Changes in students' perceptions of interdisciplinary practice reaching the older adult through mobile service delivery

This study examined students' perceptions of interdisciplinary health care practice in a facilitated, community-based practicum experience. Students' perceptions of interdisciplinary practice relative to their own profession and other health disciplines were examined before and after involvement in mobile service delivery to the older adult in a collaborative team approach. The Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale was used to collect data before and after planned and facilitated interdisciplinary experiences of students enrolled in health professional programs (nursing, dietetics, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, health education, social work, and physician assistant). Univariate repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed significant pretest to posttest and discipline effects following the interdisciplinary interaction of students in the practicum experience. Univariate analysis revealed a significant change in students' perceptions of professional competence and autonomy, actual cooperation and resource sharing within and across professions, and understanding of the value and contributions of other professionals from pretest to posttest. The findings support the need for educators to facilitate communication through innovative interdisciplinary clinical opportunities for health professions students to influence perceptions that promote active participation in a team approach to care delivery in an increasingly complex health care system.     

Learning outcomes in two different teaching approach in nursing education in Iran: e-learning versus lecture

Traditional teaching methods used in medical education couldn't meet the need for keeping pace with up to date information. Present study has conducted in order to compare the effect of lecture and e-learning methods on nursing students' learning outcomes in the context of Iran. A cross-over design was applied. Study sample was consisted of 32 students which were in third semester of nursing bachelor program and were passing Maternal Child nursing course. The first part of the course was taught using lecture method during first four weeks; an e-learning method was the technique used to educate the remained part of the course during the second four weeks. Students' learning outcomes in each method, opinion toward and participation with both educational methods was assessed. No significant difference was found between students exam scores in both methods. Considering students' opinion toward educational methods, no significant difference was found between two methods in general but students reported better "capability" and "independency" in e-learning method while lecture was obtained higher scores in "effectiveness on learning" and "motivation" characteristics. E-learning can be used in teaching some nursing courses. It is recommended to use e-learning method with appropriate interactive strategies and attractive virtual environments to motivate students.     

Impact of an interprofessional community-based educational experience on students' perceptions of other health professions and older adults

Caring for older adults has become increasingly complex due to multiple health and societal factors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of an interprofessional community-based educational project on students' attitudes toward other health care professions and older adults. A pretest and posttest quasi-experimental research design was implemented with 64 participating students from four health care professions (nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and pharmacy). These students completed the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS) and Survey of Attitudes on Aging Scale (SAAS) before and following an educational experience with older adults. Qualitative data were collected through student reflection journals and focus groups with participating students. The results of the study showed that interprofessional community-based learning had a significant impact on some students' attitudes toward older adults. The difference between pretest and posttest reached a statistically significant level on the SAAS in occupational therapy (p = 0.013) and physical therapy students (p = 0.044). No significant differences, however, were found between the pretest and posttest in pharmacy (p = 0.097) or nursing students (p = 0.144). Similarly, the experience also had a positive impact on some students' perceptions of other health care professions as measured by the IEPS. A significant difference was found between the pretest and posttest in occupational therapy (p = 0.000) and physical therapy students (p = 0.028). This study indicates that interprofessional community-based learning can be an effective method for some students to increase their understanding and respect toward other health professionals and older adults.     

Undergraduate students in orthopedic nursing care

This study identifies some undergraduate nursing students' imaginary manifestations concerning themselves and care delivered to patients with orthopedic and/or trauma disorders. The Social Poetics method was used and the research group was composed of 15 undergraduate students. Only the categories and subcategories exclusively related to the "student" are presented in this paper. Data revealed that care provided by orthopedic nursing students is the result of a care relationship that emerges from their sensitivity toward patients and their own knowledge, skills and attitudes. The orthopedic treatment, equipment and procedures, to which patients are submitted, cause important emotional distress for students, empathic behavior and encourage them to search for ways to minimize their patients' pain. All the aspects that permeate care provided by orthopedic nursing students should be identified in order to enable reassessment of the teaching-learning process.     

