Good Practice (good + practice)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences

Terms modified by Good Practice

  • good practice point

  • Selected Abstracts


    Networking School Teachers to Promote Better Practice in the Teaching of Science across Europe

    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EDUCATION, Issue 4 2009
    SUZANNE GATT
    Teachers are often confined to their classrooms with limited or no time to share with colleagues the difficulties they face, their concerns, and their successful initiatives. This leads to a situation where they end up teaching in ways and approaches they believe to be best with no chance to know how others may be approaching similar difficulties in different and potentially more effective ways. Teachers do not have the opportunity to share and collaborate on projects with other education professionals, as their daily routine confines them to their school premises. This article discusses how the Comenius 3 project ,Hands on Science' has helped to create a network through which regular meetings in the forms of conferences on science for teachers were and are still organised to promote good practice in science teaching. The method used for connecting so many teachers across Europe was through key persons strategically chosen across the different partner countries. The conferences organised by the network differed from academic conferences in that they provided a platform for teachers to share their successes in teaching different aspects of science, particularly through the promotion of the use of experiments and other hands on approaches. [source]


    Rationing: Constructed Realities and Professional Practices Developing Good Practice in Community Care

    HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 6 2002
    Jill Manthorpe MA
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    Session 20: Good Practice in undergraduate education

    IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2004
    Article first published online: 26 NOV 200
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    Good Practice in Physical Interventions.

    JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, Issue 6 2007
    A Guide for Staff, Managers; BILD Code of Practice for the Use of Physical Interventions.
    [source]


    Developing Good Practice in the Clinical Assessment of People With Profound Intellectual Disabilities and Multiple Impairment

    JOURNAL OF POLICY AND PRACTICE IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, Issue 2 2007
    Steve Carnaby
    Abstract, The task of assessing people with profound intellectual disabilities and multiple impairments can be a daunting one, for experienced and newly qualified clinicians and practitioners alike. Difficulties with definitions in the context of challenging, excluding service delivery models can sometimes lead to incoherent and inconsistent approaches. The author examines a number of issues, including the paucity of adequately sensitive, standardized assessment tools, the importance of collaborative working, and the acknowledgment that services can be ill-equipped to face the challenges presented by people with such complex and chronic support needs. The role of an overly generic service philosophy in potentially limiting the work of clinicians is noted, and the author notes that evaluating development is a crucial factor in any overall assessment. The author concludes with a number of recommendations for developing good practice in this crucial area of the support process, including: agree on terminology and inclusion criteria; take a transdisciplinary approach; use a developmental model; consider the impact of neurological conditions; select measures and informants carefully; and consider the assessment as an intervention. [source]


    Geospatial Data Infrastructure,Concepts, Cases, and Good Practice

    THE PHOTOGRAMMETRIC RECORD, Issue 110 2005
    B. M. Gittings
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    Use of a structured investigative protocol enhances the quality of investigative interviews with alleged victims of child sexual abuse in Britain,

    APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
    Michael E. Lamb
    One hundred alleged victims of child sexual abuse (aged 4,13; M,=,9.3 years) were interviewed by police investigators about their alleged experiences. Half of the children were interviewed using the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) structured interview Protocol, whereas the other children, matched with respect to their age, relationship with the alleged perpetrator, and seriousness of the alleged offenses, were interviewed by investigators following the Memorandum of Good Practice. Protocol-guided interviews elicited more information using free-recall invitations and less information using directive, option-posing and suggestive questions than did standard Memorandum interviews. There were no age differences in the proportion of total information provided in response to open-ended invitations in either condition, but there was a significant increase with age in the proportion of central information provided in response to open-ended invitations. Published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    The snakes and ladders of accountability: Contradictions between contracting and collaboration for Canada's voluntary sector

