Describes a number of teaching strategies to prepare nursing students to care for their hospitalized patients with alcohol-related problems but not in an alcoholism treatment unit, using a supportive-educational framework for the nurse-alcoholic patient relationship. A group of recovering alcoholics identified positive nursing actions as helpful.…

To address specific difficulties with self-directed problem-based learning in a large-group pharmacy course, one teacher experimented with use of structured dialogs with small groups of students to provide support, emphasize process, explore concepts, and discuss assessment. Course structure, classroom experiences, and success in addressing the…

A study involving over 480 interviews in five diverse communities (Atlanta, Georgia; Duluth, Minnesota; Providence, Rhode Island; Riverside, California; Roswell, New Mexico) identified barriers facing physicians and other health care providers in identifying, treating, and referring victims of family violence, and illuminated the relationships of…

Argues that dental schools are the logical location for development of valid, reliable, and acceptable health services research methods and databases, and describes development of an insurance claims database to demonstrate the types of research possible, as well as weaknesses and shortcomings of pure administrative data. Considers implications…

Describes a dental teaching strategy that promotes acquisition of psychomotor skills through use of metacognition and problem-solving. In five steps, questions are asked to guide the learner through a sequence of discriminations leading to recognition of problems and solutions. Clearly defined criteria in a sequence reflecting procedure are…

A patient instructor (PI) program to improve dental students' data-gathering and interpersonal skills had each third-year student in 2 consecutive classes (n=60, n=72) interview 4 patient instructors during a rotation. Each PI portrayed one of six scenarios, assessed students on content knowledge and clinical and interview skills, and provided…

In an interview, the incoming president of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), Thomas L. Lewis, discusses his goals for the association, the challenges facing optometric education in the next decade, cooperation between ASCO and other professional organizations in optometry, his mentors in the profession, his focus as a…

Small-group, self-directed, problem-based learning can be conducted with or without a faculty tutor. Groups without a tutor are trained to manage problem solving, change, group process, critical thinking, and independent learning skills. Processing issues are very different for tutorless and tutored groups; some issues are experienced by both.…

A study investigated use of homework assignments in lieu of course examinations in a pharmacy course on over-the-counter drugs. Teachers read homework and commented on it without grading, and students predicted their grades based on the comments; an overall feedback sheet was also provided to students. Students felt this a good alternative to…

Describes a program template designed to organize lecture materials and easily display relevant text, graphics, video, and interactive questions. Compares this software that is directly linked to course objectives with a well-rated, commercially available program. (DDR)

Barriers to health care careers for rural Western Australian students were examined through interviews with 209 students from 15 secondary schools, 62 parents and grandparents, 76 teachers, and 4 Aboriginal and Islander education officers. Students were constrained by isolation, cost, stereotypes, insufficient information about the diversity of…

A distance education program in mental health was delivered to 31 rural health professionals in Western Australia who dealt with mentally ill patients at the primary level. Evaluation on completion and 4 months postprogram indicated that participants learned mental health management regimes, developed mental health assessment skills, improved…

A study surveyed 38 rural high school career advisers in New South Wales (Australia) to examine how they promote health careers to high school students. Visits to schools by students enrolled in tertiary health courses and locally practicing health professionals, and health careers site visits were considered to be most effective. Includes…

This special issue presents commissioned papers and responses to them from the American Society of Allied Health Professions Critical Issues Conference on independent practice and its implications for policy, medical care, and professional autonomy. Authors are Havighurst, Hershey, Gillespie, Cronin, Jones, Ramsey, Thomas, McTernan, Burian,…

Presents reasons for introducing Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) into a medical sociology course. States course objectives are to demonstrate relationship between the biological and the social in health and disease; describe crisis for the health system; discuss AIDS in a developing nations context; and demythologize AIDS and increase…