Understanding the information and resource needs of UK health and social care placement students

Abstract

Background : Students on health and social care degree programmes spend 50% of their time on practice placements. Because of the diversity of settings and the need to evidence their work, it is vital to understand the information and resource needs of placement students. Objectives : The aim of this investigation was to understand the needs of placement students in terms of accessing resources whilst they are in the field in order to inform a guide to meet these needs. Methods : Focus groups were conducted with students on midwifery, social work and post-registration health professions degree programmes on three different sites across the region. Data were analysed using Thematic Content Analysis. Results : Three themes emerged from the data: inequality, user education needs and students' solutions and strategies. Conclusions : It is essential to speak to placement students in order to understand their needs in terms of accessing and using library resources. The timing and content of information skills training is key to meeting student needs while on placement.

Supporting the library and information needs of UWE health and social care students on placement

“…However, a figure of 38.1% ( n = 96) responded that they did not know or were not sure and this suggests significant room for improvement. Feedback that ‘not enough attention was given to induction and training to access and use of library‐based and electronic resources’ suggests this remains an issue. Informing students of sources of support before placement, and if possible at the clinical location, would be useful.…”

“…This was, as noted by Mailer, because of their previous experience of placements and exposure to both NHS and HE libraries. In order to extend the literature base already in existence on this topic, students from the three departments representing HSC, Nursing and Midwifery, Allied Health and Health and Applied Social Sciences, were approached, which offered a wide based research sample.…”

“…In terms of access to resources and information technology (IT) in these frequently more isolated locations, there are two distinct chronological phases in the literature: literature up to 2008 (summarised in Lloyd) notes a number of historical surveys which appear to form a consensus that students on community and IVS placements can encounter additional difficulties accessing physical library resources and IT provision due to the potential remoteness from a university or NHS library base. A second tranche of more recent research suggests this lack of access to resources has reduced.…”

Barriers and Facilitators to Research Use Among Allied Health Practitioners: A Mixed-Method Approach to Assessment

“…Although most Barriers Scale items associated with practitioners were not rated as significant barriers, comments showed that some counsellors believed that treatment should stem almost exclusively from experience and evolving client need, rather than from literature-based research. Other studies have found social care cultures to be experiential rather than empirically based (Callaghan et al, 2008;Lewig et al, 2006).…”

“…The schedule was guided by existing research (Callaghan, Doherty, Lea, & Webster, 2008), and began with an introduction followed by an opening question (about research information sources) designed to promote thinking around research use. To encourage open dialogue, just two core questions (about experiences of barriers and facilitators) were asked.…”