Impact and sustainability of teaching SCPHN students to work therapeutically with families

This article reports on the long-term impact of an innovative module designed for specialist community public health nursing (SCPHN) students entitled Working Therapeutically with Families. The module was designed to develop students' skills and abilities in working therapeutically with families through the use of specific, systemic therapy techniques. The objective of the study was to evaluate the module and assess the effect and sustainability of skills learnt. Forty-three alumni were emailed regarding participation with a link to an online questionnaire. A total of 18 alumni took part in the study. The questionnaire data were analysed by descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Three years after completing the module, students said that they continued to use the ideas and implement specific systemic therapy techniques. Students also reported improved skills in reflexivity. The module was found to be valuable in SCPHN training and the concepts relevant to practice.