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Educational Programmes (educational + programme)
Selected AbstractsUnderstanding and beliefs of diabetes in the UK Bangladeshi populationDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 6 2009S. M. Choudhury Abstract Aims, To examine the understanding and beliefs of people with diabetes from the Bangladeshi community living in the UK. Methods, Structured interviews were carried out with 14 people invited to a peer educational programme. All interviews were on a one-to-one basis and were in Sylheti or in English. Interviews were transcribed and analysed by two independent researchers. Results, The majority of participants did not know what caused diabetes. Knowledge of the management of diabetes was linked to controlling sugar intake and a number of participants reported eating bitter foods such as bitter gourd to control their diabetes. There was little access to information as many participants did not speak English and did not have a Bengali-speaking doctor. The majority of participants felt that education classes should teach them what the doctor thought was important and that these classes would best be advertised by word of mouth. Therefore, participants were quite passive about their own self management and relied very strongly on the doctor's views and recommendations. Conclusions, Findings from this study can be used to help health professionals working with Bangladeshi people. There is a need for improved information for Bangladeshi people and much of this information might need to come from health professionals. In addition, there is a need for increased awareness by health professionals of practices used by Bangladeshi people, such as eating bitter gourd (which may enhance the effects of rosiglitazone), and the influence these practices could have on the individual's diabetes management. [source] Psycho-educational interventions for children and young people with Type 1 diabetesDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 9 2006H. R. Murphy Abstract Background, A systematic review of the literature in 2000 revealed numerous methodological shortcomings in education research, but in recent years progress has been made in the quantity and quality of psycho-educational intervention studies. Summary of contents, This review focuses on diabetes education programmes developed for children, young people and their families in the past 5 years. A comprehensive review of the literature identified 27 articles describing the evaluation of 24 psycho-educational interventions. Data summary tables compare the key features of these, and comparisons are made between individual, group and family-based interventions. Effect sizes are calculated for nine of the randomized studies. Three research questions are posed: firstly has the recent literature addressed the problems highlighted in the previous review; secondly is there sufficient evidence to recommend adaptation of a particular programme; and, finally, what do we still need to do? Conclusions, Progress in the quality and quantity of educational research has not resulted in improved effectiveness of interventions. There is still insufficient evidence to recommend adaptation of a particular educational programme and no programme that has been proven effective in randomized studies for those with poor glycaemic control. To develop a range of effective educational interventions, further research involving larger sample sizes with multicentre collaboration is required. [source] Adapting to changes in molecular biosciences and technologiesEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL EDUCATION, Issue 2008P. Ford (nci) Abstract Dental education, like any other educational programme in a research-intensive university environment, must be research led or at least research informed. In this context, as the research and knowledge base of dentistry lies in the biological and physical sciences, dental education must be led by advances in research in both these areas. There is no doubt that biotechnology and nanotechnology have, over the past 25 years, led research in both these areas. It is therefore logical to assume that this has also impacted on dental education. The aim of this paper is twofold; on one hand to examine the effects of biotechnology and nanotechnology and their implications for dental education and on the other to make recommendations for future developments in dental education led by research in biotechnology and nanotechnology. It is now generally accepted that dental education should be socially and culturally relevant and directed to the community it serves. In other words, there can be no universal approach and each dental school or indeed curriculum must apply the outcomes in their own social, cultural and community settings. [source] Evaluation by dental students of a communication skills course using professional role-players in a UK school of dentistryEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL EDUCATION, Issue 1 2005P. Croft This paper reports student (n = 180) feedback on the role-play teaching methodology used in behavioural sciences teaching at The School of Dentistry in Birmingham (UK). The feedback received on this well-established (since 1995) educational programme was collected via questionnaire (100% response rate), requiring Likert scale and free text responses. Generally students reported that they had enjoyed and valued the session. Over two-thirds (69.7%) of students rated the role-players as ,very real' and over three-quarters (78.9%) rated their feedback as ,very fair'. The data collected from this study will inform future curriculum development. Student feedback was very positive and demonstrated that the cohort (86% of all students studying in years 1, 2 and 3) found the use of professional role-players involved in behavioural sciences teaching to be both acceptable and valuable. [source] Educating Art in a Globalizing World.