Patient Simulations Improve Dietetics Students' and Interns' Communication and Nutrition-Care Competence

Objective: To investigate the impact of simulated patients on dietetics students' and interns' communication and nutrition-care competence. Design: Pre-post observational study in which students' communication and nutrition-care competence was evaluated during the first and final clinical nutrition simulations in winter, 2017. Setting: University of Guelph, Canada. Participants: Seventeen undergraduate students enrolled in Applied Clinical Skills (NUTR*4120) and 15 graduate students/interns enrolled in Practicum in Applied Nutrition II (FRAN*6720). Variables Measured: Selected communication and nutrition-care performance indicators (PI) (undergraduates = 18; graduate = 33) included in the Canadian Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice, each measured out of a maximum of 3 points. Analysis: Grand means of communication and nutrition-care PI scores were compared across 2 time points using paired t tests, at a significance level of.05. Results: Undergraduates' (n = 15) communication and nutrition-care PI scores increased by 0.9 +/- 0.35 (49.7%) and 0.8 +/- 0.22 (45.8%) points, respectively (both P < .001). Graduate students' communication and nutrition-care PI scores increased by 0.4 +/- 0.45 (18.5%) and 0.7 +/- 0.59 (37.9%) points, respectively (both P < .01). Conclusions and Implications: Simulated patients incorporated into clinical nutrition courses increase dietetics students' and interns' communication and nutrition-care competence. More research using comprehensive practice-based competency assessment tools is needed in larger samples of students and interns.