Help is just a text away: the use of short message service texting to provide an additional means of support for health care students during practice placements.

This article discusses the findings from a pilot study using short message service (SMS) texting to provide an additional means of support for health care students in practice placements. Pre-registration students were recruited students from 2nd year cohorts in Adult Nursing, Children's Nursing, Occupational Therapy, and Radiography to pilot the use of SMS texting with their private mobile phones from their work-based learning placements. The pilot was evaluated using an online questionnaire for students with follow-up telephone interviews, and face-to-face interviews with the four tutors. Data on the use of the service by students was also collated. Although the students made less use of the service than was anticipated, both staff and students were positive about the potential of this type of communication in providing an additional form of support for students in placements. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.