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ART & DESIGN EDUCATION, Issue 1 2006The University of Ideas: A Sociological Case-study In 1999, the Italian Arte Povera artist Michelangelo Pistoletto and other artists laid the foundations of The University of Ideas (UNIDEE), an exceptional international artist-in-residence programme with a strong ideological foundation. As a sociologist of culture I had the opportunity to do research in the huge organization for a month by doing participant observation, in-depth interviews and discourse analysis. In this article the educational programme of UNIDEE is interpreted in sociological terms. First of all it will be contextualized in the artistic work of Michelangelo Pistoletto through his concept of the mirror and his a-modern idea of ,The Minus Artist'. In the second part Pistoletto's artistic, political and economic movement Cittadellarte, in which UNIDEE is based, will be described. Finally UNIDEE will be analysed as a model for art education on the border of modernity attempting to redefine the position of art and of the artist in a globalizing world. [source] Nursing and public health in Europe , a new continuous education programmeINTERNATIONAL NURSING REVIEW, Issue 1 2005E. Danielson rn The aim of this paper is to describe the development of a new education programme in public health for nurses in the European Union (EU). The project, ,Development of a Continuous Professional Education Programme for Nurses in Public Health', is described together with its background and aim, which is to contribute to the development of new competencies of nurses in nursing and public health. For the development of these competencies, the framework for the programme's guidelines is organized around core modules common for all EU countries and elective modules, based on national health needs and policies proposed by each country. An example of the implementation of the programme from Sweden, where the programme has already been offered, is also presented. In addition to the educational programme itself, the opportunities for networking for nurses and teachers from different countries resulting from this effort are discussed. Finally, the evolving nature of public health in nursing is presented in relation to the roles that nurses/midwives already perform in various countries and situations, in order to point out the potential of this programme's contribution to the promotion of health of all European citizens. [source] The effects of education and training on clinical practice in wound healingINTERNATIONAL WOUND JOURNAL, Issue 5 2008Michael A Seeley Abstract This article considers the effects of two different types of educational programme on community nurse clinical practice in venous ulceration. One group of nurses (the experimental group) attended an educational programme designed to take account of training needs and learning styles. A second group of nurses (the control group) attended a standardised educational programme. A multiple-choice question examination and Objective Structured Clinical Examination were used to measure knowledge and skills. Kolb's Learning Styles Inventory was used to measure learning styles. Findings were that experimental nurses failed to show improved post-intervention clinical practice compared with the control group. [source] The effectiveness of an educational programme for nursing students on developing competence in the provision of spiritual careJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 20 2008René Van Leeuwen Aim., To determine the effects of a course for nursing students on developing competence in spiritual care and the factors that might influence the effects. Background., Studies suggest that role preparation in nursing for spiritual care is poor. For the assessment of competence, few or no explicit competency framework or assessment tools seemed to be used. Design., Quasi-experimental crossover design (pre,post-test). Method., The subjects were students from Christian nursing schools in the Netherlands (n = 97). The intervention consisted of a course in spiritual care. Competencies were measured with an assessment tool, the Spiritual Care Competence Scale. Data were analysed by t -test procedures (paired-samples t -test). At T1 vignettes were added to assess the quality of the students' own analyses. These data were analysed by a Mann,Whitney test. Regression analyses were performed on the influence of student characteristics on the subscales of the assessment tool. Results., Ninety-seven students participated in this study. Analysis showed statistically significant changes in scores on three subscales of the Spiritual Care Competence Scale between groups (T1) and over time for the whole cohort of students on all subscales (T2). Clinical placement showed as a negative predictor for three subscales of the Spiritual Care Competence Scale. Experience in spiritual care and a holistic vision of nursing both showed as positive predictors on certain competencies. A statistically significant difference was observed between groups in the student analysis of a vignette with explicit spiritual content. Conclusions., The outcomes raise questions about the content of education in spiritual care, the measurement of competencies and the factors that influence competency development. Relevance to clinical practice., The results provide nurse educators with insight into the effects of education in spiritual care on students' competencies and help them consider a systematic place for spiritual care within the nursing curriculum. [source] Effectiveness of a prenatal education programme on breastfeeding outcomes in TaiwanJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 3 2008Shu-Shan Lin RN Aims., The objectives of this study were to design a structured prenatal education programme on breastfeeding and to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme. Indicators of effectiveness were selected based on Kirkpatrick's Training Evaluation Model, including satisfaction with the programme, breastfeeding knowledge, breastfeeding attitude, breastfeeding satisfaction, breastfeeding problems and rate of exclusive breastfeeding. Methods., This study applied a quasi-experimental design. The experimental group included 46 women who received a 90-minute group educational programme on breastfeeding during their 20th,36th week of pregnancy. Each experimental subject was matched by a control subject according to age, educational level, work status and pregnancy gestational age. Control subjects did not receive any intervention. