Pauline Anderson-Johnson

A Descriptive, Cross- Sectional Study Analyzing the Characteristics of an Effective Clinical Instructor: Perceptions of Baccalaureate Nursing Students

This study explored baccalaureate students’ perception of the characteristics of an effective clinical instructor utilizing the Whitehead Characteristics of Effective Clinical Instructor Rating Scale. The instrument is a 39 item 5 point Likert-type scale that measures, interpersonal relationships, personality traits, teaching practices, knowledge and experience, and evaluation procedures. This descriptive, cross-sectional study utilized a sample of 110randomly selected second and third year students from an urban school of nursing. Results showed that students regarded all characteristics as important (m= 4.05 to 4.76). A comparison of the means for the characteristics of an effective clinical instructor by year group, showed significant differences between the year groups for all five categories (p= 0.0001). A comparison of the mean characteristics of effective clinical instructors by age groups revealed statistically significant differences between the mean scores of interpersonal relationship (p= .005), personality traits (p= .024), teaching practices (p= .027) and evaluation procedures (p= .047). Students placed high levels of importance on the characteristics of the Clinical instructor. Therefore to ensure a suitable environment for learning, nursing schools could establish interactive feedback sessions with students and clinical instructors to ensure both groups have an understanding of their expectations of each other.

Impact of a Program to Improve Quality of Diabetes Care in the Caribbean

The aim of this research was to evaluate if the training on the use of the “Protocol for the Nutritional Management of Obesity, Diabetes and Hypertension in the Caribbean” improves the quality of care delivered to patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Jamaica, Guyana, Belize, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname. The main goals of the protocol were to improve the standards of care for diabetics in the Caribbean region by providing tools essential for nutrition management. This study looked at healthcare professionals from the five countries and evaluated practice change following continuing professional development (CPD), in the use of the protocol. The training consisted of a two and a half day workshop led by the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI). The training overviewed noncommunicable diseases in the region and the role of nutrition management; nutrition assessment and the management processes.The 279 participants for the CPD were chosen by the respective Ministries of Health. Of these, 133 were randomly selected by the national coordinators for a chart audit. For each healthcare professional, up to ten patients, medical charts were randomly selected totaling 1140 (25% male and 75% female) charts selected from the five countries. An evaluation instrument was developed and used for the audit and results were analysed using McNemar test to establish change. A statistical improvement in the quality of care following CPD was found through the chart audit, showing that using a protocol of care improves practice in primary care settings in the Caribbean.