Evaluating the use of anaudit tool to identify health promotion activities in practice

Lask et al. (1994) noted that Colleges of Nursing, Midwifery and Health were experiencing significant difficulties in obtaining appropriate placements to meet the philosophy ofhealth promotion in the nursing curricula. This paper discusses the experienc es of usingan audit tool to evaluate the extent to which health and health promotion are currently reflected in the nursing curricula and in clinical practice. The tool was commissioned by the South West NHS Executive and developed by South Bank University (Smith et al. 1999). The content of the National Occupational Standardsfor Health Promotion informed the development of the audit tool. The tool was piloted as part of a study investigating the relationship between health promotion/education and the application of theory to practice in clinical areas. The findings suggested that health promotion activity was clearly evident in practice areas, but that it was not always overtly recognized by practitioners. In discussion between the lecturer researchers undertaking the audit, and practitioners, the tool was found to be very useful in identifying valuable health promotion/education experiences in areas not traditionally used for pre-registration student placement. Recommendations included the regular use of the audit tool in all clinical areas, to assist practitioners, teachers and mentors to link theory to practice, and the identification of health promotion in practice.