A curriculum assessment of the 17 schools of optometry in the United States found much variability in the number and proportion of clock hours assigned to various curriculum tracks in the didactic curriculum. Most schools, however, assigned a similar proportion of clock hours to clinical experience. (Author/DB)

New health occupations described are biomedical equipment technician, perfusionist, orthotist, biocommunications manager, biophotographer, health sciences librarian, instructional designer, medical writer/editor, and medical artist/illustrator. Association contacts for further information are listed. (SK)

Two aspects of optometric preceptorships (off-campus field experience supervision programs) are discussed: the process of defining goals (long-term, specific learning, and general attitudinal and value); and the process of developing the program (initiation, site selection, preceptor selection and recruitment, participant selection, program…

Of 2,408 graduates from Houston's High School for Health Professions (1975-89), 1,190 responded to survey in which only 82 expressed interest in allied health professions. Examination of career choices, educational pursuits, perceptions of likelihood of career attainment, and factors influencing attainment led to conclusion that students are…

Pre-/postintervention data were collected from 208 of 226 occupational therapy graduates (1982-89) who had undergone a session designed to influence their attitudes about older people. A total of 94% worked with older adults; most of the 79% who remembered the intervention felt it influenced them, and 55% thought their practice continued to be…

A cost-benefit analysis tool was developed with data from 58 health occupations programs in two-year colleges. Clinical experience was primarily conducted in hospitals. Few programs have been required to perform cost analysis. Programs depend on the willingness of health care facilities to provide clinical training. (SK)

Nurses and health care professionals must be prepared for transcultural health care because society is becoming increasingly multicultural and current health services are not meeting the needs of minority ethnic groups in Britain. (SK)

Britain's National Health Service has a flexible program for achieving professional qualifications in information management/technology in health care. It is based on the concept of professional artistry, a constructivist view of professional practice as a practical art. (SK)

Asserting that college advisers have the opportunity to enrich prehealth students' growth by becoming mentors, discusses issues mentors will encounter when supporting students, including career selection; roles for the mentor; curriculum, classes, and grades; application; moving beyond the medical school option; innovative opportunities for…

Results of an 18-month follow-up of 30 occupational and physical therapy students involved in a successful interdisciplinary workshop in human sexuality for undergraduate health profession programs determined that the statistical gains from the original workshop had been maintained, suggesting that these workshops can produce stable improvements…

A survey of 117 physical therapy education programs investigated the admissions process, criteria, and interview procedures. Interviews were conducted at 67% of programs; mean applicant number was 115. Most used standard interview questions and provided interviewer training. A weighted variable system for making student selections, based on both…

Compared the health-related fitness knowledge of students in allied health care professions, assessing 48 athletic training students, 33 nursing students, and 36 physical therapy students. On the posttest, athletic training and physical therapy groups scored higher than the nursing group. Discusses implications for health profession education.…

Interdisciplinary clinical case studies in geriatrics were developed using active and problem-based learning approaches that simulate clinical environments. Feedback from their use in continuing education indicated that facilitators need interdisciplinary group skills, well-written discussion questions enhanced learning, and the presence of all…

Describes the preceptorship between DeBakey High School and the Texas Medical Center, a program designed to give seniors a first-hand look at the medical field of their choice. (JOW)

Increased adherence to hand hygiene is widely acknowledged to be the most important way of reducing infections in health care facilities. Despite evidence of benefit, adherence to hand hygiene among health care professionals remains low. Several behavioral and organizational theories have been proposed to explain this. As a whole, the success of…