A comparison of three allied health manpower projection methodologies

Three manpower projection methodologies most often employed in the allied health sciences were compared: population ratio, occupational matrix, and regression analysis. Comparisons were made among the methodologies themselves, their strengths, and their weaknesses. These methodologies were then applied to the largest allied health discipline - clinical laboratory sciences - using Kentucky statewide data. The resultant projections were then compared with actual data (F.J. Morris, PhD, unpublished data, 1985). The most appropriate methodology to be used by the administrator should be determined by his/her specific needs and goals in relation to the specific strengths and weaknesses of the individual methodology.     

A comparison of occupational stressors in selected allied health disciplines

Work-related stressors have been linked to a number of diseases, both physical and psychological. Previous studies have revealed that the stressful occupational components are particularly apparent in health care occupations. Occupational sources of stress in three allied health disciplines--nuclear medicine technology, radiologic technology, and medical technology--were studied over the last three years via responses from approximately 500 practitioners. The top five stressors in each discipline were as follows: nuclear medicine technology--equipment malfunctions, add-on examinations, uncooperative physicians, lack of staff, and uncooperative patients; radiography--disrespectful physicians, inadequate pay, unnecessary examinations, lack of staff, and lack of respect; and medical technology--equipment breakdown, poor management practices, difficult coworkers, lack of time, and exposure to human immunodeficiency virus. It is crucial for administrators and fellow health care professionals to be aware of and address those areas of job-related stress that may impact the quality of patient care and the well-being of the allied health professional.     

Selected allied health professionals' self-confidence in health promotion counseling skills and interest in continuing education programs

Mail surveys of samples of dental hygienists (n = 90, 36% response), registered dietitians (n = 262, 52% response), and physician assistants (n = 289, 89% response) in Texas and certified nurse midwives (n = 143, 57% response) in the US provided data regarding their confidence that they possess skills and knowledge to counsel patients about selected areas of health promotion (self-efficacy). Also, the surveys gathered information regarding respondents' beliefs that patients will follow through on their recommendations (adherence expectation), and their interest in continuing education programs. Overall, respondents displayed highest self-efficacy with regard to counseling patients about blood pressure and smoking. Confidence was lowest in illicit drug abuse and mental health areas. Certified nurse midwives and physician assistants indicated confidence in many more areas than the other two groups. Respondents consistently expressed less certainty about patient adherence than about their own skills and knowledge. They generally indicated a high degree of interest in continuing education across the several health promotion topics. Modest relationships were observed between self-efficacy and interest in continuing education programs for physician assistants and registered dietitians, indicating that those with greater self-efficacy had a greater interest in building their skills. A similar pattern was observed among physician assistant respondents with respect to adherence expectations.     

Report from the CDC. Physician and allied health professionals' training and fetal alcohol syndrome

Maternal prenatal alcohol use is one of the leading preventable causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities. On the severe end of the spectrum of conditions related to drinking during pregnancy is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Physicians and other health practitioners play a critical role in diagnosing FAS and in screening women of childbearing age for alcohol use during pregnancy. The Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Team at CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities awarded funds to four medical school partners (Meharry and Morehouse Medical Colleges, St. Louis University, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and the University of California at Los Angeles) to develop FAS regional training centers (RTCs). The RTCs are developing, implementing, evaluating, and disseminating educational curricula for medical and allied health students and practitioners that incorporate evidence-based diagnostic guidelines for FAS and other prenatal alcohol-related disorders.     

Preventive health examinations: a comparison along the rural-urban continuum.

In this analysis, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data from 2000 were used to examine differences in reports of preventive health service utilization in 4 types of counties: large metropolitan counties, small metropolitan counties, counties adjacent to metropolitan places, and counties not adjacent to metropolitan areas or with fewer than 10,000 residents. Women from counties with 10,000 or fewer residents and not adjacent to a metropolitan county, classified as rural residents, were less likely to report a number of preventive health examinations during the previous 2 years. Rural women were less likely to obtain blood cholesterol tests, dental exams, and mammograms during the previous 2 years when compared to women from large metropolitan counties. Rural women were more likely to obtain blood pressure checks during the previous year when compared to the metropolitan women. Findings for exams that occurred during the preceding 1- and 2-year periods are reported for blood pressure checks, blood cholesterol checks, physical exams, colon cancer screening, dental exams, breast exams, mammograms, and Pap smears.     

A profile of minority allied health faculty

A survey of minority allied health faculty is being conducted by the Equal Representation in Allied Health Committee of the American Society of Allied Health Professions. Initiated in the spring of 1988, survey data collection is ongoing. The questionnaire was designed to gather demographic information as well as information regarding interests in professional and development/leadership workshops. This paper reports results from 106 valid returns. The majority of respondents were black females employed at four-year universities/colleges at the rank of assistant professor. An analysis of data using the chi-square statistic revealed a statistically significant but weak correlational relationship between sex and highest degree completed; academic rank and highest degree completed; academic rank and experience in allied health education; and tenure status and experience in allied health education. Cross tabulations between other variables were inconclusive. The data would suggest that the percentage of minority faculty with tenure appeared to exceed expectations when compared with results of previous studies of allied health faculty. Suggestions by respondents for professional development workshops included a variety of topics: management/administration skills, clinical skills, minority recruitment/retention, curriculum development/instructional design, and career advancement/leadership. Additional activities are needed to expand the existing data base and to promote networking among minority faculty.     