    CANADIAN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION/ADMINISTRATION PUBLIQUE DU CANADA, Issue 4 2004
    Susan Phillips
    As part of this transition, however, contracting is being used not only as a means to control performance but also as a governance tool to guide the development of more collaborative relationships between government as a whole and entire sectors. In its relationship with the voluntary sector, the Government of Canada is caught in these contradictory trends - between the control of contracting and the collaboration inherent in a governance contract. This article first examines the impact on voluntary organizations of the very stringent federal rneasures over contribution agreements that were brought in as a reaction to crisis in 2000. The effects are found to be significant and overwhelmingly negative, imposing direct financial costs on voluntary organizations and stifling innovation. The authors then consider whether the implementation of the Accord Between the Government of Canada and the Voluntary Sector and its Code of Good Practice on Funding might mitigate the negative effects of these accountability measures. Sommaire: S'il est vrai que le Canada s'oriente vers un modèle de « gouvemance horizontale « privilégiant la collaboration avec différents acteurs non-gouvernementaux, la culture de marchés (contrats) et le régime d'imputabilité qui I'accompagne n'en demeurent pas moins un legs de la nouvelle gestion publique. Toutefois, dans le cadre de cette transition, les marchés (contrats), en plus de servir de moyen de contrôler le rendement, sont aussi un outil de gouvernance pour accroître la collaboration entre le gouvernement dam son ensemble et des secteurs tout entiers. Dam sa relation avec le secteur bénévole, le gowernement du Canada est pris dans ces tendances contradictoires - entre le contrôle des marchés (contrats) et la collabordtion inhérente à un contrat de gouvernance. L'article se penche en premier sur l'incidence pour les organismes bénévoles des mesures contraignantes imposées par le gouvernement fédéral relativement aux ententes de contribution introduites pour fairc face a la crise qui a sévi en 2000. Ces impacts sont à la fois considérables et des plus négatifs, imposant des frais de financement directs aux organismes bénévoles et suffoquant l'innovation. Les auteurs cherchent ensuite a déterminer si la mise en application de l'accord passé entre le gouvernement du Canada et le secteur bénévole et son Code de boMes pratiques de financement pourraient atténuer certains effets négatifs de ces mesures d'imputabilité. [source]


    User-friendly Information for Families with Disabled Children: a Guide to Good Practice

    CHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 6 2001
    K Thompson
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    Good practice in head and neck fine needle aspiration cytology as assessed by CUSUM

    CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 6 2002
    I. A. Robinson
    Providing data as evidence of good practice is becoming imperative to meet the demands of professional revalidation and clinical governance. Sensitivity and specificity are common performance measures in fine needle aspiration (FNA) but are vulnerable to discordant analytical methods. We introduce a CUSUM technique and show how it may be used to show attainment and maintenance of proficiency in head and neck (H&N) FNA. In addition, we show how it can be used to compare practices and demonstrate different performance for FNAs from different tissues; a fact that must be recognized by anyone devising minimum performance values. [source]


    Good practice in plasma collection and fractionation

    ISBT SCIENCE SERIES: THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTRACELLULAR TRANSPORT, Issue n1 2010
    C. Schärer
    The control strategy to ensure safety of blood products includes a combination of measures focusing on ensuring the quality and safety of starting material by careful donor selection and testing strategies at different levels, together with validated manufacturing processes, including steps to inactivate or remove potential contaminating agents. Using an approach based on good manufacturing practice (GMP) provides a manufacturing model that allows for a documented system of incorporating quality throughout the entire manufacturing process and describes the activities and controls needed to consistently produce products that comply with specifications and are safe for use. There are no doubts that the aim of providing safe and high-quality product to the patients should be the same for all products derived from human blood, independent of its use either as a blood component for direct transfusion or as industrially manufactured product. It would be difficult to justify whether for blood components the good practice standards and for plasma derivatives the GMP standards for manufacturing would not ensure equivalent levels of quality and safety. To ensure a high level of quality and safety of blood components and plasma derivatives, the implementation of double standards in blood establishments and fractionation industry would not be effective and should be avoided. Harmonized standards and good practices for collection and fractionation, based on the principles of GMP, should be envisaged in the whole chain of manufacturing blood components and plasma derivatives. Global initiatives to further promote the implementation of harmonized GMP for the collection in blood establishments and a stringent regulatory control are ongoing. This would further contribute to the global availability of plasma-derived medicinal products. [source]


    The Disclosure Process and its Impact on South Asian Families with a Child with Severe Intellectual Disabilities

    JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, Issue 3 2003
    Chris Hatton
    Background, Although several research studies have investigated parental experiences of the disclosure process in White families with a child with severe disabilities, little work has focused on the experiences of South Asian families. Materials and methods, This study aimed to provide a rich picture of the disclosure experiences of South Asian parents of a child with severe intellectual disabilities, using semi-structured qualitative interviews with 26 parents over two time points, and structured quantitative interviews with 136 parents. Results, Parents reported variable experiences of the disclosure process, with many parents experiencing disclosure in the wrong language for them and most parents reporting little post-disclosure support. Parents identified good practice in disclosure as prompt disclosure in the appropriate language, with the partner present (where possible), with emotional support as part of the process, with clear and practical information, and linked to post-disclosure support from a keyworker. Conclusions, Good practice in disclosure was also associated with parental understanding of their child, and parents being more likely to mobilize informal and formal supports. The implications of these findings are discussed. [source]


    Bed articles for nursing care , state of the art in two German hospitals

    JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 3 2004
    Thomas Boggatz MA
    Background., Bed articles are basic instruments for positioning. Research about this topic has concentrated on evidence for better practice. However, little is known about what practitioners really do. Aims and objectives., This study intended to identify the most common bed articles used for positioning in two German hospitals, and to determine the decision-maker for their application and the purposes and criteria for their choice. Methods., Nursing experts from 100 wards were interviewed with the help of a structured questionnaire and based on these data a list of the 10 most frequent devices was compiled. Results., Supporting the body position was the most frequent intervention performed by German nurses, mainly with the help of hydraulic beds, pillows and blankets. Nurses were the main decision-makers for the use of these bed articles. Their choice was mainly based on work experience and patients' desires. Guidelines and literature played a minor role in this process. Relevance to clinical practice., If nurses, despite the medical doctors' role as the main decision-maker in German hospitals, exert significant influence on this aspect of care, they can support their position by evidence-based practice. [source]


    Developmental assessment of children: A survey of Australian and New Zealand paediatricians

    JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 8 2005
    Sean Beggs
    Objectives: To determine the current practice for developmental assessment of children by Australian and New Zealand paediatricians. To determine factors associated with higher levels of self-reported confidence and expertise in developmental paediatrics and factors associated with better practice. Methods: A cross-sectional postal survey of Australian and New Zealand paediatricians conducted in 2003, enquiring about their training in developmental paediatrics and their practice for evaluating development. Results: Of 811 questionnaires sent, 590 (73%) were returned. Ninety-one respondents indicated that they did not see children with developmental issues leaving 499 surveys for analysis. The overwhelming majority of paediatricians felt that more training was required in developmental paediatrics (88%) and that there was a need to be taught a formal developmental assessment tool (83%). Higher self-ratings of confidence and expertise in developmental paediatrics were associated with a period of formal developmental training (OR (95% CI) 2.7 (1.6,4.4), 3.4 (2.0,5.8), respectively), and being taught a formal developmental assessment tool (OR (95% CI) 2.0 (1.2,3.2), 2.2 (1.3,3.7), respectively). Predictors of paediatricians performing a formal developmental assessment included formal developmental training (OR (95% CI) 2.0 (1.1,3.8)) being taught an assessment tool (OR (95% CI) 2.8 (1.5,5.2)) and mandatory training (OR (95% CI) 2.4 (1.4,4.1)). Conclusions: Developmental paediatrics is a significant and important part of paediatric practice. This survey suggests, however, that paediatric training and continuing education should have not reflected this practice. The overall method and content of developmental training including whether formal assessment tools should be taught needs to be reviewed and revised. [source]


    Calibrating conservation: new tools for measuring success

    CONSERVATION LETTERS, Issue 4 2008
    Valerie Kapos
    Abstract Conservation practitioners, policy makers, and donors agree that there is an urgent need to identify which conservation approaches are most likely to succeed in order to use more effectively the limited resources available for conservation. While recently developed standards of good practice in conservation are helpful, a framework for evaluation is needed that supports systematic analysis of conservation effectiveness. A conceptual framework and scorecard developed by the Cambridge Conservation Forum help to address common constraints to evaluating conservation success: unclear objectives, ineffective information management, the long time frames of conservation outcomes, scarcity of resources for evaluation, and lack of incentives for such evaluation. For seven major categories of conservation activity, the CCF tools help clarify conservation objectives and provide a standardized framework that is a useful basis for managing information about project outcomes and existing conservation experience. By identifying key outcomes that can predict conservation success and can be assessed in relatively short time frames, they help to make more efficient use of scarce monitoring and evaluation resources. With wide application, the CCF framework and evaluation tool can provide a powerful platform for drawing on the experience of past and ongoing conservation projects to identify quantitatively factors that contribute to conservation success. [source]