Interprofessional training in the context of clinical practice: goals and students' perceptions on clinical education wards

AIMS: This paper describes the context of interprofessional training on clinical education wards (CEWs) and reports students' perceptions of this type of interprofessional and professional training. CONTEXT: A 2-week interprofessional clinical course was designed for medical students in their surgical eighth term, and nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy students, all in their sixth term. Clinical tutors were responsible for the patients and also supervised the students. The goals for the students included: to provide the patients with good medical care, nursing and rehabilitation; to develop their own professional roles; to enhance their level of understanding of the other professions; to stress the importance of good communication for teamwork and for patient care; to enhance understanding of the role of the patient, and to become more aware of ethical aspects of health care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire developed by teachers from the 4 educational departments was used. A total of 962 students responded (78%). RESULTS: The CEWs provided the students with good clinical practice in terms of training in their own professions as well in learning more about the other professions. The importance of good communication for teamwork and for patient care was recognised. The quality of supervision and students' perception of their own professional roles were important factors regarding satisfaction with the CEW course. CONCLUSIONS: The CEW course seemed to provide the students with an opportunity to develop their own professional roles and their functions as team members.     

Students' Perceptions of Assessment Practices in a Traditional Medical Curriculum

This study examines advanced medical students' perceptions of assessment practices and their ways of studying for examinations as related to their approaches to learning. This study further validates a cluster model obtained in a previous study through medical students' interviews. In this cluster model students were divided into four groups on the basis of their approaches to learning. The subjects (N = 35) were advanced medical students who volunteered to be interviewed. The interviews focused on learning strategies, study behaviour and perceptions of the learning environment. The results indicated that there were no differences in students' perceptions of the examination procedures. Students in all four groups criticised quite similarly the examination practices. However, the results showed that students in the four groups reported different ways ofpreparing for examinations and, furthermore, had different views of the most functional ways to study for them. This study brought into light problems that arise in a traditional medical curriculum, particularly concerning traditional assessment practices. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Changes in students' perceptions of clinical teaching as a result of general-practice clerkships

This study investigated whether a 3-week clerkship for third-year medical students in general-practice doctors' offices changed the students' perceptions of clinical teaching. The Preceptor Evaluation Questionnaire was administered to 138 junior medical students before and after their clerkships. The result of the study indicated that the clerkship had a positive effect on the students' perceptions. This finding was not related to their experiences in other clerkships nor to the grades they received for the clerkship.
The results indicate that the teaching relationship established between student and family doctor significantly affects students' perceptions of aspects of effective clinical teaching.     

护士学校学生艾滋病相关知识调查

目的了解护士学校学生关于预防艾滋病知识和有关态度的情况,为更好开展艾滋病健康教育提供依据。方法自行编写调查问卷,采用整群抽样的方法,对北京一所护校二年级3个班级的学生进行问卷调查。结果护士学校学生对艾滋病传播途经知晓率较高,达到95%以上;对感染艾滋病的非危险因素的知识比较缺乏;对自身健康行为的态度调查中“我不反对婚前性行为”肯定回答者占24.2%;大多数学生表示对艾滋病病人抱以关心、同情,并愿意将来从事其护理工作。结论护士学校学生中对艾滋病的主要传播途经和预防措施有一定程度的了解,但部分学生对艾滋病病人有恐惧,甚至歧视的态度。在学校健康教育中,应加强艾滋病的有关知识、危险因素的教育以及学生的护理职业道德教育。     

Depression among nursing students associated to their self-esteem, health perception and interest in mental health

This study aimed to identify the presence of depression among nursing students in relation to their self-esteem, perception of physical health and interest in mental health. METHODOLOGY: the research was carried out in class among 224 nursing students. The Depression Knowledge and Points of View questionnaire was used, as well as Beck's inventory, the Self-esteem scale and information about health and quality of life. Sociodemographic and clinical data were investigated, as well as the students' interest in mental health. The project was approved by the Ethics Committee. RESULTS: depression is present among nursing students at levels expected for the population. The statistically assessed results evidenced a correlation between physical health perception (bad and medium), interest and attendance to courses in the field, concluding that there are greater chances of depression among nursing students.     

Tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke, and cessation counseling among health professions students: greek data from the global health professions student Survey (GHPSS)

We conducted the GHPSS (Global Health Professions Student Survey) to obtain information regarding health profession students' smoking habits and perceptions, exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) as well as level of knowledge and training on tobacco use and smoking cessation counseling. GHPSS is a survey for third-year students in the following fields: health visitors, dentistry, medicine, nursing and/or pharmacy. The highest tobacco use prevalence rate and exposure to SHS were recorded among health visitor students with 46.4% and 33.3% respectively. The majority of the respondents believed that their profession serves as a role model for their patients. Formal training on cessation counseling ranged between 10.7% for health visitor students to 22.4% for nursing students. The relatively high percentage of health profession students who currently smoke and the alarmingly high percentage of those exposed to SHS indicate lack of concerted efforts for implementation and effective enforcement of the anti-tobacco policy measures. Despite its significance, formal training on cessation counseling for students is strikingly low. These results indicate the urgent need to train health professional students on tobacco cessation counseling and educate them on the dangers of tobacco use, SHS and the positively influential role they can play to affect their patients' smoking habits.     