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires at preintervention, postintervention, three days postpartum and one month postpartum. Results., Satisfaction with the programme was high. The experimental group had higher scores in breastfeeding knowledge and breastfeeding attitude at three days postpartum. The experimental group showed higher breastfeeding satisfaction at three days and one month postpartum. There were no significant differences in experiencing breastfeeding problems. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding was higher for the experimental group at three days and one month postpartum, but the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion., This study demonstrated the effectiveness of a prenatal education programme on maternal knowledge, attitude and satisfaction toward breastfeeding. Relevance to clinical practice., Other hospitals could apply this model to plan and evaluate their prenatal education programme on breastfeeding. [source] Nurses' experiences of research utilization within the framework of an educational programmeJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 5 2001Kerstin Nilsson Kajermo RN ,,This paper explores nurses' reflections on their experiences of disseminating and implementing research findings in clinical practice within the framework of an educational programme. ,,Ten registered nurses, all in clinical practice, participated in a research-orientated educational programme with the aim of facilitating the dissemination and implementation of research findings in clinical practice. Thus, the programme contained different activities designed to disseminate and implement research findings in the participants' wards. ,,Focus groups were used to collect data and a qualitative content analysis was performed. The main themes that were developed were: organizational and leadership issues; acquiring a new role; responses and reactions by others; and orientation to research. ,,Organizational and leadership issues, nurses' interest in research, nurses' reading habits, and support and feedback from their head nurses and other managers and from their nursing colleagues and physicians were seen as important. ,,This study confirms that research utilization and the change to research-based nursing practice are complex issues which require both organizational and educational efforts. [source] Pilot study of the efficacy of an educational programme to reduce weight, on overweight and obese patients with chronic stable schizophreniaJOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 9 2010C. IGLESIAS-GARCÍA md phd No abstract is available for this article. [source] Integration of theory and practice in learning mental health nursingJOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 1 2002T. MUNNUKKA RN PhD(Nursing science) PhD(Education) This article describes an action research project that aimed at a better integration of theory and practice in the education of mental health nursing students. Two partners, an institute of nursing and health care and a university hospital, collaborated to develop a new educational programme for mental health nursing. The blocks of theoretical studies were implemented simultaneously with practical training, and the theory content was taught by nursing teachers as well as by nurse practitioners who worked on the teaching wards. In addition, the students had their own personal nurse-preceptors on the wards. The nurse managers were responsible for the educational level of the teaching wards and the director of nursing planned the teaching arrangements together with the nursing teachers. In all, the project involved over 50 different actors and several researchers. The results are encouraging: all the participants , students, preceptors, nurse managers and nursing teachers , found the project rewarding and they want to continue to develop and improve the level of teaching and learning in mental health nursing education. All the participants grew and developed professionally during the project. [source] Bringing medical ethics to life: an educational programme using standardised patientsMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 11 2002Janet Fleetwood No abstract is available for this article. [source] Validation of a questionnaire for assessment of asthma patient knowledge and behaviourALLERGY, Issue 1 2009F. Trebuchon Background:, For several years, educational programmes have been highlighted because care success depends on patient's knowledge and patient's asthma management. However, no tool is available to assess change in patient knowledge and behaviour before and after completing an educational programme. Objective:, To validate a questionnaire measuring the knowledge and behaviour of asthmatics participating in an educational programme and to gauge the benefit of such a programme. Methods:, The Asthma Behaviour Change (ABC) questionnaire was generated from literature, patient surveys and clinical situations. It was organized in eight dimensions assessing patient behaviour in seven different clinical situations and two assessing patient (pathophysiology and therapeutic) knowledge. A total of 139 asthmatics filled out the questionnaire before, during and after the educational programme. Results:, The principal component analysis confirmed the structure empirically made by clinical situations. Internal consistency analysis yielded high Cronbach's alpha values. Different dimensions and the two global scores were able to discriminate patients according to asthma severity. Finally, the effect size of difference before and after educational programme was at least 0.47, and was larger than 0.74 for both global behaviour and