    Connecting EIA to environmental management systems: lessons from industrial estate developments in England

    CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2007
    Paul Slinn
    Abstract This paper concerns the relationship between environmental assessment and environmental management systems in the context of recent industrial estate developments. Drawing on environmental statements and interviews with developers, an examination was carried out of the level of good practice in estate design and operation, and the way in which this was influenced by environmental impact assessment and environmental management systems. The study concludes that the environmental impact assessment system worked well within the context of land use planning, but that it failed to facilitate the planning of effective environmental management in practice, with the consequence that the projects examined failed to meet many of the good practice criteria against which they were tested. Finally, several recommendations are made to strengthen continuity between the two. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source]


    Good practice in head and neck fine needle aspiration cytology as assessed by CUSUM

    CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 6 2002
    I. A. Robinson
    Providing data as evidence of good practice is becoming imperative to meet the demands of professional revalidation and clinical governance. Sensitivity and specificity are common performance measures in fine needle aspiration (FNA) but are vulnerable to discordant analytical methods. We introduce a CUSUM technique and show how it may be used to show attainment and maintenance of proficiency in head and neck (H&N) FNA. In addition, we show how it can be used to compare practices and demonstrate different performance for FNAs from different tissues; a fact that must be recognized by anyone devising minimum performance values. [source]


    Identification, assessment and intervention,implications of an audit on dyslexia policy and practice in Scotland

    DYSLEXIA, Issue 3 2005
    Gavin Reid
    Abstract This article reports on research commissioned by the Scottish Executive Education Department (SEED). It aimed to establish the range and extent of policy and provision in the area of specific learning difficulties (SpLD) and dyslexia throughout Scotland. The research was conducted between January and June 2004 by a team from the University of Edinburgh. The information was gathered from a questionnaire sent to all education authorities (100% response rate was achieved). Additional information was also obtained from supplementary interviews and additional materials provided by education authorities. The results indicated that nine education authorities in Scotland (out of 32) have explicit policies on dyslexia and eight authorities have policies on SpLD. It was noted however that most authorities catered for dyslexia and SpLD within a more generic policy framework covering aspects of Special Educational Needs or within documentation on ,effective learning'. In relation to identification thirty-six specific tests, or procedures, were mentioned. Classroom observation, as a procedure was rated high by most authorities. Eleven authorities operated a formal staged process combining identification and intervention. Generally, authorities supported a broader understanding of the role of identification and assessment and the use of standardized tests was only part of a wider assessment process. It was however noted that good practice in identification and intervention was not necessarily dependent on the existence of a dedicated policy on SpLD/dyslexia. Over fifty different intervention strategies/programmes were noted in the responses. Twenty-four authorities indicated that they had developed examples of good practice. The results have implications for teachers and parents as well as those involved in staff development. Pointers are provided for effective practice and the results reflect some of the issues on the current debate on dyslexia particularly relating to early identification. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    POLICING A LIBERAL SOCIETY

    ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, Issue 4 2007
    John Blundell
    Better policing can only come by devolving accountability and responsibility. This, combined with decentralisation and privatisation where possible, will create an environment where innovation flourishes and good practice is copied. There are many lessons from the USA which could usefully be adopted by the UK. [source]


    Implementing the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) Directive in the South West of England

    ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 3 2004
    Clare Brooke
    The South West of England is famous as being an area rich in environmental features and heritage. The tools available to local authorities and other organizations to protect this valued environment are being expanded to include strategic environmental assessment (SEA). SEA is being introduced under a European Community directive, which will be incorporated into UK law in 2004. The directive will require national, regional and local authorities to carry out environmental assessment on certain plans and programmes that they promote. To ensure that the effectiveness of SEA in the South West is maximized, the South West Regional Assembly is working with local authorities and regional partners to consider the implications of the directive, and help the region prepare for its implementation. The aim of the project is to more clearly define the potential for SEA within the South West, examine the barriers that organizations may face when implementing the directive and establish good practice within the region. Work has been carried out to examine specific requirements of the SEA Directive, including the baseline data requirements for undertaking SEAs, and methodological differences between SEA and sustainability appraisals. Existing practice was examined to consider how current planning processes can be adapted to fulfil the requirements of the directive. Case studies were also undertaken to examine the issues around implementing the directive for non-land-use plans, including transport, economic development, waste management, renewable energy and flood management. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source]


