Identification of authentic assessment in nursing curricula: An integrative review

This article aims to identify the application of authentic learning principles to the assessment of nursing students. An integrative review was undertaken using the Whittlemore and Knafl (2005) framework: identifying the problem/purpose, searching and evaluating the literature, data analysis and presentation or results. Primary searches were conducted using MeSH terms identified as key words across four search data bases (PubMed, Cinahl, Scopus and ProQuest). Literature was identified using inclusion/exclusion criteria and critiqued. Three major themes emerged from the literature review: Clinical Practice, Self-Assessment and Simulation. Models of authentic learning exist that could guide the development of authentic learning assessment for students, however no identifiable tool for locating and mapping authentic assessment in nursing was found. This review challenges the contemporary belief that authentic assessment is to be found in nursing curricula and evidenced by clinical practice.     

Are general surgeons able to accurately self-assess their level of technical skills?

Introduction

Self-assessment is a way of improving technical capabilities without the need for trainer feedback. It can identify areas for improvement and promote professional medical development. The aim of this review was to identify whether selfassessment is an accurate form of technical skills appraisal in general surgery.

Methods

The PubMed, MEDLINE^®, Embase^™ and Cochrane databases were searched for studies assessing the reliability of self-assessment of technical skills in general surgery. For each study, we recorded the skills assessed and the evaluation methods used. Common endpoints between studies were compared to provide recommendations based on the levels of evidence.

Results

Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria from 22,292 initial papers. There was no level 1 evidence published. All papers compared the correlation between self-appraisal versus an expert score but differed in the technical skills assessment and the evaluation tools used. The accuracy of self-assessment improved with increasing experience (level 2 recommendation), age (level 3 recommendation) and the use of video playback (level 3 recommendation). Accuracy was reduced by stressful learning environments (level 2 recommendation), lack of familiarity with assessment tools (level 3 recommendation) and in advanced surgical procedures (level 3 recommendation).

Conclusions

Evidence exists to support the reliability of self-assessment of technical skills in general surgery. Several variables have been shown to affect the accuracy of self-assessment of technical skills. Future work should focus on evaluating the reliability of self-assessment during live operating procedures.     

Osteopathic student satisfaction and preparedness to practice: A comparative study

BackgroundOsteopathy is now taught across the world, but each school has different teaching and learning strategies that may influence the preparedness of students for practice in different ways.ObjectiveTo investigate levels of the satisfaction with the learning environment and the preparedness to practise from the perspective of osteopathic students. The study compares full-time schools in three different countries to analyse relationships between learning environment and preparedness.MethodA web-based questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale (strongly agree, agree, uncertain, disagree, strongly disagree) was sent by e-mail to all final year students of the British School of Osteopathy (BSO-UK), Accademia Italiana Osteopatia Tradizionale (AIOT-Italy) and Centre Européen d'Enseignement Supérieur de l'Ostéopathie (CEESO-France).ResultsThe response rate was 58% for the BSO (n = 51), 100% for the AIOT (n = 12) and 80% for the CEESO (n = 63). The AIOT students perceived a better learning environment than CEESO and BSO students, while CEESO students felt more prepared than AIOT and BSO students. Statistically significant associations were found between learning environment and preparedness.ConclusionSmall classes may be partly responsible for the perception of a better learning environment. This study also highlighted that the learning environment may be partly responsible for the perceived differences in preparedness.     

早期皮肤接触对剖宫产产妇心理状态及母乳喂养的影响:前瞻性随机对照试验

目的探讨母婴早期皮肤接触(skin-to-skin contact,SSC)对剖宫产产妇心理状态及母乳喂养的影响。方法前瞻性选取2017年8月1日至12月31日在深圳市南山区妇幼保健院行择期足月剖宫产的产妇221例,随机分为早接触组和对照组。对照组产后常规护理;早接触组实施母婴早期SSC,即新生儿娩出后1 h内赤裸全身俯卧于母亲裸露的乳房之间,持续1~2 h。观察指标包括:(1)泌乳启动时间以及首次母乳喂养测量工具评分;(2)产后72 h和42 d的纯母乳喂养率、母乳喂养自我效能量表评分和爱丁堡产后抑郁量表评分。采用两独立样本t检验、χ2检验和二分类logistic回归进行统计学分析。结果最终210例产妇纳入分析,早接触组和对照组各105例。42 d随访时早接触组失访20例,对照组失访17例。与对照组比较,早接触组首次母乳喂养成功率[77.1%(81/105)与59.1%(62/105),χ2=7.913]、首次母乳喂养测量工具评分[(9.5±1.7)与(8.6±1.4)分,t=4.115]、泌乳启动时间≤24 h的比例[41.0%(43/105)与12.4%(13/105),χ2=23.205]、产后72 h和42 d的纯母乳喂养率[36.2%(38/105)与22.9%(24/105);76.5%(65/85)与60.2%(63/88);χ2值分别为4.486和5.261]以及产后72 h和42 d母乳喂养自我效能量表评分[(117.5±12.0)与(111.8±22.3)分;(124.3±11.6)与(113.1±19.0)分;t值分别为2.100和4.710]均提高,差异均有统计学意义(P值均<0.05)。但早接触组产后72 h和42 d的爱丁堡产后抑郁量表评分与对照组差异无统计学意义[(5.4±3.5)与(5.9±4.0)分,t=0.937,P=0.350;(7.0±3.7)与(8.1±4.0)分,t=0.905,P=0.058]。二分类logistic回归分析显示,早期SSC是产后42 d纯母乳喂养成功的保护因素(OR=2.359,95%CI:1.173~4.743,P=0.016)。结论早期SSC可以提高剖宫产产妇母乳喂养自信心,促进泌乳启动,提高首次母乳喂养的成功率和产褥期纯母乳喂养率,是一种值得推广的临床实践。     

Detecting components of hearing aid fitting using a self-assessment-inventory

The evaluation of hearing-aid fitting includes numerous assessments such as electro- and psychoacoustic tests. The subjective estimation of the hearing aid user can be elicited with self-assessment inventories encompassing various parameters, e.g., benefit, satisfaction and usage. A questionnaire comprising 11 domains (disability, handicap, frequency and significance of the listening situation, importance of the hearing aid, expectation, demand, aided performance, benefit, satisfaction and usage) within three different conditions (speech in quiet and in noise and listening to sounds) was used to detect components underlying hearing aid fitting. The data show a three-factor structure (situation-, restriction- and aid-related variables) independent from the conditions. Usage depends on all of the three factors. Disability and handicap reveal the highest values for speech in noise, whereas the aid-related factor shows the lowest values for this condition. Global satisfaction with the hearing aid is significantly correlated with the aid-related factor, but independent from the restriction of hearing. The aid-related factor is positively influenced by the amount of social activity because more active persons report higher benefit and satisfaction for all listening conditions. Age does not exhibit a significant relationship to one of the components. Basically, all correlation coefficients are only intermediate, revealing that inter-individual differences of the patients are rather high. The data indicate that extra-audiological factors might also play an important role in the success of hearing aid fitting.