knowledge scores. The difference between visit 1 and 3 for global behaviour and knowledge scores reached 18.84 ± 20.83 (P < 0.001, 95% CI: 13.18,24.43) and 11.06 ± 14.98 (P < 0.001, 95% CI: 7.10,15.03), respectively. Conclusion:, ABC questionnaire is a valid tool to assess asthmatics' knowledge and behaviour. Furthermore, this study confirmed that educational programmes lead to better awareness of asthma by patients. [source] Review of ICU nutrition support practices: implementing the nurse-led enteral feeding algorithmNURSING IN CRITICAL CARE, Issue 3 2007Kirsty Dobson Abstract Many intensive care units (ICUs) have standard feeding protocols which promote safe early initiation of enteral feeding. The use of these protocols has been shown to increase the incidence of enteral feeding and achieve greater adequacy of nutrition support. A multidisciplinary working party developed and implemented a nurse-led enteral feeding algorithm which enabled senior nursing staff to set safe and nutritionally adequate target feed volumes based upon patient body weight. The algorithm incorporated best practice-based referral criteria so that patients at nutritional risk were referred for tailored dietetic assessment. The aims were to determine compliance with the ICU nurse-led enteral feeding algorithm and to ascertain its safety and efficacy. A 3-month prospective audit was conducted by specialist ICU dietitians. Data were obtained from electronic patient records and through observing feeding practices. Data collected included prescribed feed type and infusion rate versus volume received, frequency of gastric aspiration and prokinetic usage. In all, 90% (n = 43) of referrals received by the dietitian met the referral criteria. Absolute compliance with patients receiving correct type and volumes of feed, with a correct feed prescription and an accurate documented weight was just 2% (n = 1). Despite this finding, 60% of patients were actually receiving the correct feed regimen. If the nurse-led enteral feeding algorithm is wholly adhered to, the ICU dietitian need not formally assess every ICU patient. Nursing staff require further support in assessing patient body weight alongside an ongoing intensive educational programme for the multidisciplinary team and regular reaudit. [source] Development of an educational programme for caregivers of people aging with multiple sclerosisOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2008Marcia Finlayson Abstract This article describes a three-phase project to identify and develop an occupational therapy response to the challenges experienced by caregivers of middle-aged and older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). In Phase 1 302 caregivers of middle-aged and older adults with MS were interviewed by telephone to identify the care-giving challenges they experienced. A total of eight challenges were identified, with the four most prevalent ones including finding and using formal support services, managing the emotional aspects of caregiving, doing the physical aspects of care-giving and dealing with informal supports. In Phase 2 a comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify existing caregiver education programmes that could be used to address these challenges. None of the 21 programmes that were located addressed all of the challenges identified through the Phase 1 interviews. In response, a new five-session psycho-educational group programme entitled ,Meeting the Challenges of MS' was developed in Phase 3. The programme was empirically grounded in Phase 1 findings, and drew on theory to guide group process and sequencing. The findings from Phases 1 and 2 and the resulting programme cannot be generalized to caregivers of younger adults with MS, although the steps taken to develop this programme have the potential for replication with other populations served by occupational therapists. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The effectiveness of a pre-operative home-based physiotherapy programme for chronic anterior cruciate ligament deficiencyPHYSIOTHERAPY RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2006SL Keays Abstract Background and Purpose.,Little evidence supports the prescription of pre-operative rehabilitation in the treatment of chronic anterior cruciate ligament-deficient (ACLD) subjects. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of a specific six-week pre-operative exercise programme on ACLD knees.,Method.,A single, masked, controlled study was designed. This comprised two matched groups of 12 chronically ACLD patients awaiting reconstruction and a group of 12 matched uninjured control subjects. Only one ACLD group received a home-based exercise and educational programme. Assessment before and after the exercise intervention included: knee joint stability (clinical and KT1000 evaluation); muscle strength (Cybex II); standing balance and functional performance (agility, hop and subjective tests).,Results.,At the time of initial assessment there were no statistically significant differences in any measures for the two ACLD groups but both ACLD groups were significantly different from the uninjured control group as regards quadriceps strength and function. Measures taken after six weeks showed no significant improvement in the untreated ACLD group or in the uninjured control group The treated ACLD group showed significant improvement in the following measures: quadriceps strength measured at 60° and 120° per second (p < 0.001); single leg standing balance with eyes closed (p < 0.001); instrumented passive stability at 20,lb (89N) force (p = 0.003); agility and subjective performance (p < 0.001). The incidence of unstable episodes had decreased in the treated ACLD group, reducing further damage to the joint.,Conclusion.,This study leaves little doubt that pre-operative physiotherapy had a positive effect on motor function in ACLD subjects and should be prescribed routinely to maximize muscle stabilizing potential prior to reconstruction. Patients report improved stability and, in certain cases, may avoid surgery. The