Including the online feedback site, Patient Opinion, in the nursing curriculum: Exploratory study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Health Services Research
• Digital Health

Background:

• Universities globally seek to involve service users in nursing curricula to enrich student learning and community contribution.
• Barriers exist to service user involvement, but online communication offers solutions.
• Patient Opinion, a British online platform, collects patient feedback and encourages service responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the feasibility and acceptability of integrating the Patient Opinion feedback site into undergraduate nursing curricula.
• To assess various methods for incorporating patient feedback into nursing education.

Main Methods:

• Five case studies utilizing mixed data collection methods were conducted.
• The study involved undergraduate nursing students across two campuses at a British university.
• Methods included timetabled webinars, video-linked lectures, optional self-study, an audit exercise, and social media engagement (Twitter/Tweetchat).

Main Results:

• Webinars proved effective for broad student engagement with patient feedback.
• Video-linked lectures offered an alternative but were less interactive.
• Optional activities enhanced learning for some students but required guidance.
• Student reviews of feedback shared with local hospitals demonstrated potential for driving healthcare service improvements.

Conclusions:

• Webinars followed by utilizing Patient Opinion for pre-placement preparation appear to be a sustainable method for embedding patient feedback platforms into nursing curricula.
• This approach can empower nursing students to become agents of change within local health services.