Search Results for
"Humans"

The role of competencies in postgraduate dental education and training has been a major topic of interest in recent years. Concerns have been voiced from all sides of the profession about how the competence of trainees and the quality of training can be assured so that high standards of patient care can be maintained. A three year project which seeks to develop a competency-based assessment system for general professional training is underway which hopes to answer some of the concerns and provide an evidence-based system of assessment for the early postgraduate years. This paper looks at the reasoning behind the project, its aims, and the progress made to date. © British Dental Journal 2000;.

Aim of the study. This phenomenological study is aimed at illuminating nurses' lived experience of the process of preceptoring and the meaning of preceptorship in a Swedish context. Methods. Seventeen nurses from the North of Sweden with varied previous experience of preceptorship volunteered to participate. Their narratives, describing their experience of being a personal preceptor for a student nurse during practical training on a hospital ward in the third year of a 3-year diploma programme within a university college of nursing in Sweden, were transcribed verbatim. A phenomenological-hermeneutic interpretation disclosed the themes 'sheltering the students when learning' and 'facilitating the students' learning', together with eight sub-themes, which created an understanding of the meaning of preceptorship. Findings and discussion. The meaning of preceptorship was understood as reducing the risk of the students learning helplessness and empowering the students when learning in practice. The meaning of preceptorship highlighted the need for further preceptor support and development of the role of the preceptor. On the basis of the findings, suggestions were made to increase the preceptors' awareness of values in nursing practice and use of pedagogical strategies in the process of preceptoring. Through such strategies a reciprocal development of the preceptors' and the faculty's knowledge may take place, to the best advantage of the students' learning and the development of the profession.

Hairdressers belong to an occupational group that is commonly affected by occupational skin disease, specifically contact dermatitis, which may be allergic or irritant and, less commonly, contact urticaria. Occupational contact dermatitis predominantly affects apprentices, and atopy is a recognized risk factor associated with a poor prognosis. Repetitive wet work leading to irritant contact dermatitis, followed by exposure to allergens and the development of allergic contact dermatitis, are the main factors contributing to occupational contact dermatitis. Once developed, it is often difficult to manage and is a cause of significant morbidity. Early education, training and prevention is the best approach to the management of this disorder that is endemic among hairdressers.

Allied dental healthcare providers have been an integral part of the dental team since the turn of the 19th century. Like dental education, allied dental education's history includes a transition from apprenticeships and proprietary school settings to dental schools and community and technical colleges. There are currently 258 dental assisting programs, 255 dental hygiene programs, and 28 dental laboratory technology programs according to the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. First-year enrollment increased 9.5 percent in dental hygiene education from 1994/95 to 1998/99, while enrollment in dental assisting programs declined 7 percent and declined 31 percent in dental laboratory technology programs during the same period. Program capacity exceeds enrollment in all three areas of allied dental education. Challenges facing allied dental education include addressing the dental practicing community's perception of a shortage of dental assistants and dental hygienists and increasing pressure for career tracks that do not require education in ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation accredited programs. The allied dental workforce may also be called upon for innovative approaches to improve access to oral health care and reduce oral health care disparities. In addition, allied dental education programs may face challenges in recruiting faculty with the desired academic credentials. ADEA is currently pursuing initiatives in these and other areas to address the current and emerging needs of allied dental education.

Background and Objective. Occupational skin diseases (OSD) rank at the top of occupational diseases in Germany. We studied the cases with initial medical report of an OSD reported to our Register of OSD in North Bavaria (BKH-N). Patients/Methods. From 1990-99 5.285 cases were closed and recorded. Since the number of employees in the different occupations was known, a population-based study was performed to investigate incidences and demographic characteristics in occupations classified into 24 groups. Results. In the occupational groups in 3.097 cases a work-related skin disease was stated. The estimated overall incidence was 6.7 cases per 10,000 workers per year. The highest incidence was in hairdressers (97.4), bakers (33.2), and florists (23.9), while the largest number of cases was in hairdressers (856), health services (481), and metal-surface workers (260). The median age of all cases was 25 years. In 1.611 cases (52%) a delayed-type sensitisation with occupational relevance was perceived. Conclusions. The descriptive data of the BKH-N highlight occupational groups being at risk for OSD. The results assist in working out prevention measures aiming on lowering the incidence of OSD.