finding that exercise increased the passive stability of the joint was unexpected and requires further investigation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Integrating educational and technological interventions to improve pregnancy outcomes in women with diabetesDIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM, Issue 2 2010Helen R. MurphyArticle first published online: 5 NOV 200 A gap currently exists between our expectations of tight blood glucose control and the reality of safely achieving it before and during pregnancy. Technological and pharmaceutical advances will not in isolation prevent poor pregnancy outcomes without recognising the social, cultural and behavioural context of the women living with diabetes. Neither will behavioural and/or educational programmes completely overcome the fundamentally disordered metabolic pathways and physiological challenges of pregnancy. Improved integration of the technological, behavioural and educational aspects of diabetes care will pave the way for truly personalized, interdisciplinary diabetes management and ultimately improved pregnancy outcomes for women with diabetes and their infants. [source] From scrubland to vintage wine: Australia's response to substance-related problems in the last 40 years,DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 3 2003FAChAM (Hon), FAFPHM, FRACP, FRCPC, Professor JAMES G. RANKIN MB Abstract Over the last 40 years Australia's response to substance-related problems compared with most western nations has been outstandingly good. Since the 1960s concerns about problems of substance use have expanded from a focus on alcohol to include tobacco and a wide range of other licit as well as illicit psychoactive substances. During this period there have been major advances in our knowledge and understanding of substance-related problems and effective methods of prevention, intervention and treatment. In parallel has been the development of a large number of non-government, government and professional organizations concerned with problems of substance use. These groups, individually and collectively, have contributed to the development of policies, plans, resources and programmes to prevent and minimize substance-related harm. Although significant progress in these endeavours took place between 1960 and 1986, there has been accelerated growth since and largely as a result of the establishment of the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse in 1986 and the ensuing National Drug Strategy and the Illicit Drug Strategy. However, much of this more recent success was possible because of the existence of the organizations, networks and infrastructures established in the earlier period and the Nation's general health, social and educational programmes. These initiatives have been associated with reductions in alcohol and tobacco use and related problems and evidence of reductions in some problem areas associated with illicit drug use. Despite these gains, there have been areas of failure and missed opportunities. Finally, it is critical to ensure that past achievements and opportunities for continued successful initiatives are not undermined by identifiable impediments and risks that could imperil the philosophy, goals, infrastructure and programmes that form the basis for Australia's success to date. [source] Brief alcohol intervention,where to from here?ADDICTION, Issue 6 2010Challenges remain for research, practice ABSTRACT Brief intervention (BI) is intended as an early intervention for non-treatment-seeking, non-alcohol-dependent, hazardous and harmful drinkers. This text provides a brief summary of key BI research findings from the last three decades and discusses a number of knowledge gaps that need to be addressed. Five areas are described: patient intervention efficacy and effectiveness; barriers to BI implementation by health professionals; individual-level factors that impact on BI implementation; organization-level factors that impact on BI implementation; and society-level factors that impact on BI implementation. BI research has focused largely upon the individual patient and health professional levels, with the main focus upon primary health care research, and studies are lacking in other settings. However, research must, to a larger degree, take into account the organizational and wider context in which BI occurs, as well as interaction between factors at different levels, in order to advance the understanding of how wider implementation of BI can be achieved in various settings and how different population groups can be reached. It is also important to expand BI research beyond its current parameters to investigate more ambitious long-term educational programmes and new organizational models. More widespread implementation of BI will require many different interventions (efforts, actions, initiatives, etc.) at different interlinked levels, from implementation interventions targeting individual health professionals' knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours concerning alcohol issues, BI and behaviour change counselling to efforts at the organizational and societal levels that influence the conditions for delivering BI as part of routine health care. [source] Interventions to improve adherence to medication in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: the role of nursesEUROPEAN DIABETES NURSING, Issue 2 2006Deputy Director, H Hearnshaw BSc, PhD Reader in Primary Care Abstract Summary Nurses now provide the majority of education and support for people with diabetes both in community and hospital settings. However, there are very few studies on nurse-led interventions to improve adherence to medication, a crucial element of the self-management of diabetes. The four studies reviewed formed a subgroup of a Cochrane review on interventions to improve adherence to medication in people with type 2 diabetes. Search terms were ,type 2 diabetes mellitus' and ,compliance' or ,adherence'. Studies were included if they assessed adherence to medical treatment specifically, rather