Currently, I do not possess a tool kit. However, after doing my first mock 24 hour recall practice session, I saw the importance of having props. When trying to get quantities during the food and beverage recall, it was a bit challenging to put portions into perspective without the use of a visual aid. The article, Communicating Health Risks with Visual Aids, states that appropriately designed visual aids may help break down a barrier in people with communication, varying abilities, ages, cultural backgrounds among others.1 If I was in the possession of a visual aid, the aspect of having to estimate the portion size would have been easier for both the mock patient and the mock Registered Dietitian. The 3 groups that used the toolkits during class seemed to have an easier time communication and gathering information from the patient, such as serving sizes versus the actual portion size consumed. It was not until it was my turn to talk to the patient that I realized the importance of having and wishing I had a visual aid. I can not imagine going through more sessions without the use of a toolkit. My goal is to slowly build up a kit that I would be able to use during future counseling
Currently, I do not possess a tool kit. However, after doing my first mock 24 hour recall practice session, I saw the importance of having props. When trying to get quantities during the food and beverage recall, it was a bit challenging to put portions into perspective without the use of a visual aid. The article, Communicating Health Risks with Visual Aids, states that appropriately designed visual aids may help break down a barrier in people with communication, varying abilities, ages, cultural backgrounds among others.1 If I was in the possession of a visual aid, the aspect of having to estimate the portion size would have been easier for both the mock patient and the mock Registered Dietitian. The 3 groups that used the toolkits during class seemed to have an easier time communication and gathering information from the patient, such as serving sizes versus the actual portion size consumed. It was not until it was my turn to talk to the patient that I realized the importance of having and wishing I had a visual aid. I can not imagine going through more sessions without the use of a toolkit. My goal is to slowly build up a kit that I would be able to use during future counseling