Building skills and confidence of Speech Pathologists in managing challenging students in a hospital setting using a Problem Based Learning Approach. An innovative district wide delivery model.
Lauren Moffat1, Nicola Wells21Logan Hospital; Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Logan, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia2QEII Jubilee Hospital; Metro South Hospital and Health Services, Coopers Plains, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Abstract
Background: With increasing demands on Allied Health Professionals to provide clinical education, it is essential clinicians feel confident in managing challenging students and students experiencing stress on placement. Evidence suggests that increasing clinical educator confidence in managing challenging students improves student performance and patient outcomes. The aims of this project were to: 1) Implement a district wide, problem-based learning workshop addressing the management of student health and well-being in a hospital setting and 2) Evaluate clinical educators’ perceptions of their understanding, skills and confidence in managing challenging students.
Method: A 90 minute workshop was presented using a case study, embedded with questions to facilitate whole and smaller group discussions. The case study was developed based on commonly reported issues by district speech pathologists (SP), including student preparation, assessment, insight and feedback. 19 SP’s district wide attended the workshop face-to-face or virtually. All attendees completed pre-post surveys which included likert scale questions. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics.
Results: Survey results suggested an overall improvement in perceived understanding, skills and confidence across attendees. Notably, 93% reported feeling confident in identifying challenging behaviours in students compared with 69% pre-workshop. 86% reported a good understanding of the processes in managing challenging students compared with 37% pre-workshop and 71% reported confidence in using strategies to manage behaviours compared to 38% pre-workshop.
Discussion: Providing a district wide problem-based learning and skill sharing workshop is an effective way of improving clinical educators’ knowledge, skills and confidence in managing challenging students and students experiencing stress on placement.
Biography
Lauren Moffat is a Senior Speech Pathologist at Logan Hospital and the Acting Clinical Education Support Officer for Metro South Hospital and Health Service. Lauren has extensive experience in acute adult hospital settings and has a passion for clinical education in this space. Lauren has actively contributed to the broader clinical education landscape working with various Brisbane Universities.
Nicola Wells is a Senior Speech Pathologist at Brisbane’s QEII Jubilee Hospital with extensive clinical experience in rehabilitation and clinical education. Nicola has previously held advanced clinical educator and coordinator positions, working conjointly between the hospital and Brisbane universities.