Impact of professional cultures on students' perceptions of interprofessionalism: some Norwegian experiences

Professionals bring their own personal and professional culture, competence, and interaction styles to the work setting. This study explores how undergraduate students (n = 619) at five different professional qualification programs from two Norwegian university colleges perceived interprofession education and collaboration (interprofessionalism). The student groups were drawn from nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, biomedical laboratory science, and radiography. Another central aim was to investigate if professional cultures influence students' perceptions of interprofessionalism. The students completed a questionnaire about different aspects of interprofessionalism. A principal component analysis revealed three factors that provide some insight into how students perceive interprofessionalism. These factors were: 1) need for interprofessional collaboration, 2) value of interprofessional education, and 3) openness to interprofessionalism. The results also showed that the nursing student group valued interprofessional education more highly than the other student groups and was more open to interprofessionalism. On the other hand, the OT students were most aware of the need for interprofessional collaboration.     

Effect of teaching unit about sexuality and sexual health on nursing students knowledge at Zagazig University

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of teaching unit about sexuality-and sexual health on Zagazig University nursing students' knowledge. The sample included all student nurses (0=200) in the obstetric and Gynaecology nursing course during the 1st semester of the 3rd academic year (1999). Two tools were used for data collection; the first tool was a questionnaire to assess the student's knowledge about sexuality and sexual health e.g. Anatomy and physiology of female and male reproductive systems, the tool was given to the students twice; before and after conducting the teaching unit. The results concluded that the majority of the students lacked knowledge in all study parameters before the teaching unit. The students' knowledge showed a significant improvement after the teaching unit. It can be recommended that sex education and sexual health should be included in the university nursing curriculum.     

An exploration of spousal separation and adaptation to long-term disability: six elderly couples engaged in a horticultural programme

The main objective of the present study was to explore the impact of separation on couples where one spouse lives in a skilled nursing facility and the other spouse lives alone in the community. Six couples participated in a 10-week gardening group. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at the beginning of the study and observations were made and discussions engaged through the 10-week horticultural programme. Thematic analysis of interviews and discussions revealed reduced social participation of community-dwelling spouses in an effort to maintain their marital role. In one or more cases the non-institutionalized spouse adapted to separation by developing social roles and relationships within the skilled nursing facility and continuing as a caregiver to their spouse. Occupational therapists are encouraged to include spouses in programmes to nurture healthy spousal roles. Further research is needed to explore how elderly couples may support each other through purposeful occupation while one spouse is in a long-term care facility.     

A survey of medical students' views about the purposes and fairness of assessment

OBJECTIVE: To survey medical students' views about the purposes and fairness of assessment procedures. METHOD: The survey used a 19-item questionnaire designed for self-completion. Respondents were invited to "strongly agree", "agree", "disagree" or "strongly disagree" with a series of statements about the purposes and fairness of assessment. There was space for free text comments relating to each statement. RESULTS: A total of 312 students out of a sample of 381 completed questionnaires (82% response rate). Whilst the majority of students (> 95%) agreed that ensuring competence, providing feedback and guiding student learning were important purposes of assessment, only half (51%) felt that assessment should be used to predict performance as a doctor. A clear majority of students (81%) agreed that, on the whole, assessment at Newcastle Medical School was fair. Data interpretation papers (comprising a combination of multiple true/false, "one best answer" and short answers) were perceived to be the fairest assessment tool; the assessment of clinical rotations by supervisors was perceived as the least fair. Differences in perception about the fairness of several assessment methods emerged between junior and senior students. A large number of respondents expressed desire for the provision of more feedback on performance in order to guide future learning. CONCLUSIONS: Whilst students' views about the fairness of specific assessment tools may sometimes be at variance with published research on assessment, their perceptions will influence the acceptability of assessment. Students would welcome the introduction of methods that provide meaningful assessment feedback.     

