NUTD9161 Communication and Nutrition Counselling

2019

4.5

1 x 2-hour lecture once-only
1 x 2-hour tutorial-1 weekly
7 x 3-hour tutorial-2s per semester
3 x 3-hour workshops per semester
2 x 4-hour practicals per semester
1 x 30-hour field placement once-only

Admission into MND-Master of Nutrition and Dietetics

It is assumed that students will have knowledge of basic communication skills such as active listening, different questioning styles, reflecting feelings and content, use of encouragers, non verbal communication and how to build rapport, how to build trust and how to gather information.

Assignments; Oral; Practical work; Tutorial participation and presentation.

This topic will introduce students to effective communication and nutritional counselling skills required of Dietitians in entry level professional practice for one on one dietetic counselling, group education and developing educational materials. The topic will focus on the development of these skills through knowledge of theory and through practice in the classroom and wards. The topic will encourage students to reflect on their present level of skills and to set goals for continuous improvement as a model for lifelong learning. The approach taken is a self management, client centred one.

The aim of this topic is to extend the student's ability to effectively communicate health messages to individuals and groups both in verbal and written form and to apply the theory of client centred and self management approaches to nutrition counselling.

On completion of this topic, students will be expected to be able to:

• Apply and adapt effective communication and nutritional counselling theory and strategies to individualise client centred practice that support clients to self-manage.

• Construct a dietetic interview that demonstrates a variety of effective communication skills using ethical behaviour.

• Communicate effectively with people from various cultural backgrounds.

• Design and create effective education resource materials for non-professional audiences.

• Work collaboratively to apply education theory and present it effectively to others.

• Demonstrate critical peer reflection and peer communication.

• Practice self-evaluation of own learning and performance using reflective process.