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Home > Computing, Health and Science > JEPHC > Vol. 7 (2009) > Iss. 3

 

Abstract

Aims A component of the Council of Ambulance Authorities Inc. (Australia) guidelines is to facilitate the development of University degree courses which focus on the development of professional behaviour by incorporating educational programs that provide paramedic graduates with workplace skills that will be required for their future careers.

Methods A health fact sheet assessment task was introduced to first year Bachelor of Health Sciences (Paramedic) students as a part of their curriculum in bioscience. The aims of the assessment task were to improve their understanding of basic anatomy and physiology, and to enhance essential workplace skills such as communicating scientific concepts to members of the general public (lay people). In addition to the task, a survey was distributed to determine the opinion of the students on the health fact sheet assessment task.

Results The 166 students who completed the task achieved a high mean grade of 8.16 out of 10 (± 0.77). Fifty-two students completed the survey (31.32%), with most students strongly believing that learning to communicate more effectively to the general public was a useful skill and that the health fact sheet assessment task achieved this aim.

Conclusion The health fact sheet assessment task was a valuable tool in an undergraduate paramedic curriculum, reinforcing skills that are relevant to an allied health career.

Author Biography

PhD (Health Sciences), Graduate Cert (Higher Education)

Deanne is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Biomedical and Health Sciences at Victoria University, Melbourne.

In addition to teaching physiology (bioscience) to the students enrolled in the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Paramedic), Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Sciences) and Bachelor of Nursing at Victoria University, Deanne co-ordinates the first year Bioscience units for the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Paramedic) degree. Other publications Moni R, Hryciw DH, Poronnik P, Lluka LJ, Moni K. Assessing core manipulative skills in a large, first-year laboratory. Advances in Physiology Education. 2007;31(3):266-9.

Moni R, Hryciw DH, Poronnik P, Moni K. Using explicit teaching to improve how bioscience students write to the lay public. Advances in Physiology Education. 2007;31(2):167-75.


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