A rural-urban comparison of prehospital emergency medical services in Nebraska.

BACKGROUND: Provision of emergency medical services (EMS) in the rural United States presents a unique challenge. While rural and urban EMS outcomes have been compared, differing urban-rural population characteristics and roles for rural ambulance teams can confound such comparisons. METHODS: A year-long study of the prehospital EMS was conducted in rural Richardson County, Nebraska. Data were collected on the age, sex, and race of patients, response time, transport distance, medical problems encountered, and treatment rendered enroute. These data compared with those from an urban Lancaster County comparison group and statistical data from the Nebraska State Health Department. RESULTS: In the rural county, 70 percent of calls involved the elderly, whereas 38 percent of the urban calls and 36 percent of the Nebraska State calls involved the elderly. The rural ambulance service was more likely to provide for routine transfers, to involve patients with fractures and cardiorespiratory and neurologic problems, and twice as likely to result in hospital admission than was the urban ambulance service. The frequency with which advanced life support measures were applied in the rural area was similar to that in the urban area. The rural area response times were equivalent to the urban area response times after the rural area long-distance transfers were excluded. The location of service in the rural area was more likely to be the hospital or nursing home, whereas the urban location was more likely to be a home, on a highway, or in a public setting. CONCLUSIONS: Prehospital EMS in this rural location involved a predominantly elderly population with a large number of routine transfers linking the nursing home and community hospital. Further comparisons of rural and urban EMS outcomes should account for possible differences in type and severity of illness and type and location of service.     

A building an education infrastructure for allied health

This article discusses the emerging education information infrastructure. It uses a five-part framework (aggregating, organizing, using, tool building, and policy making) to describe this infrastructure, then uses the same framework to argue for a tightly coupled education information infrastructure specifically for allied health. This tightly coupled education resource would allow educators, allied health professionals, and the general public to gain improved access to education resources on the Internet through metadata and digital reference services. Specific benefits of the building effort are discussed.     

A model for the evaluation of allied health education

The variety and complexity of evaluation designs, procedures and philosophies has proved confusing for educators and health practitioners. Many evaluation models do not provide for the scope of information needed by allied health programs and are inflexible in regard to the information needs of individual programs. The model presented here is based on the principles of "Systems Theory," which provides a comprehensive framework for the study of educational programs. Input, process, product and environment components are proposed as a method to study all aspects of program operations. With clearly definable rules for the evaluator and program decision-makers, the faculty can adopt and change the course of the evaluation as they work through the planning, implementation and recycling stages of the model. Use of the model should help programs identify information needs and bring existing evaluation efforts together under a comprehensive umbrella.     

A study of tenure among allied health faculty.

Most allied health faculty are practitioners who hold a master's degree. Consequently, they may not be prepared to face the rigorous criteria of the tenure system. A study was conducted to identify the demographic characteristics of allied health units, their tenure policies, the criteria for tenure, and any trends in tenure. Deans and directors of 310 allied health units were surveyed and 47.0% responded. In general, allied health tenure policy is drafted by faculty, then sent to the administration for approval. The availability of alternatives to tenure, tenure fractions, and requirements for tenure vary with institutional type. Allied health units reported a tenure fraction of 35.5%, compared to 58.2% for campuses in general. Most of the survey respondents agreed that there is a trend toward increasing the rigor of tenure criteria, and that this trend will come from both within and outside of allied health. As allied health faculty become more involved with research, their tenure fraction will increase and their policies for tenure will more closely conform to those of other units within the parent institution.     

Consumer health education: A new-old challenge to allied health education

The challenge to health education, implicit in the current re-thinking of the basic assumptions underlying U.S. health policy for the past quarter-century, is enormous and unprecedented in the history of the profession. This is true regardless of the fate of any particular bureau or piece of legislation. The challenge involves not only professional health educators but the far larger group of physicians, nurses, behavioral scientists, nutritionists and others involved in one or another aspect of this broad inter-disciplinary field. New manpower studies are urgently needed to identify quantitative and qualitative changes necessary to meet these challenges.     

Profile of an allied health dean

This study sought to gather baseline data about allied health deans in academic health centers in the US, their backgrounds, career patterns, role characteristics, and perceptions of professional development. The study also examined relationships that existed between a profile of allied health deans established in this study and other selected career variables. Allied health deans in 63 academic health centers were surveyed using a 55-item, self-administered questionnaire, "Today's Allied Health Deans." The results revealed that the characteristics of allied health deans did not depart significantly from those of other academic deans. All deans had fairly uniform experiences in their roles as academic officers across the country. A review of their career patterns showed that they departed slightly from the traditional career ladder models established for other academic deans.     

