The concept of risk-adjusted measures of quality is discussed, and a methodology is proposed for risk-adjusting and integrating multiple adverse outcomes of anesthesia services into measures for quality assurance and quality improvement programs. Although designed for a new anesthesiology database, the methods should apply to other health…

Four essays address the ethical and moral obligations of educational administrators in establishing the moral tone of the community and the postgraduate behavior of students. Topics include an ethical community; ethics in optometric education and practice; ethics and the college presidency; and ethics and administrative leadership. (MSE)

A study compared the effectiveness of two methods of teaching psychomotor skills (simulation feedback and guided discovery) to 55 dental hygiene students. The students receiving simulated feedback obtained slightly higher midterm and final grades and showed less variation, suggesting this as a better method for teaching instrumentation skills.…

In 2 undergraduate anatomy courses involving a total of 473 prenursing and allied-health professions students, performances of students assigned to an interactive videodisc computer lab did not differ significantly from those of students in the traditional cadaver demonstration lab. (Author/DB)

A survey of 138 dental hygiene programs gathered information on didactic and clinical experiences for preparing students to treat patients with mental illnesses. Although most curricula addressed the issue, inadequate time was allotted. Over half did not provide oral care to these patients; few felt the community's need was met. (MSE)

Current conditions in dental hygiene influencing professional education are discussed. Workplace/practice issues include dental hygiene care as a component of dental practice, content, effects, and quality of care, hygienist supply and demand, and job satisfaction. Professional issues include the knowledge base, definitions of practice, and…

A survey of 30 withdrawing students and 85 graduates of health professions schools of a Canadian university found that program and curriculum dissatisfaction, uncertainty about educational and occupational goals, and stress associated with the profession were the most important reasons for voluntary withdrawal. Dropouts were typically older,…

The "Seventh Report to the President and Congress on the Status of Health Personnel in the United States" by the Health Resources and Services Administration and the American Association of Dental Schools'"Manpower Project Report No. 2" are compared, and their findings and implications for dental health personnel are discussed.…

A study explored the impact of structured team problem solving (STEPS) on 15 cognitive and social skills and examined learning outcomes among 26 undergraduates in a health science course. Results suggest STEPS can enhance problem-based learning (PBL) by improving task completion and group processes and may enable implementation of PBL in larger…

A survey of occupational therapy, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, and health-information education programs revealed the most important admission criteria were overall grade point average and GPA in foundation courses. Low priority was given to the need for student diversity or students' interest in working in underserved areas. (SK)

A review of literature on problem-based learning (PBL) in medical education focuses on the difficulties inherent in the "problem-based" approach; what the term implies; how it has been characterized and validated; how it relates to problem solving; how it relates to epistemological reform; and what the ground rules are for PBL.…

A survey of 319 junior and senior dental students at the University of Missouri, Kansas City assessed the characteristics of students in two programs (traditional and accelerated), and investigated differences in their prior experiences, perceptions of the dental profession and career options, and postgraduate plans. (MSE)

A survey of 101 graduates of the New England College of Optometry's (Massachusetts) accelerated doctoral program through 1995 and 141 graduates of the four-year program in 1990-95 illustrate the accelerated program's success in terms of graduate involvement in optometric education, medical education, and/or research, professional leadership,…

A survey of 456 rural physicians identified features of their training that correlated with their self-reported preparedness for rural practice and small-town living, and with how long they stayed in their rural practices. Results suggest residency rotations in rural areas are the best educational experiences to prepare physicians for rural…

Drexel University (Pennsylvania) has agreed to manage Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, now known as MCP Hahnemann University (Pennsylvania) in a unique arrangement designed to save the latter institution from bankruptcy. Drexel will administer the institution until summer 2001, when it will decide to either merge or part ways. (MSE)