FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE PSYCHIATRIC CLINICAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR DIPLOMA NURSING STUDENTS IN WESTERN KENYA

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigated factors that influence psychiatric clinical learning for diploma nursing students in western Kenya. Methodology: Cross-sectional research design was used with both qualitative and quantitative approaches in data collection. Study participants consisted of diploma nursing students on psychiatric clinical placement. Ten institutions that place their students at Kakamega County Referral Hospital for psychiatric experience were sampled. A total of 178 students, 10 lecturers and 3 psychiatric nurses participated in the study. Qualitative data was collected using interview guides; while quantitative data was collected using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data while qualitative data was analysed thematically. The relationship between variables was set at a statistical significance of p-value < 0.05. Quantitative data was coded and entered the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0. Continuous variables were summarized using the Odds Ratio to measure the association between variables and presented in tables and figures to provide a pictorial description of the sample.