than other aspects of self-management. Out of the 21 studies selected for review, four described an intervention delivered by a nurse. All four studies were from the USA and used an intervention delivered by telephone. Different interventions (two educational programmes, one automated telephone management system, one tracking system for health service and medication use) were backed up by a scripted nurse call. While patients in two studies reported improvements in self-care behaviour, only one measured a significant improvement in blood glucose control. Although some studies asked patients to report on their adherence to medication taking, responses from patients were not explicitly presented. The studies reviewed show the potential for generating evidence for the effectiveness of nurse-led diabetes management programmes. Further high-quality studies into this area are desperately needed, and they should consider new ways of evaluating complex interventions to generate more evidence. Copyright © 2006 FEND. [source] Shaping the future of Scandinavian anaesthesiology: a position paper by the SSAIACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 9 2010E. SØREIDE Traditionally, Scandinavian anaesthesiologists have had a very broad scope of practice, involving intensive care, pain and emergency medicine. European changes in the different medical fields and the constant reorganising of health care may alter this. Therefore, the Board of the Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (SSAI) decided to produce a Position Paper on the future of the speciality in Scandinavia. The training in the various Scandinavian countries is very similar and provides a stable foundation for the speciality. The Scandinavian practice in anaesthesia and intensive care is based on a team model where the anaesthesiologists work together with highly educated nurses and should remain like this. However, SSAI thinks that the role of the anaesthesiologists as perioperative physicians is not fully developed. There is an obvious need and desire for further training of specialists. The SSAI advanced educational programmes for specialists should be expanded and include formal assessment leading to a particular medical competency as defined by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). In this way, Scandinavian anaesthesiologists will remain leaders in perioperative, intensive care, pain and critical emergency medicine. [source] Towards international curriculum standardsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DENTAL HYGIENE, Issue 1 2003Phebe Blitz Abstract:, In 1998, the House of Delegates of the International Federation of Dental Hygiene requested that the education committee of the federation develop curriculum guidelines to serve as models for countries that were initiating dental hygiene educational programmes. This article reviews the process of guideline development, identifies challenges and directions for the future. A review of topics, goal and descriptions of 2, 3 and 4 years is presented. The process of development of the guidelines provided an opportunity for discussion of differences in dental hygiene paradigm from various countries. Participants began to understand the legal, cultural and educational differences that have an impact on curriculum for health care. It is a beginning in the process of developing international educational standards in dental hygiene education. [source] Promoting breast health: older women's perceptions of an innovative intervention to enhance screeningINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OLDER PEOPLE NURSING, Issue 2 2006Robin Y. Wood EdD Aims and objectives., This study is a continuation of prior funded research in which we tested the use of age and ethnically sensitive video breast health kits to increase knowledge about breast cancer and enhance the screening practices of breast self-examination and mammography among older Caucasian and African-American women. Background., Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women worldwide and accounts for 23% of all cancers. Mammography is currently the best procedure available for mass screening of breast cancer. However, underutilization of mammography is a problem among older women in the United States. Elders are at the greatest risk for developing and dying from breast cancer but they are the least likely group to be screened routinely with mammograms or to practice breast self-examination, particularly if they are African-American. Design., Participatory qualitative evaluation focus groups were used to assess the overall impact of the video kit intervention programme and to elucidate the quantitative findings of the original study. Methods., Four focus groups were conducted in two diverse settings with a purposive sample of 23 participants (N = 23). The overall sample was predominantly African-American (87%) with mean age of 71 ± 7.9 years and mean education completed of 12 ± 3.4 years. Results., Five major themes emerged from group discussions: usability and appeal of the intervention, fear and empowerment, personal relevance and intergenerational sharing, impact on screening behaviours, and story telling. Conclusions., Analyses suggest that customized media materials constructed especially for older African-American women empowered participants in this sample to action regarding their own breast health. Relevance to clinical practice., These findings may translate to global populations where risk is increasing but screening programmes are not widely available. Given that older women are historically difficult to access and impact, further design and evaluation of innovative and sensitive educational programmes such as the one described here are recommended. [source] Clients' perceptions of support received from health visitors during home visitsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 7 2005Caroline Plews BA Aims and objectives., The current study sought to identify how many mothers from 149 visits carried out by seven health visitors identified support as a