Evaluating healthcare education: Issues and methods

This paper analyses the methodological issues inherent in evaluating healthcare education and considers approaches for addressing these.Recent policies have exhorted practitioners to base their practice on evidence; however in healthcare education the evidence base is not extensive. Whilst educational evaluation has advanced in the last decades, standardised designs and toolkits are not available. Each evaluation has different aims and occurs in specific contexts, thus the design has to fit the circumstances, yet meet the challenge of scientific credibility. Indicators of educational processes and outcomes are not scientifically verified; no toolkit of standardised ‘off-the-shelf’ valid, reliable and sensitive measures exists. The evidence base of educational practice is largely derived from small-scale, single case studies; the majority of measures are self-devised, unvalidated tools of unproven reliability, thus meta-synthesis is not appropriate and results are not generalisable. Healthcare educational evaluators need valid and reliable assessments of both knowledge acquisition and its application to practice. The need to establish and explain attribution, i.e. the relationship between educational inputs and outcomes is complex and requires experimental/quasi-experimental design. In addition, educational evaluators face the pragmatic challenge of practice in healthcare contexts, where confounding variables are hard to control and resources are scarce.     

Unusual Delayed Manifestation of a Penetrating Chest Trauma

Abstract Pericardial tamponade remains a diagnostic challenge to the clinician especially when the patient is well compensated hemodynamically. We report an unusual case who sought medical help 1 month after having been stabbed in his chest. An investigation revealed a perforation of the myocardium and a pericardial tamponade. The patient survived thanks to a large organized clot that plugged the perforation. The patient was exposed to increased risk due to delayed onset, recognition, and therapy of the tamponade. Most reports on this subject deal with acute pericardial tamponade. Only few cases of delayed pericardial tamponade have been reported. A review of the relevant literature and the therapeutic approaches are discussed.     

教育研究中的问题及评价

教育科学研究是探索和揭示教育过程中未被认识或未被完全认识的现象、本质和规律的一种活动。而问题研究又是教育科学研究的关键,能否选择一个真问题进行研究将直接决定教育科学研究的质量与成败。本文从问题的概念分析入手,从传统认识论中真理论的观点出发并综合多位学者的观点探讨了什么是真问题,最后粗浅地分析了教育课题研究中的真问题。     

VITROS 250全自动干化学分析仪的评价

目的评价美国强生VITROS250全自动干化学分析仪器。方法运用相关统计学方法对VITROS250全自动干化学分析仪的精密度、相关性、抗胆红素干扰方面进行分析。结果VITROS250全自动干化学分析仪精密度高,回收率高,相关性好,抗干扰能力强。结论VITROS250全自动干化学分析仪适用于临床实验诊断中心(检验科)急诊化验室生化项目的检测。     

Scatter correction in scintigraphy: the state of the art

In scintigraphy, the detection of scattered photons degrades both visual image analysis and quantitative accuracy. Many methods have been proposed and are still under investigation to cope with scattered photons. The main features of the problem of scattering in radionuclide imaging are presented first, to provide a sound foundation for a critical review of the existing scatter correction techniques. These are described using a classification relating to their aims and principles. Their theoretical potentials are analysed, as well as the difficulties of their practical implementation. Finally, the problems of their evaluation and comparison are discussed. Correspondence to: I. Buvat     

Adult living donor liver transplantation: living donation of the right liver lobe

Background Adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has become a routine treatment option for patients waiting for liver transplantation. In European and North American countries, LDLT for adult recipients is mainly performed with right lobe grafts. Indications, when compared to deceased donor liver transplantation, are controversial. Materials and methods In our institution, patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis, non-resectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma, viral hepatitis associated cirrhosis, as well as cholestatic liver and biliary disease are considered good candidates for LDLT. Results In this overview, donor evaluation, graft selection, and the donor operation with special regard to operative techniques and strategies are discussed. For visualization, a 5-min video sequence of the standard donor operation as performed in our institution is attached. Conclusion Given the ongoing shortage of donor organs, adult LDLT has become a routine treatment option for patients waiting for liver transplantation. The associated inevitable risk for the healthy donor, however, remains ethically controversial. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Psychological and clinical effects of renal biopsy performed using sedation

.A sedation regimen using sequential oral trinepazine, intravenous Pethco (pethidine, chlorpromazine and promethazine) and diazemuls was evaluated in children having native kidney (n = 17) and transplant kidney (n = 17) biopsies. Biopsy was successful in all cases, with no serious side effects. A self-reported scale of memory recall and pain perception showed the optimal time for biopsy to be between 30 and 90 min after the intravenous Pethco. The child’s level of distress was measured by a self-reported scale, a parent-reported scale and an observational scale for doctors and nurses; 45% of children rated themselves highly distressed prior to the procedure, their parents being the best assessors of this distress. Younger children and those undergoing native kidney biopsy had less understanding of the procedure. Children’s worries could be clearly categorised into procedural and outcome issues: those undergoing transplant biopsy were more worried about outcome, whereas those undergoing native kidney biopsy were more worried about the procedure. Received April 3, 1995; received in revised form and accepted April 17, 1996     

Characteristics of pain drawings in the neck-shoulder region among the working population

Objectives: The aim was to study the characteristics of pain drawings in the neck, shoulders, and upper-back regions among the general working population. Methods: Pain drawings of the rear view of the neck, shoulders, and upper back were made by 125 middle-aged subjects from the general working population suffering from symptoms, mainly ache and pain, in the neck or shoulder regions. The locations of the markings in each pain drawing were coded to computer files using a transparent grid (878 pixels). The total area, the number of separate loci, and the left-right symmetry were recorded. Symptoms and signs were assessed at a medical examination. Results: The most frequently marked locations in the resulting aggregated topographical diagram covered two palm-sized areas in the neck-shoulder angles, with a symmetrical and even distribution occurring between the left and right sides. Subjects with more chronic or severe symptoms made pain drawings with larger areas. The presence of tenderness in the neck-trapezius region was associated with larger areas and more bilateral and multiple loci. Larger areas with multiple bilateral loci and a more symmetric distribution characterized pain drawings made by women as compared with those made by men. No substantial difference was noted in connection with age or educational level. Conclusions: Pain drawings of neck and shoulder symptoms among the middle-aged general working population most usually focused on the neck-shoulder angles with a symmetrical left-right distribution. The number of separate symptom loci and their total area, left-right distribution, and symmetry were characteristics associated with symptom chronicity and severity or signs of tenderness in the neck-trapezius region. Received: 16 September 1998 / Accepted: 23 September 1998     

Obesity Surgery Poly-parametric Patient Auto-evaluation

A simple auto-evaluation sheet is presented for the proper assessment of the patient's condition after surgery. Stress is put not only on weight loss, but on other important factors as well.