My name is Cathy Maginnis and I am a lecturer at
Charles Sturt University (CSU) Dubbo campus. I have just returned from
facilitating an international WPL in Thailand with 8 Bachelor of Nursing. This
is our third WPL trip to Thailand and it provides enormous benefits to the
students to be immersed in clinical practice in a different country. The
two-week trip to Thailand is supported by CSU Global, a University initiative
to provide students the opportunity to experience the world through a broad
range of international study experiences.
During the trip students travelled to villages in
the Wat Jan region in northern Thailand as well as visiting the McCormack
Nursing Faculty at Chiang Mai University. This is a great experience for the
students as the Dean of the Nursing School and her staff present an overview of
the Nursing course offered at this University providing a tour of their
facilities including the simulation area, living areas and finishes with lunch
in their cafeteria. We were based at a small rural 10 bed hospital and
accompany a team of local health staff to remote villages each day. During
these clinics they engage with the school children and deliver health education
and engage in an exchange of songs, stories and games with a lot of fun had by
everyone whilst learning from each other. This year we also undertook top to
toe assessments on all the school children, up to 200 per day and referred any
issues to the nurse practitioner or nurse for treatment.
The students delivered primary health care and
assessment of patients as well as participated in health promotion and
education activities. It’s a chance to see the ground-level realities of living
in a remote rural village and learn about the health issues and the ways these
challenges are met by the local health professionals and community members. The
students learnt to communicate in different ways and to build upon their
critical thinking and reflective skills as well as delivering culturally
appropriate care. These skills will enhance their confidence and they will be
able to incorporate them in their future practice with delivering culturally
appropriate care in our Australian multicultural communities. It also
contributes to better health outcomes for the people living in these villages.
There are obvious challenges with an International
WPL as all experience some degree of culture shock and there are many
challenges not the least being language barriers and communication. Fortunately
our partnering organisation provides a guide and interpreters who are very
experienced and have accompanied several universities whilst undertaking
international WPL. Culture, food, dress, transport, weather conditions and
using squat toilets are other factors that provide challenges. Whilst they are
different they are not wrong and enhance the experience. We are very privileged
to be able to immerse ourselves even for a short period in another culture and
observe the differences. The health care system and what is provided in
Thailand is very good but where we visit access is the biggest problem,
requiring transport, someone to take the person to the health facility and
accessible roads as monsoonal weather causes roads to wash away. Travel from
our base can take up to 3 hours in 4 wheel drive vehicles through the most
picturesque countryside. This is part of the adventure of an international WPL
as we greet villagers in their paddocks as we go by, watch the water buffalo
and livestock being moved on the roads and watch the villagers go about their
everyday lives.
Many of the presenting health conditions mirror
those in Australia but with different risk factors. Respiratory issues are
linked to cooking inside the houses and the smoky environment as well as
smoking. Osteoarthritis and RSI from farming in the fields for long periods
every day and then bending sewing intricate garments at night in poor lighting.
Colds and flu are common due to seasonal changes and poor hygiene practices as
well as gastroenteritis from contaminated water and a lack of sewerage in some
villages. Not accessing health care to identify and prevent health issues due
to difficulties accessing the care exacerbates the conditions. Hygiene and
epidemic control is a priority with health education and vaccinations are
given. Malaria, TB and other infectious diseases are present but
non-communicable diseases and injuries have also increased. A mixture of
traditional and western medicine is practiced and many engage in meditation and
stretching to assist with aches and pains. We were lucky to be able to view a traditional
clinic offering acupuncture and speak to the doctor that runs it as well as
health clinic staff who offer massage as part of their health care practice.
On the first visit to Thailand the team identified
eye care as one of the immediate and far-reaching aspects of healthcare that
they could contribute to in a meaningful way. As a result, the nursing students
and their lecturer have teamed up with OPSM Dubbo store to collect donations for
the villagers, there was a great response last year and this has been matched
again this year with hundreds of glasses being donated, cleaned, checked and
graded by OPSM. These glasses can make such a big difference to the lives of
people in the poorest area of northern Thailand. All villagers work in the
fields in the harsh glare of the sunlight for long hours every day. Many of the
women sew intricate detail on clothing and items to sell and often this is done
in the poor evening light. Donating reading and sunglasses can provide an
immense and immediate benefit and is an example of how Charles Sturt University
strives to enhance the lives of people in our own backyard and further afield.
The donated reading and sunglasses provide an immense and immediate benefit.
I feel very humbled and honoured to be able to
accompany the students and to further the relationships I have built with the
local health staff and the villagers. The experience is very unique and
undertaken in a beautiful setting with friendly and caring people. The
villagers we provide the health care for are not the only ones to benefit from
this WPL, the health staff and the nursing students also benefit from
exchanging information and building relationships as well as learning a bit of
the language form each other.
Cathy Maginnis
Head of Campus- Dubbo
Student Engagement Academic, Bachelor of Nursing- Dubbo campus
Student Engagement Academic, Bachelor of Nursing- Dubbo campus
SNMIH Marketing Manager
Lecturer SNMIH
Tel: +61 2 6885 7324
Email: cmaginnis@csu.edu.au