feature of the visit, whether this type of support was unique to the health visitor and what support meant to them. These responses were then compared with the taxonomies of social support from the social support literature. Background., Some studies of client perceptions describe support as an element of home visits by health visitors. However, the importance, relevance and impact on the client of this support are not described in detail. Social support theory suggests that there are tangible benefits to people's well-being and their ability to cope with various challenges that may arise from individuals' perceptions of receiving support. Design., Qualitative study using semistructured interviews. Methods., Seven volunteer health visitors recruited 149 women into the study. These clients were interviewed by the researcher, usually within one week of the home visit by their health visitor. The discussions were audio-taped and the resulting transcripts analysed using content analysis. Findings., Thirty-seven women identified receiving support which they said was only available from the health visitor. The relevance of this support to the mother and the impact on her well-being varied within the group suggesting differing perceptions of support by clients according to their personal situation. There was a correspondence between the descriptions of support given by the women and the taxonomies of social support from the social support literature. Conclusion., For some interactions between clients and their health visitors the existing theory of social support may provide an explanation of how health visitors contribute to clients' perceived ability to cope and well-being. Relevance to clinical practice., Social support may be defined as a possible outcome of health visiting. This concept will have use within educational programmes to demonstrate to students how health visiting can have an impact on clients' well-being. Similarly, the concept could be used to investigate and record health visiting practice. [source] Effectiveness of educational interventions on the improvement of drug prescription in primary care: a critical literature reviewJOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 2 2001Adolfo Figueiras PhD Abstract This paper is a critical review of studies of educational programmes designed to improve prescription practices in ambulatory care. Scientific articles were selected from the following bibliographical indices: MEDLINE, IME, ICYT and ERIC. The searches covered the time period between 1988 and 1997. The search criteria included: primary-care, educat*, prescription* and other related keywords. The inclusion criteria were studies describing educational strategies aimed at general practitioners working in ambulatory settings. The study outcome was change in prescribing behaviour of physicians through prescribing indicators. The following data were extracted: study design, target drugs, type of intervention, follow-up period of the prescription trends, type of data analysis, type of statistical analysis and reported results. We found 3233 articles that met the search criteria. Of these, 51 met the inclusion criteria and 43 studied the efficacy/effectiveness of one or various interventions as compared to no intervention. Among seven studies evaluating active strategies, four reported positive results (57%), as opposed to three of the eight studies assessing passive strategies (38%). Among the 28 studies that tested reinforced active strategies, 16 reported positive results for all variables (57%). Eight studies were classified as a high degree of evidence (16%). We concluded that the results of our review suggest that the more personalized, the more effective the strategies are. We observe that combining active and passive strategies results in a decrease of the failure rate. Finally, better studies are still needed to enhance the efficacy and efficiency of prescribing practices. [source] Cognitive profile in a large french cohort of adults with Prader,Willi syndrome: differences between genotypesJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 3 2010P. Copet Abstract Background Prader,Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder characterised by developmental abnormalities leading to somatic and psychological symptoms. These include dysmorphic features, impaired growth and sexual maturation, hyperphagia, intellectual delay, learning disabilities and maladaptive behaviours. PWS is caused by a lack of expression of maternally imprinted genes situated in the 15q11-13 chromosome region. The origin is a ,de novo' deletion in the paternal chromosome in 70% of the cases and a maternal uniparental disomy in 25%. The two main genotypes show differences, notably regarding cognitive and behavioural features, but the mechanisms are not clear. This study assessed cognitive impairment in a cohort of adults with genetically confirmed PWS, analysed their profiles of cognitive strengths and weaknesses, and compared the profiles in terms of genotype. Methods Ninety-nine male and female adults participated, all inpatients on a specialised unit for the multidisciplinary care of PWS. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III) was administered to all patients in identical conditions by the same psychologist. Eighty-five patients were able to cope with the test situation. Their scores were analysed with non-parametric statistical tools. The correlations with sex, age and body mass index were explored. Two genotype groups were compared: deletion (n = 57) and non-deletion (n = 27). Results The distribution of intelligence quotients in the total cohort was non-normal, with the following values (medians): Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ): 52.0 (Q1:46.0; Q3:60.0), Verbal Intellectual Quotient (VIQ): 53.0 (Q1:48; Q3:62) and Performance Intellectual Quotient (PIQ): 52.5 (Q1:48; Q3:61). No correlation was found with sex, age or body mass index. Comparison between groups showed no significant difference in FSIQ or VIQ. PIQ scores were significantly better in the deletion