Rebecca Farley

The Building Partnerships Program: An Approach to Community-Based Learning for Medical Students in Australia

Abstract The Building Partnerships Program at the University of Queensland, Australia seeks to address the dual challenge of preparing doctors who are responsive to the community while providing a meaningful context for social sciences learning. Through partnerships with a diverse range of community agencies, the program offers students opportunities to gain non-clinical perspectives on health and illness through structured learning activities including: family visits; community agency visits and attachments; and interview training. Students learn first-hand about psychosocial influences on health and how people manage health problems on a day-to-day basis. They also gain insights into the work of community agencies and how they as future doctors might work in partnership with them to enhance patient care. We outline the main components of the program, identify challenges and successes from student and community agency perspectives, and consider areas that invite further development.

A feasibility study to improve practice nurses’ competence and confidence in providing care for mothers and infants

Background: Postnatal care is best provided in primary health care settings, yet Practice Nurses (PNs) lack relevant training and report difficulty in providing postnatal care. Aim: To evaluate the feasibility of a pilot educational intervention in improving PN competence and confidence to care for mothers and infants in the first postnatal year. Design: A feasibility study. Methods: PNs were recruited from selected general practices Queensland, Australia to undertake the pilot educational intervention that included a pre-intervention survey, two-day education program, program evaluation and completion of a practice journal. Results: Thirteen PNs from three general practices participated, with 31% completing all study components. Evaluation of the intervention was positive and all participants reported increased confidence and competence in providing postnatal care. Following detailed consideration of feasibility (process, resource, management and scientific assessment) we propose that changes to intervention delivery and data collection should be incorporated into a larger trial.