tool for pre-registration nursing students.
abstract: Attrition rates for student nurses on academic programmes is a challenge for UK Higher Education Institutions. Reasons for leaving a programme of study include personal, financial issues or practice placement experiences. Research has shown systematic and integrated support mechanisms may improve attrition rates and student experience. This project explored the sources of, and support needs of nursing and allied health students, develop and evaluate and interactive online tool: 'SignpOSt'. Enabling students to access 'the right support, at the right time, from the right place'. Focus groups were carried out with 14, 3rd year students and 8 academic staff including personal tutors, programme/module leaders. Thematic analysis of transcribed data under four key themes for support and advice: 1. Financial 2. Programme 3. Personal 4. Study/academic, found poor student knowledge and little clarity of responsibilities of academic staff and services leads to students sourcing support from the wrong place at the wrong time. Students valued the speed and accessibility of information from informal, programme specific Facebook groups. Conversely, there were also concerns about the accuracy of these. Further research into the use of informal Facebook groups may be useful along with additional evaluation of the SOS tool.
authors.affiliation: College of Health & Social Care Research Centre, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB, UK. Electronic address: g.ryan@derby.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Gemma Sinead
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: University of Derby, College of Health and Social Care, Department of Healthcare Practice, Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB, UK. Electronic address: f.davies@derby.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D011340:Problem Solving; D061108:Social Media; D013332:Student Dropouts / Q000523:psychology; D013336:Students, Health Occupations; D013338:Students, Nursing; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Academic staff roles & responsibilities; Attrition; Information needs; Online support; Pre-registration nursing; Student support