Dietetics students' construction of competence through assessment and placement experiences

Claire Palermo; Janeane Dart; Andrea Begley; Eleanor J Beck; Rachel Bacon; Judith Tweedie; L Mitchell; Judith Maher; Danielle Gallegos; Meredith Kennedy; Jane Kellett; Claire Margerison; Ruth Crawford; Wendy Stuart-Smith

doi:10.1111/1747-0080.12359

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Dietetics students' construction of competence through assessment and placement experiences

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Dietetics students' construction of competence through assessment and placement experiences

Claire Palermo, Janeane Dart, Andrea Begley, Eleanor J Beck, Rachel Bacon, Judith Tweedie, L Mitchell, Judith Maher, Danielle Gallegos, Meredith Kennedy, …

Nutrition & Dietetics, Vol.75(3), pp.307-315

2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12359

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Abstract

competence

dietetics

qualitative research

students

Aim: Competency standards are widely adopted as a framework to describe standards of performance required in the workplace. Little is known, however, about how students construct competence. This qualitative study aimed to explore how dietetics students ready to graduate construct the concept of competence and the role of assessment in developing professional competence.Methods: A qualitative description was used to gather data from a convenience sample of students ready to graduate from universities with accredited dietetics programs across Australia (10 out of 15 at the time of the study).A total of 11 focus groups were conducted to explore perspectives of competence and experiences of 'competency-based' assessment. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using a thematic analysis approach.Results: A total of 81 (n = 81) participants across 10 universities representing 22% of total students participated in the focus groups. Themes revealed that: (i) there is no shared understanding of competence; (ii) current work placement experiences may not reflect current standards or workforce needs; (iii) assessment approaches may not fully support the development of competence; and (iv) the competent performance of supervising dietitians/clinical educators in the workplace influences the construction of competence.Conclusions: There is a need to work towards a shared understanding of dietetic entry-level competence in the profession. 'Work-based' learning experiences may need to be modiï¬ed to ensure students meet current competency standards. Practitioners involved in student supervision need to acknowledge the influential role they have in the development of the future workforce.

Details

Title: Dietetics students' construction of competence through assessment and placement experiences
Authors: Claire Palermo (Corresponding Author) - Monash University
Janeane Dart (Author) - Monash University
Andrea Begley (Author) - Curtin University
Eleanor J Beck (Author) - University of Wollongong
Rachel Bacon (Author) - University of Canberra
Judith Tweedie (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
L Mitchell (Author) - Griffith University
Judith Maher (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Danielle Gallegos (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Meredith Kennedy (Author) - University of Wollongong
Jane Kellett (Author) - University of Canberra
Claire Margerison (Author) - Deakin University
Ruth Crawford (Author) - Charles Sturt University
Wendy Stuart-Smith (Author) - The University of Sydney
Publication details: Nutrition & Dietetics, Vol.75(3), pp.307-315
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia
Date published: 2018
DOI: 10.1111/1747-0080.12359
ISSN: 1446-6368
Copyright note: Copyright © 2017 Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. This is the accepted version of the following article: Palermo, Claire; Dart, Janeane; Begley, Andrea; Beck, Eleanor J; Bacon, Rachel; Tweedie, J; Mitchell, L; Maher, J; Gallegos, Danielle; Kennedy, Meredith; Kellett, Jane; Margerison, Claire; Crawford, Ruth; Stuart-Smith, Wendy (2017) Dietetics students' construction of competence through assessment and placement experiences. Nutrition and Dietetics, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12359
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450416502621
Output Type: Journal article

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Web Of Science research areas: Nutrition & Dietetics

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