Clients as Partners in Education: Valuing and Developing Relationships

Clients as Partners in Education: Valuing and Developing Relationships

School: R(D)SVS

Team: Dr Carolyn Morton, Dr Kirsty Hughes, and Prof Susan Rhind

Abstract

The R(D)SVS has developed a distinctive client volunteer programme for delivering communication skills training. While ‘simulated clients’ (actors using scripts to deliver clinical scenarios) are used commonly, there is little research on the use of authentic clients. This project aims to explore the motivations and experiences of our established group of eight client volunteers as co-educators within the BVM&S curriculum and the reciprocal experiences of our 3rd and 4th year students engaging with them in classes. A further aim is to enhance the partnership and use the data to inform and evolve the programme. Individual semi-structured interviews will be conducted with the clients with the data analysed using an inductive thematic approach. A sequential explanatory mixed methods approach will capture the student experience of engaging with the clients and perceived value. Outputs will be shared through presentations and publications as we envisage the insight gained will be of value to the wider veterinary and medical education community looking to explore more authentic and economical communication skills training and to other disciplines in the context of employability.