Whether Effective Patient Teaching (EPT), a health professions continuing education course, could be effectively taught by trainers who were not course developers was studied for four nurse managers trained in EPT and seven who were not. Effectiveness of training and value of the EPT program were supported. (SLD)

The Bayesian approach to setting passing points on credentialing examinations in the health fields is considered in the context of the Normal model, and examples are given to demonstrate the procedure. An application to a credentialing examination, to determine a rational passing point, is presented. (Author/MH)

Several continuing competency programs, such as mandatory education and periodic review of licensing, and recent experiments in selective performance evaluation are reviewed. A review of the literature and an Ontario experiment provide data concerning program efficacy and the use of a positive reinforcement independent peer review process. (TJH)

In an experimental study involving health and social service professionals, a second mailing of a questionnaire to initial nonrespondents in a mail survey was found more cost-effective as a means of increasing returns than attempts to conduct telephone interviews, although telephone contacts suggested several reasons for nonresponse. (Author)

Issues associated with incorporation of computerized test development and administration into licensure of health professionals are discussed. Specific issues covered include reporting of test procedures and results, computerized test administration, open-book testing, and the impact of regulation. (TJH)

Results from 627 examinees taking a health sciences certification examination suggest that test items written purposefully to assess higher order cognitive skills do not provide evidence of assessing different levels of cognitive processing. Results do not support continuing use of a hierarchical cognitive classification dimension for the test…

Assumptions implicit in the current use of licensing and certification examinations are identified, relevant evidence for these assumptions are reviewed, and implications for current methods of measurement are discussed. To ensure the protection of public health, it is critical to determine whether training and credentialing programs serve their…

Norm-referenced tests are inappropriate for evaluating health care practitioners; criterion referenced tests better describe what is not being measured. Reliable assessment of competency should focus on the valid testing of reasonable numbers of important skills. Available from: Sage Publications, Inc., 275 South Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills,…

A professional program's influence on student ratings of instruction was examined over 3 years of a multi-instructor anatomy course for nursing, dental hygiene, pharmacy, and physical education students (N=743). The students were relatively consistent in their differential evaluations of instructors and instruction. Student achievement and…

A three-day workshop in human sexuality for health care professionals was evaluated to determine if desired educational outcomes were obtained by using a systematic development approach. Results indicated that participants' cognitive scores and openness of attitudes increased from pretest to posttest, and many desired behaviors were incorporated…

A pilot study in three rural Colorado communities that focused on health service delivery problems related to cancer concentrated on perceptions of community influentials, health care providers, and patients and their families. Results indicate that qualitative methods can identify crucial problems for most people without losing sight of outlier…

A new measure of health status, the Health Status Scale, is presented. This five-indicator scale is used as the dependent variable in a regression equation using six common predictors of health status. Results indicate that health facilities are the most significant predictors of health status. (SLD)

Based on the standard setting procedures or the American Board of Preventive Medicine for their Core Test, this article describes how Rasch measurement can facilitate using test content judgments in setting a standard. Rasch measurement can then be used to evaluate and improve the precision of the standard and to hold it constant across time.…

Alternate reasons for conducting program evaluation in community health care (CHC) settings and their relationships with information needs were explored in a survey of 136 CHC decision makers. Major reasons for conducting program evaluation included accreditation, true evaluation, and pseudoevaluation. Information needs were predictors of true…

This evaluation determined expectations of fellowship participants, reasons 18 fellows participated in a 3-week Primary Care Policy Fellowship to establish an interdisciplinary cadre of primary care leaders, and outcomes of the program. The fellows anticipated information on networking and influencing decision making and thought the program met…