Caitlin Tyler1, Lubna Alnaim2, Josie Diekemper1, Jill Hamilton-Reeves3, Jeannine Goetz4, Debra K Sullivan4, Heather D Gibbs5. 1. Clinical Nutrition Department, The University of Kansas Health System, Kansas City, KS. 2. Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS; College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 3. Department of Urology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS. 4. Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS. 5. Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS. Electronic address: hgibbs@kumc.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To develop, implement, and evaluate a patient simulation to assess Nutrition-Focused Physical Exam (NFPE) skills among dietetics students. METHODS: Three student cohorts (n = 47) in a combined internship and master's program participated. Curricula included: (1) formal instruction with practice resources, (2) baseline NFPE evaluation performed on a classmate, and (3) final NFPE evaluation performed on a standardized patient. Trained observers evaluated students using the NFPE Skills Assessment tool. Self-rated performance was assessed by the 8-item survey completed at baseline and after the final evaluation. Paired t tests analyzed differences in observed NFPE skill, and 1-tailed Wilcoxon signed-rank test analyzed differences in survey responses. RESULTS: Nutrition-Focused Physical Exam skill improvements were observed for each cohort (P < .05). Surveys demonstrated increased comfort touching patients (P < .001), and improved self-rated abilities to assess subcutaneous fat, muscle stores, fluid accumulation, and micronutrient deficiency (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Simulations were an effective method for increasing observed and perceived NFPE skills among dietetics students. These findings justify the investigation of these methods within a larger sample of students from multiple programs with rigorous study design.
OBJECTIVE: To develop, implement, and evaluate a patient simulation to assess Nutrition-Focused Physical Exam (NFPE) skills among dietetics students. METHODS: Three student cohorts (n = 47) in a combined internship and master's program participated. Curricula included: (1) formal instruction with practice resources, (2) baseline NFPE evaluation performed on a classmate, and (3) final NFPE evaluation performed on a standardized patient. Trained observers evaluated students using the NFPE Skills Assessment tool. Self-rated performance was assessed by the 8-item survey completed at baseline and after the final evaluation. Paired t tests analyzed differences in observed NFPE skill, and 1-tailed Wilcoxon signed-rank test analyzed differences in survey responses. RESULTS: Nutrition-Focused Physical Exam skill improvements were observed for each cohort (P < .05). Surveys demonstrated increased comfort touching patients (P < .001), and improved self-rated abilities to assess subcutaneous fat, muscle stores, fluid accumulation, and micronutrient deficiency (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Simulations were an effective method for increasing observed and perceived NFPE skills among dietetics students. These findings justify the investigation of these methods within a larger sample of students from multiple programs with rigorous study design.
Authors: Sayna Norouzi; Kyle S Liu; Edlyn Bustamante; Ton La; William E Mitch; Kurtis Pivert; Kristen A Staggers; Blake Shusterman; Christina M Yuan; Rajeev Raghavan Journal: Kidney360 Date: 2021-11-29