group. The total cohort and the deletion group showed the VIQ = PIQ profile, whereas VIQ > PIQ was observed in the non-deletion group. The subtest scores in the two groups showed significant differences, with the deletion group scoring better in three subtests: object assembly, picture arrangement and digit symbol coding. Some relative strengths and weaknesses concerned the total cohort, but others concerned only one genotype. Discussion We documented a global impairment in the intellectual abilities of a large sample of French PWS patients. The scores were slightly lower than those reported in most other studies. Our data confirmed the previously published differences in the cognitive profiles of the two main PWS genotypes and offer new evidence to support this hypothesis. These results could guide future neuropsychological studies to determine the cognitive processing in PWS. This knowledge is essential to improve our understanding of gene-brain-behaviour relationships and to open new perspectives on therapeutic and educational programmes. [source] Emotional intelligence in relation to nursing leadership: does it matter?JOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2009REBECCA FEATHER MSN Aim, Discuss the importance of studying emotional intelligence (EI) of nursing leaders and the job satisfaction of nursing staff. Background, The nursing shortage and issues with retention signifies the importance of assessing the influence nurse managers have on staff job satisfaction. Evaluation, A review of the literature on the development of EI and the level of study involving nursing leadership was conducted to determine the need for further research in this area. Key issues, Neurobehavioural research involving the limbic system has indicated that EI can be learned through educational programmes. Conclusion, There is a need for further research in the area of EI of nurse managers in their role as leaders and the impact they have on the job satisfaction level of their nursing staff. Implications for nursing management, The increasing nursing shortage and turnover rates signify the importance of research in the EI level of nursing leaders. Future research may include implementing educational programmes in the area of EI for nursing leaders resulting in a more positive work environment. Determining if EI influences nursing job satisfaction will provide a foundation for ongoing programme implementation to support and develop our nursing leaders. [source] Factors associated with resilience of school age children with cancerJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 7-8 2010Dong H Kim Aim: To identify factors associated with resilience of school age children with cancer. Methods: The participants were 74 children, 10,15 years old who were diagnosed with cancer at least 6 months prior to data collection. The instruments used were; a self-reported questionnaire on resilience, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale III, measurements of relationship with friends and teachers. Descriptive, Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses were used to analyse the data. Results: The average score for resilience was 98.49 (range: 32,128). There was no statistically significant relationship with resilience for age, gender, religion, existence of siblings, mother's age, academic performance, duration of illness or type of cancer. In bivariate analysis, family adaptability and cohesion (r= 0.535, P < 0.001), relationship with friends (r= 0.520, P < 0.001) and teachers (r= 0.318, P < 0.01) were significantly related to resilience. However, the results of multiple regression analysis showed that only family function (,= 0.257, P < 0.05) and relationship with friends (,= 0.581, P < 0.01) were significantly associated with resilience. Conclusions: School age children with cancer who reported higher family function and positive relationships with friends showed higher resiliency than their counterparts. Thus, it is important to help the families of children with cancer to enhance family function and help children to adjust to school re-entry by maintaining ties with school friends and teachers during treatment. Development of counselling programmes for parents to promote family adaptation and cohesion and educational programmes for classmates and teachers are recommended. [source] ETFAD/EADV eczema task force 2009 position paper on diagnosis and treatment of atopic dermatitisJOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 3 2010U Darsow Abstract Background, The diagnosis of atopic dermatitis (AD) is made using evaluated clinical criteria. Management of AD must consider the symptomatic variability of the disease. Methods, EADV eczema task force developed its guideline for atopic dermatitis diagnosis and treatment based on literature review and repeated consenting group discussions. Results and Discussion, Basic therapy relies on hydrating topical treatment and avoidance of specific and unspecific provocation factors. Anti-inflammatory treatment based on topical glucocorticosteroids and topical calcineurin antagonists is used for exacerbation management and more recently for proactive therapy in selected cases. Topical corticosteroids remain the mainstay of therapy, but the topical calcineurin inhibitors, tacrolimus and pimecrolimus are preferred in certain locations. Systemic anti-inflammatory treatment is an option for severe refractory cases. Microbial colonization and superinfection may induce disease exacerbation and can justify additional antimicrobial/antiseptic treatment. Systemic antihistamines (H1) can relieve pruritus, but do not have sufficient effect on eczema. Adjuvant therapy includes UV irradiation preferably of UVA1 wavelength or UVB 311 nm. Dietary recommendations should be specific and given only in diagnosed individual food allergy. Allergen-specific immunotherapy to aeroallergens may be useful in selected cases. Stress-induced exacerbations may make psychosomatic counselling recommendable. ,Eczema school' educational programmes have been proven to be helpful. [source] |