Overview of allied health personnel shortages

Upon learning that 95% of all fatal traffic accidents occur within three miles of one's home, an acquaintance moved to another residence four miles away and is still alive today. The world might be a much better place if most obstacles could be overcome this handily. Unfortunately, the problem of allied health personnel shortages appears to be more intractable. Because the situation is complicated in nature, it is most unlikely that any single remedy will suffice. Public and private interests have joined forces in many states, but it is abundantly clear that conventional market forces are unlikely to prevail. These forces usually focus on supply and demand. While shortages may cause entry-level salaries to rise, they do not stimulate academic institutions to increase their output nor will they affect the availability of research funding and/or doctoral training programs. Current market forces compel health facilities to engage in bidding wars for scarce manpower. Although individual job seekers may benefit, this practice does not increase the number of training program graduates. The federal government has a decisive role to play in assuring an adequate number of personnel to meet this nation's health care needs. Assistance is necessary in the form of providing entry- and advanced-level traineeships to accelerate the flow of part-time students pursuing doctorates, and to fund model student recruitment/retention projects. This role should encompass attracting students (particularly from minority and underserved portions of the population) to academic programs. The Disadvantaged Minority Health Improvement Act, PL 101-527 that was enacted in November 1990, contains only minimal provisions for allied health. Eligibility for student scholarship assistance is restricted to a small handful of allied health professions. Moreover, allied health is not eligible for the loan repayment program aimed at individuals who agree to serve on the faculty of health professions schools that historically train individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. It is difficult to envision how serious underrepresentation of minorities in allied health will be affected by this legislation. Clearly, special consideration by the federal government is required to produce a cadre of allied health caregivers drawn from the ranks of those whom they serve. Allied health research is needed to expand the basis for practice, increase knowledge, and generate studies pertaining to the efficacy of practice. Funding is required to support the development of scholars and scholarship in allied health institutions to ensure a pool of qualified faculty members. Finally, many difficulties result from a lack of governmental visibility.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Role conflicts in nursing and allied health: a comparison of professional and organizational commitment

Role compatibility and conflict between organizational and professional commitment for nurses, high school teachers, college faculty, and social workers have been the focus of several studies over the past two decades. The typical view has been that the professional employee must choose between the profession and the employing organization, since the values of each conflict. Primarily, studies have shown a basic incompatibility between professionals and organizations: the professional is seen as responding to authority based on expertise, while the organization is characterized by authority based on hierarchical position. Since a study of this type has not been conducted in allied health specifically, the purpose of this study was to examine whether bureaucratic and professional role concepts conflict with the allied health professional. Recent graduates and graduates with two years of employment experience representing nursing and four allied health disciplines at one institution were surveyed. Results of the study indicated that the respondents were able to maintain a high degree of professional commitment without perceiving undue conflict from the demands of the organization. Based on the findings, allied health educators are encouraged to examine the curriculum to ensure graduates are prepared for the realities of employment as well as committed to their respective professions.     

A model for competency-based, computer-managed instruction in allied health

A competency-based, computer-managed instruction model was developed and used in revising and managing the curricula of dietetic internship and physical therapy certificate programs. Use of the model resulted in identification and validation of program competencies and performance criteria, revision of curricula, and implementation of a computer-managed instructional support system to record, store, and provide feedback to students and instructors about performance on the competency measures. Improvements in the quality of the curricula and in the ability to manage student performance information have resulted from these efforts. The computer-managed instruction system has been well received by instructors and students. The most obvious benefits include savings in time for instructors and immediate feedback on performance for students. Results indicate that a competency-based, computer-managed approach to curriculum development and implementation is desirable and practical and has the potential for effectively serving future developments in allied health education.     

Interprofessional education placements in allied health: A scoping review

Abstract

Aim: This scoping review provides a summary of the features, outcomes and lessons learned of Interprofessional Education (IPE) Placements in Allied Health professional-entry programs. The provision of these placements is one strategy to prepare students for Interprofessional Practice.

Methods: Eight databases were systematically searched. Eligibility criteria included Allied-Health interprofessional student groups, professional-entry level programs, interprofessional supervision placements and implementation of a novel model. We accepted all types of peer-reviewed, published papers. Data charting and synthesizing occurred, with a data- subset presented in themes related to the features, outcomes and lessons learnt of IPE Placements.

Results: The included 27 papers originate from a variety of countries (2002–2017). Whilst the features of the models varied considerably, features were identified that occurred in a high number of the papers. Positive outcomes were consistently reported for student learning. Thorough planning and investment arose as important themes, ensuring a positive placement experience and understanding of the IPE pedagogy from all stakeholders.

Conclusions and Significance: This review provides insights into the features and outcomes of IPE placement models in Allied Health programs. The review expands the body of knowledge which previously focused on nursing and medicine and can inform educators about IPE placement implementation.