Abstract:
Aim: To investigate the quality of Nutrition Care Process (NCP) documentation in student-led
dietetic clinics, whether students can effectively guide improvements in nutritional and
behavioural outcomes of participants and assess the level of client satisfaction within the
nutrition clinics. This study will contribute to informing future improvements in the education
of student dietitians and add to the validity of student-led dietetic services across multiple
healthcare sectors.
Methods: The study will utilise a mixed-method observational cohort study approach. A NCPDiet-
Audit is used to assess the quality of the NCP documentation by students during the study
period. Satisfaction surveys and focus groups are used to inform the participant satisfaction.
All aspects of the NCP chain, including nutrition care, diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes
were documented using the Nutrition Care Process Terminology (NCPT) in the Academy of
Nutrition and Dietetics Informatics Infrastructure (ANDHII), a web-based platform capable of
aggregating nutrition data.
Setting: Ambulatory outpatient student-led clinics at the University of Auckland, telehealth,
and several satellite locations in the Auckland region.
Participants: All clients attending the student-led dietetic clinics over the age of 16 years who
are not Dove Hospice (oncology and/or palliative care) patients.
Results: Patient satisfaction in the clinic is high (mean score 4.7 ± 0.6 out of 5), ranging
between ‘satisfied’ and ‘very satisfied’. Focus group participants had many positive comments
about the student’s professionalism and flexibility in synthesising achievable and manageable
interventions. Four participants (19% for fruit intake, and 36.4% for vegetable intake) from
each of the inadequate fruit intake and vegetable intake group were consuming fruit and
vegetables according to guidelines by the second consultation.
Conclusions and Implications: Documentation of the NCP chain was completed at high
quality, and overall high patient satisfaction levels are observed in the focus group discussion
and patient satisfaction surveys. Although statistical significance in nutrition outcomes could
not be established with available data, students can guide clinically significant change that is
imperative for learning and development of future student-led dietetic services.