    Networking School Teachers to Promote Better Practice in the Teaching of Science across Europe

    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EDUCATION, Issue 4 2009
    SUZANNE GATT
    Teachers are often confined to their classrooms with limited or no time to share with colleagues the difficulties they face, their concerns, and their successful initiatives. This leads to a situation where they end up teaching in ways and approaches they believe to be best with no chance to know how others may be approaching similar difficulties in different and potentially more effective ways. Teachers do not have the opportunity to share and collaborate on projects with other education professionals, as their daily routine confines them to their school premises. This article discusses how the Comenius 3 project ,Hands on Science' has helped to create a network through which regular meetings in the forms of conferences on science for teachers were and are still organised to promote good practice in science teaching. The method used for connecting so many teachers across Europe was through key persons strategically chosen across the different partner countries. The conferences organised by the network differed from academic conferences in that they provided a platform for teachers to share their successes in teaching different aspects of science, particularly through the promotion of the use of experiments and other hands on approaches. [source]


    PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND BEST VALUE AUDIT IN SCOTLAND: A RESEARCH NOTE ON THEORY AND PRACTICE

    FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY & MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2008
    Arthur Midwinter
    This paper appraises the theory and practice of Best Value Audit in Scotland, and in particular the central assumption that a robust performance management system is essential for continuous improvement in service delivery, within a rational planning model of governance. The reviews of Best Value Audit in practice reveal important gaps between theory and practice, with an overemphasis on monitoring process rather than performance. There is, therefore, considerable scope to reduce the demands of the audit process on local government, and Best Value Audit, needs to move from a theoretical model to an evidence-based model of good practice if real progress is to be made. [source]


    Foundation for good practice: guidelines for therapists

    FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 2007
    D-M Walker
    [source]


    Foundation for good practice: guidelines for therapists

    FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 2006
    D-M Walker
    [source]


    Information that informs rather than alienates families with disabled children: developing a model of good practice

    HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 2 2002
    Wendy Mitchell PhD
    Abstract The importance to families with disabled children of relevant and accessible information about services has been illustrated in numerous studies and was re-emphasised by the Department of Health's ,quality protects' initiative. Indeed, the provision of information and the importance of keeping families informed is frequently viewed as a significant factor within both the concept of empowerment and the facilitation of enabling and participatory processes for service users and their families. However, although there has been considerable research highlighting parents' information needs, there has been significantly less exploration of how parents would actually like to receive this information. This paper seeks to bridge this knowledge gap and also discusses the empowering potential of user-friendly information. Drawing upon data collected from focus group discussions with parents caring for children with a range of disabilities or chronic illnesses, this paper explores how the families of service users would like to receive information. In particular, it examines the criteria by which parents judge the quality of information and their ideas as to what constitutes good practice, especially in terms of how information is presented, its content and the way it is delivered. Using these ideas and criteria, the paper begins to develop a model of good information practice that is both three-dimensional and personally interactive. Indeed, parents' desire for a combination of personal guidance and good-quality information, whether in the form of in-depth booklets or shorter directories, is viewed as being of paramount importance and, furthermore, as having an important empowering potential. [source]


    Developing an assessment tool for evaluating community involvement

    HEALTH EXPECTATIONS, Issue 1 2005
    Jane South BA RGN MA
    Abstract Background, Current UK policy has resulted in greater requirements for public and patient participation in health service planning and decision making. Organizations and services need to be able to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and quality of their community involvement processes, but there are few appropriate evaluation tools or sets of indicators available. This paper reports on work within Bradford Health Action Zone to develop a self-assessment tool for organizations on community involvement. Methods, A multi-agency working group developed the tool. A literature search was undertaken and evaluation resources were reviewed. A set of benchmarks for community involvement in regeneration was utilized in developing the assessment areas. A range of individuals with expertise on community involvement practice and performance management was consulted. The tool was then piloted in two primary care trusts prior to final modifications. Results, The process resulted in the production of Well Connected , a self-assessment tool on community involvement designed for organizations to assess their progress and identify areas for improvement. A scoring system assesses evidence of a strategic approach to community involvement, good practice throughout the organization, and a range of opportunities and support. Feedback from the pilots revealed that the tool had facilitated assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of organizational practices. Conclusion, The paper discusses some of the methodological challenges pertaining to the measurement of community involvement. Notwithstanding those challenges, it is argued that Well Connected provides a robust and practical framework that health organizations and their partners can use to assess practice. [source]


