ArticleBMC medical education2021
A novel blended placement model improves dietitian students' work-readiness and wellbeing and has a positive impact on rural communities: a qualitative study.
Article in BMC medical education, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Antecedents to Allied Health Professional (AHP) Workforce Planning and Management in Rural and Coastal Areas: A Scoping Review.Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare · 2026Review
- Preparing Graduate Dietitians for Private Practice: Analysing Publicly Available Curriculum Information From Accredited Australian Dietetic Courses.Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association · 2025Article
- Efficacy of a Web-Based Integrated Growth Mindset Intervention on Reducing Anxiety Among Social Work and Counseling Practicum Trainees: Protocol for a 2-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR research protocols · 2025Article
- An integrative review of the impact of allied health student placements on current staff's knowledge and procedural skills in acute and primary care settings.BMC medical education · 2024Review
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundClinical placement models that require students to relocate frequently can cause stress, which may impact the student experience and development of work-readiness skills. A blended placement, where placements are undertaken concurrently at one location has potential to address these issues by providing a positive placement experience. Blended long-stay placements undertaken in rural communities increase consistent service provision and may help encourage students to work rurally, with potential to reduce workforce shortages. The aim of this study was to pilot test the feasibility of blended placement models and explore the student experience and skills development. A secondary aim was to explore a fully blended long-stay rural placement and the benefits to the rural community.
methodsAn exploratory qualitative design was used. Focus groups were conducted with dietitian student who participated in usual placements (n = 14) or blended placements (n = 9). Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with five student supervisors who participated in blended placements. Focus groups and interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed together using inductive thematic analyses.
resultsThe overarching theme across all blended model placements was 'enhanced work-readiness', including increased flexibility, organisational skills and better preparedness for mixed roles. Enhanced work-readiness was influenced by three themes: stress and wellbeing impacts learning, working in two areas of practice concurrently allows for deeper learning, and blended placements meet supervisor needs. Fully blended long-stay rural placements revealed additional benefits. Firstly, in relation to the overarching theme 'enhanced work-readiness': students on these placements also developed extra skills in innovation, social accountability, interprofessional collaboration, conflict resolution and teamwork. Secondly, a new overarching theme emerged for fully blended long-stay rural placements: 'increased community connections' which included additional health services delivery, deeper personal experience and more rewarding student-supervisor relationships. Thirdly, two extra themes emerged that influenced work-readiness and community impact: 'local organisational support and resources' and 'enhanced innovative and interprofessional learning opportunities'.
conclusionsBlended placements enhance work-readiness skills by providing an alternative model to that commonly applied, and providing flexibility in education programs. Additionally, fully blended long-stay rural placements positively influence the local community through impacting the student experience as well as providing more dietetics services and may therefore assist in reducing dietetics workforce shortages and health inequity.
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