Development of the student placement evaluation form: A tool for assessing student fieldwork performance

Evaluation of students undertaking fieldwork education placements is a critical process in the health professions. As training programs and practice evolve, systems for assessing students need to be reviewed and updated constantly. In 1995, staff of the occupational therapy training program at the University of Queensland, Australia decided to develop a new tool for assessing student fieldwork performance. Using an action research methodology, a team developed the Student Placement Evaluation Form, a flexible and comprehensive criterion-referenced evaluation tool. The present paper examines action research as an appropriate methodology for considering real-life organisational problems in a systematic and participatory manner. The action research cycles undertaken, including preliminary information gathering, tool development, trial stages and current use of the tool, are detailed in the report. Current and future development of the tool is also described.     

Microsurgical replantation of the external ear

Cosmetically, the optimal management of the amputated external ear is microsurgical replantation. Although technically demanding, replantation is possible by the experienced surgeon. Success frequently requires the use of vein grafts, heparinization, and the alleviation of venous congestion with medicinal leeches or frequent stab wounds.     

Quality of life at three months following admission to intensive and coronary care units.

OBJECTIVE: Measurement of quality of life three months following critical illness, to assess impact on health expectations. DESIGN: Continuous quantitative study of patients admitted to a combined intensive and coronary care unit during a nine-month period. Questionnaires giving baseline information were completed soon after admission, and postal questionnaires incorporating the Nottingham Health Profile were sent to surviving patients three months following discharge from the unit. SETTING: District General Hospital. SUBJECTS: ICU sample included 60 patients, male n = 31, female n = 29. Twenty-nine patients received surgical treatment, 31 patients received medical treatment. Coronary Care Unit (CCU) sample included 112 patients, male n = 74, female n = 38. Fifty-four patients admitted following acute myocardial infarction (MI), 58 patients non-MI admission. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Hospital mortality for ICU patients was 31%, increasing to 34% at three months. Hospital mortality for CCU patients was 14%, increasing to 19% at three months. Significant differences in mean NHP scores between ICU and CCU patients were noted with higher CCU scores in the areas of sleep (p = 0.04), and social isolation (p = 0.01). Within the ICU group surgical patients had a higher mean NHP score in the area of pain (p = 0.02). There were no significant differences in the scores of male and female ICU patients. Within the CCU group non-MI patients had significantly higher mean scores than MI patients in the areas of energy (p = 0.007), pain (p = 0.04), emotion (p = 0.05), social isolation (p = 0.01) and physical ability (p = 0.003). Female CCU patients had higher mean NHP scores than male patients with significant differences in the areas of pain (p = 0.04), sleep (p = 0.009) and physical ability (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: ICU patient quality of life three months after admission compares favourably with a corresponding group of CCU patients, particularly in areas of sleep and social isolation. CCU patients' general functional status deteriorated significantly compared to their pre-admission status. Critical illness is a costly area of medicine, but the results suggest that outcomes are beneficial in terms of quality of life for those surviving acute illness.     

Les formes psychiatriques de la maladie de Niemann-Pick de type C

Niemann-Pick type C disease diagnosed in adult neurology departments may be infantile or juvenile forms with prolongated life spans or forms starting at adolescence or adulthood. Psychomotor retardation is practically constant. In some cases, a psychosis may be the only manifestation for several years. The diagnosis is often made when extrapyramidal symptoms appear as well as cerebellar ataxia and ophtalmoplegia in the vertical gaze. The treatment with psychotropic drugs raises the question of a superimposition of a drug induced lipidosis. Hepatosplenomegaly is often discrete contrary to classical infantile cases. Foam cells as well as sea blue histiocytes are features of the disease. The filipin test evidences the lysosomal storage of cholesterol.     

Publication Guidelines for Heart Rate Studies in Man

Publication guidelines are provided for the collection, quantification, and analysis of heart rate data.     

Effects of Stimulus Intensity on Cardiovascular Activity

A between-groups design (N = 75) was employed to investigate the effects of stimulus intensity and repetition on cardiovascular activity. It was predicted that as intensity increased, the pattern of physiological activity would change, indicating a transition from the orienting to the defense reflex. Cardiovascular activity was represented by measures of heart rate, digital pulse amplitude, and cephalic blood content. Subjects received 12 presentations of a 1000 Hz tone of 45, 60, 75, 90, or 105 dB. Stimulus risetime was 30 msec and the duration 2 sec. Analyses of variance revealed reliable effects of intensity and repetition on all cardiovascular variables. However, neither these results nor additional multivariate analyses supported the differentiation of orienting and defense reflexes as suggested by Sokolov (1963) or Graham (1979). The importance of the startle reflex in the interpretation of these findings was discussed.