Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 4, 2026

Author Spotlight: Evaluating Clinicians' Adoption of Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Cannulation Through Simulation Training
Published on: August 9, 2024
Patient Simulations Improve Dietetics Students' and Interns' Communication and Nutrition-Care Competence
Andrea C Buchholz1, Kaitlyn Vanderleest1, Clare MacMartin1
1Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Objective:
To investigate the impact of simulated patients on dietetics students' and interns' communication and nutrition-care competence.
Design:
Pre-post observational study in which students' communication and nutrition-care competence was evaluated during the first and final clinical nutrition simulations in winter, 2017.
Setting:
University of Guelph, Canada.
Participants:
Seventeen undergraduate students enrolled in Applied Clinical Skills (NUTR*4120) and 15 graduate students/interns enrolled in Practicum in Applied Nutrition II (FRAN*6720).
Variables Measured:
Selected communication and nutrition-care performance indicators (PI) (undergraduates = 18; graduate = 33) included in the Canadian Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice, each measured out of a maximum of 3 points.
Analysis:
Grand means of communication and nutrition-care PI scores were compared across 2 time points using paired t tests, at a significance level of .05.
Results:
Undergraduates' (n = 15) communication and nutrition-care PI scores increased by 0.9 ± 0.35 (49.7%) and 0.8 ± 0.22 (45.8%) points, respectively (both P < .001). Graduate students' communication and nutrition-care PI scores increased by 0.4 ± 0.45 (18.5%) and 0.7 ± 0.59 (37.9%) points, respectively (both P < .01).
Conclusions And Implications:
Simulated patients incorporated into clinical nutrition courses increase dietetics students' and interns' communication and nutrition-care competence. More research using comprehensive practice-based competency assessment tools is needed in larger samples of students and interns.
Related Concept Videos
Role of Communication in the Nursing Process II: Planning and Implementation
Techniques of Therapeutic Communication II: Focusing, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
This therapeutic technique can also be used when a patient brings up pertinent information during a health-related conversation. The...
Role of Communication in the Nursing Process I: Assessment and Diagnosis
The nursing process considers the patient's emotional and physical well-being. The process can be repeated or stopped at any point if judged essential. Assessment is the first step in the nursing...
Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-II
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) aims to restore function or prevent additional impairment in a patient following an injury or disease. Massage, heat, cold, water, sonar waves, exercises, and electrical stimulation are some treatments used by PTs to treat...
Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube...
Methods of Documentation III: PIE