    Developing research capacity in health librarians: a review of the evidence

    HEALTH INFORMATION & LIBRARIES JOURNAL, Issue 3 2008
    Hannah Rossall
    This critical review considers current issues of research capacity development in UK health care and the role of health librarianship in this context, placing particular focus on the use of research networks. There is a growing literature base recognising the need for librarians to engage more with research. The concepts of evidence-based health librarianship and clinical librarianship are discussed in the context of research and examples of existing good practice are reviewed. It is suggested that librarians should build on this through better consideration of evidence based methodologies, hierarchies of evidence, improvement of research skills, and a collective endeavour to identify research priorities. The importance research capacity is being given in the Department of Health R&D strategy and the use of networks in achieving this is discussed, and it is suggested that the utilisation of networks and collaboration should be undertaken and explored in more depth in developing research capacity in health librarianship. Areas where librarians currently engage with research and use networks and collaborative practices to contribute to the research base are reviewed. A co-ordinated approach to developing research capacity is called for and it is argued that the use of networks would be beneficial in assisting the process. [source]


    The role of reflection in the library and information sector: a systematic review

    HEALTH INFORMATION & LIBRARIES JOURNAL, Issue 3 2007
    Maria J Grant
    Objectives:,To systematically review published literature on the role of reflection in the library and information science sector. To identify examples of good practice and to investigate the reported contribution, if any, of reflection by library and information workers as part of their professional practice. Methods:,Free text searches (reflective or reflection* or reflexion*) were conducted for English language papers on the Library and Information Science Abstracts (lisa) bibliographic database in two phases; in March 2004 for literature dating from 1969 to 2003 and between 2004 and 2006 in January 2006. Thirteen papers met the inclusion criteria and were coded and analysed using thematic analysis. Results:,Two categories of reflection exist: analytical and non-analytical. These focus on events in the recent and distant past. Non-analytical reflective accounts generally adopt a retrospective tone in reporting on multiple events over a number of decades. In contrast, analytical accounts of reflection focused on single events and attempt to understand the relationship between past experiences and how this might impact on future practice. Conclusion:,From the examples of reflective practice identified, greatest personal and professional benefit is reported when time is given to considering the implications of past events on future practice, that is, analytical reflection. [source]


    REALISE-ing their potential?: implementing local library projects to support evidence-based health care

    HEALTH INFORMATION & LIBRARIES JOURNAL, Issue 2 2001
    Louise Falzon
    Librarian involvement in Evidence-based Health Care provides many opportunities at a local level. Unfortunately, the potential for innovative projects to inform future developments is generally lost by a failure to ,pass the baton',to identify lessons learnt and transferable principles. The ,Library Support for Evidence-based Health Care' Project, funded by the NHS Executive Northern and Yorkshire, resulted in the implementation of locally responsive packages of hardware and software in six of the Region's libraries. The opportunity to evaluate the collective experience of these sites, and to synthesize principles of good practice, was provided by a separately funded post-hoc evaluation, the Research Evaluation to Audit Library and Information Support for EBHC (REALISE). This paper reports on how this evaluation was conducted, documents the strengths and weaknesses of the Project itself, and attempts to provide a checklist for use in similar projects. The paper concludes by outlining the relevance of the findings to the introduction of planned organizational approaches to quality (clinical governance) and the development of local implementation strategies across the UK, required by the NHS Information Strategy, Information for Health. [source]


    Vices and Virtues in Capacity Development by International NGOs

    IDS BULLETIN, Issue 3 2010
    Rick James
    We know what works in capacity development: a succession of studies from official agencies, academics and NGO practitioners have all highlighted similar principles of good practice. But the evidence also suggests that there is a distressing dissonance between what international development agencies know about capacity development and what they implement. This article explores the reasons for this failure. It highlights constraints that arise from the changing aid context and from a lack of resources and skills. Ultimately, however, it concludes that capacity development is driven more by self-interest than by knowledge of what works. Until agencies' pride, greed and self-interest can be restrained, much capacity development will continue to be disappointing and ineffective. But if agencies combine existing professional knowledge with virtues of humility, patience and a genuine commitment to others, then capacity development becomes something that can bring transformation. [source]