References
Integrating aged care in the curriculum: the importance of design and evaluation
Abstract
Background:
The current study describes the design and implementation of a residential aged care facility placement, and reports student experiences using an attitudinal survey across two cohorts.
Method:
Placements in January 2014 and 2015 were surveyed to identify barriers and enablers to student learning. Descriptive analysis was used to report the frequency of responses for categorical variables. Chi-square tests were used to analyse change in item rank by year. Content analysis was used to analyse text responses.
Results:
Initial 2014 results show that 75.4% of respondents agreed that they were able to achieve the required learning outcomes during this placement, with 72.8% agreeing that the placement improved their knowledge of community-based care for the elderly. Students tended to agree that the placement improved their confidence as practitioners, and that the experience helped to improve communication skills.
Conclusion:
This initiative showed that it is possible to enable learning outcomes that are directly related to core paramedic competencies. The placement was associated with improved understanding of age-related health problems. In addition, the placement provided opportunities to observe the role of health professionals in the maintenance of an older individual's health, social and spiritual needs.
In 2014, 15% of the Australian population were aged 65 years or greater, an increase from 12.5% in 2001 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2015). The proportion of the population in this age category is predicted to increase to approximately 23% by 2060 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2013). An ageing population is associated with an increased prevalence of chronic disease; influencing both health policy and delivery owing to the growing demand it places on health services—including paramedicine (Lowthian et al, 2011; Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council, 2017).
Focus on hospital avoidance and community-based health service delivery has led to the development of new models of ambulance service delivery. These models aim to provide safe and effective care for older people who may experience injury or illness that is complicated by age or comorbidity, or who present with complex chronic health problems (Bigham et al, 2013; Thompson et al, 2014). However, education that prepares paramedics for practice has traditionally focused on resuscitation and management of acute injuries or health emergencies and has not addressed the health needs of older patients (Hou et al, 2013).
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