This article explores a frequent and important practice in the ancien Régime society, namely, apprenticeship. The apprenticeship contracts of legitimate orphans (boys and girls) who were received in institutions that specialized in caring for them - such as the Trinité or the Saint-Esprit - provide the data for this study. By focusing on these two, it is possible to compare two groups of orphans, as well as differences in the intentions and accomplishments of the institutions in terms of offering instruction and preparation for the working world. This examination focuses on the transition from the institution to society. How did the orphans interpret this transition? And how did administrators perceive their roles? The example of the Trinité and the Saint-Esprit serves to rectify the common image of the hospitals as poor and highly imperfect in terms of education and apprenticeship. It shows that these were genuine training institutions for older children. © 2001 Elsevier Science Inc.

Background. This study was performed to assess radiotherapy education among family physicians. Methods. A questionnaire evaluating radiotherapy training and knowledge was given to participants of a palliative care conference. Results. Thirty-four physicians completed the survey (71% response rate). Major deficiencies in radiotherapy education were identified and 88% of respondents stated that they did not have adequate knowledge. Only 33% had received formal training in radiotherapy and the majority (77%) thought that they would benefit considerably from continuing medical education. Conclusions. Better education about radiotherapy is required for family physicians and could lead to increased patient referral for such treatment.

Background: Occupational skin diseases (OSDs) account for a large portion of occupational diseases in Europe, but population-based epidemiological studies are missing. Objectives: We analysed the initial reports of OSDs in our register of OSDs in Northern Bavaria (BKH-N). Methods: A total of 5285 cases were assessed prospectively and registered from 1990 to 1999. As the German Federal Employment Office provides specific occupational data in relation to the total employed population of Northern Bavaria, it was possible to conduct a population-based study that investigated the trend in incidence rates between two study periods (1990-92 and 1993-99) in 24 different occupational groups. Results A total of 3097 cases of OSD (median age 25 years) were recorded in the 24 occupational groups. There was a significant decline (P<0.001) in the overall incidence rate of OSD with 10.7 cases per 10,000 workers per year for the first study period and 4.9 cases per 10,000 workers per year for the second study period. This general trend in incidence rates was also significant for hairdressers and barbers, bakers, health-care workers, cooks and metal processors. Conclusions: The BKH-N provides national data based on the notification of OSDs in Germany. The results demonstrate the rank of occupations hazardous for the skin and are helpful for defining target groups for prevention.

Multiskilling, or cross training, can enable students to gain the knowledge and skills to become proficient practitioners. This article describes a multiskilling course designed to increase dietetics students' awareness of diverse healthrelated skills and to enhance their ability to develop new skills for future practice. Allied health professionals lectured on and demonstrated cardiopulmonary resuscitation, stress management, dysphagia and swallowing evaluation, adaptive feeding devices, exercise testing, monitoring of vital signs, and multi-department management. Results of course-evaluation surveys distributed to the students (n = 12) on the last day were extremely positive, with an overall mean rating of 1.07 on a scale of 1 (highest) to 4, indicating that the course included appropriate information, assignments, and evaluation mechanisms. This study provides preliminary evidence that a didactic experience can enhance students' awareness of other allied health professions. Through "hands-on" activities, students can become more confident in their knowledge and in the skills needed to function effectively as members and leaders of healthcare teams.

The selection of students for the health professions is typically a very competitive multi-staged process that includes assessment of both cognitive abilities and personal qualities. The need for reliable and valid assessment measures is obvious. This review of the health professions literature examines the evidence to support the use of various selection tools. It is clear that pre-admission overall grade point average (GPA) is the best predictor of academic performance in all of the health professions; however, the relationship between pre-admission GPA and clinical performance is less clear. The Medical College Admission Test is a good predictor of performance of medical students in terms of in-course grades and licencing examination scores but a similar test does not exist in the other health professions. Controversy remains as to the value of personal interviews and written submissions as selection tools, although it is clear that training of assessors and explicit rating guidelines enhance their reliability and validity. Ongoing research is needed to find more reliable and valid ways of assessing non-cognitive characteristics of applicants.