Background

The specialist education for district nursing at the University of Borås is carried out as a distance education with students from all parts of Sweden. Due to long distances preception and assessment of clinical studies is challenging. Since web-based technology is being used in theoretical education, the idea of ​​using this technology also in clinical assessment emerged. 

Aim

To test web-based meetings (WBM) for preception and assessment of district nurse students in clinical education and to elucidate the experiences of students’, preceptors’ and teachers’ perspective.

Method

All district nurse students and their preceptors were offered WBMs with the teacher instead of the usual telephone calls or on-site visits. Two teachers conducted WBMs with 9 students and their preceptors. Data collection methods were surveys to students and preceptors and a focus group interview with teachers. Data was analysed using content analysis.

Results

Support and information before WBM were mainly perceived as good and sufficient. WBM went well and above expectations, but minor technical problems sometimes occurred. The opportunity for all participants to visually share the same assessment form was highly appreciated.  All participants felt that WBM were better than telephone calls, the discussions improved and it felt like a genuine meeting. Teachers felt that WBM made it possible to read body language and thus get a picture of the relation between student and preceptor.

Conclusion

WBM is regarded as advantageous for preception and assessment in clinical education. Using WBM encourages and lowers the threshold for use of such technology in patient work as well. The use of WBM can also be justified from a sustainability perspective.