Enhancing critical analysis and problem-solving skills in undergraduate psychology: An evaluation of a collaborative learning and problem-based learning approach

Critical analysis and problem-solving skills are two graduate attributes that are important in ensuring that graduates are well equipped in working across research and practice settings within the discipline of psychology. Despite the importance of these skills, few psychology undergraduate programmes have undertaken any systematic development, implementation, and evaluation of curriculum activities to foster these graduate skills. The current study reports on the development and implementation of a tutorial programme designed to enhance the critical analysis and problem-solving skills of undergraduate psychology students. Underpinned by collaborative learning and problem-based learning, the tutorial programme was administered to 273 third year undergraduate students in psychology. Latent Growth Curve Modelling revealed that students demonstrated a significant linear increase in self-reported critical analysis and problem-solving skills across the tutorial programme. The findings suggest that the development of inquiry-based curriculum offers important opportunities for psychology undergraduates to develop critical analysis and problem-solving skills. © 2013 The Australian Psychological Society

Uncovering the care setting–turnover intention relationship of geriatric nurses

In times of global demographic changes, strategies are needed for improving nursing staff retention. We examined the association of care setting (nursing homes and home care) with geriatric nurses' intention to leave their job and their profession. Thus far, it is unclear why nurses' turnover intention and behaviour do not differ between care settings, although working conditions tend to be better in home care. We used the Job Demands-Resources model to explain indirect and buffering effects by job demands (time pressure, social conflicts) and resources (task identity, supervisor support, and co-worker support) via nurses' perceived health and job satisfaction on nurses' leaving intentions. The present cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted with a sample of N = 278 registered nurses and nursing aides in German geriatric care. As expected, there was no direct relationship between care setting and leaving attitudes. Demands and resources predicted the intention to leave with job satisfaction as mediator. We found more demands in nursing homes but no differences in resources. Serial mediation effects of care setting on intentions to leave via demands/resources and health/job satisfaction as mediators were found only for time pressure and social conflicts. Unexpectedly, there were no clear differences between intention to leave the job and the profession. As hypotheses were only partly confirmed, other buffering and detrimental effects on leaving intentions are discussed. The present data suggest that detailed concepts for personnel and career planning in geriatric care are needed

Caregivers' attachment patterns and their interactions with cancer patients' patterns

To provide a brief review of the empirical literature regarding the attachment style of the cancer patients' caregivers as well as the link between attachment, caregiving, and care-receiving behaviors are defined. An extensive systematic electronic review (Medline, PsycINFO, and Attachment Theory Website (ATW)) and subsequent examination of reference lists were carried out to retrieve published articles up to 2011, using attachment and cancer in combination with caregiver, spouse, dyad, and family as the key words. The titles, abstracts, or full articles, if necessary, were reviewed to determine whether the articles met the eligibility criteria. Eighty-seven studies have been identified, including research articles, books, and chapters in books. The attachment style of a caregiver can influence how they respond to a patient's needs. Studies have found that attachment anxiety or avoidance is more likely to interfere with effective and sensitive caregiving