The nursing shortage: is it really about image?

A poor public "image" of the nurse is believed to contribute to nurse shortages. We surveyed more than 3,000 college students in science and math courses in a seven-county region of California's Central Valley to assess their perceptions of a career as a nurse in relation to a career as a physical therapist, a high school teacher, or a physician. Students generally had favorable perceptions of nursing, with two-thirds agreeing that nursing has good income potential, job security, and interesting work. However, nursing lagged behind the other occupations in perceptions of independence at work and was more likely to be perceived as a "women's" occupation. Our findings suggest that these college students have generally gotten the message that nursing is a financially rewarding and desirable career, although they also perceive nursing to be less attractive on some important occupational characteristics such as job independence. Unless nursing training capacity expands substantially, the projected nurse shortage will occur. With continued aggressive marketing of nursing as a career, there is a risk of engendering a backlash from prospective students frustrated in their effort to find a slot in a nursing training program. Much work remains to be done to alter the image of nursing as a women's occupation and to transform the work environment of nurses to make a career in nursing more attractive.     

Transdisciplinary assignments in graduate health education as a model for future collaboration

Transdisciplinary health care continues to be at the forefront of patient treatment in the medical arena, in part due to escalating health care costs, an increasing aging population, and the development of multiple chronic diseases. Gaining the knowledge, experience, and principles associated with transdisciplinary teamwork to successfully prepare for modern-day practice is therefore essential for individuals of various health care professions. This report describes an assignment developed and implemented to facilitate professional interaction between graduate physical therapy, nutrition, and nursing students. The objectives of this assignment were to determine through student evaluation the effects of a transdisciplinary experience on students' understanding of the role of another discipline and students' communication skills across disciplines. When evaluating the assignment, students most often remarked that they developed a greater understanding of the roles of the included disciplines and reported a significant increase in communication skills. However, some students did not concur that this assignment was effective due to the scheduling conflicts and lack of teamwork that can occur during a collaborative project. The students' reports of their experiences in completing the assignment provide valuable insights for implementing and/or updating a preparatory transdisciplinary education component in other settings. Additional research can focus on the challenges faced by the majority of the students venturing into actual health care or "real-world" settings for comparative studies.     

Gender representations in nursing student and client relations: contributions to the learning process

The purpose of the study was to identity, to know, and to improve the knowledge about the relationships of gender among the students and the clients in the practice of nursing care. That was a qualitative study, based in the theory of social representation and analyzed concerning the gender theoretical references. Concerning the data base made, based in the technique of Central Core Theory. The results were organized in a "tree". Two main thematic ways were arisen as second interest elements: "The triad equality/difference/inequality in the nursing care" and "The lack of knowledge: a gap in the learning process". The results have showed a students' difficulty in the process to take care a patient who has a different gender of theirs; showed a speech based in the perception of the gender differences and in the belief of heterosexuality presumed.     

‘She's usually quicker than the calculator’: financial management and decision‐making in couples living with dementia

This article explores how married couples managed their finances and made financial decisions when one spouse had dementia, drawing comparisons with the approaches used prior to the illness. More specifically, the article examines the role of social factors in influencing the involvement of people with dementia in financial management and decision‐making, particularly whether a gender dynamic adopted earlier in a marriage similarly influenced a gendered approach following dementia. The research formed part of a larger study of everyday decision‐making by couples living with dementia which explored the role of non‐cognitive factors in influencing whether people with dementia were involved in decision‐making processes. Twenty‐one married couples living at home took part; the recently‐diagnosed were excluded. Qualitative methods ‐including participant observation and interviews ‐ were used to examine the couples’ fiscal management and decision‐making‐processes, the perceptions of people with dementia and their spouses about their current financial abilities and whether any support provided by spouse‐carers influenced their partners’ financial capacity. The fieldwork was undertaken in the North of England between June 2010 and May 2011. Thematic analysis of the data showed that social factors influenced the perceived capacity of people with dementia and the financial practices adopted by the couples. In particular, gender influenced whether people with dementia were involved in financial decisions. The research demonstrated that non‐cognitive factors need to be taken into account when assessing and facilitating the capacity of people with dementia. In addition, as people with dementia were somewhat marginalised in decisions about designating financial authority (Lasting Power of Attorney), spouse‐carers may need guidance on how to undertake advance care planning and how to support their relatives with dementia in major decision‐making, particularly when there are communication difficulties.