Perceptions of caring in nursing education by Pakistani nursing students: an exploratory study.

Introduction:Caring is considered to be a highly abstract concept. Nurturing a caring attitude in nursing education is important as this is the first place for students to learn about the most significant values and essence of their profession. Aim: The aim of the study was to describe the concept of caring from the perspective of nursing students. Methodology: An exploratory research design was utilised for this study. Eight senior nursing students from one government institute (College of Nursing) in X country were recruited as study participants. Data was generated through in-depth one-to-one interviews and analysed using Creswell\u27s six-step guide for qualitative data analysis. The interviews were tape recorded and a member check technique was used. Findings: The study results found the themes of caring as a mothering relationship, helping attitude, limit setting, communication, and a source of empowerment and development. Conclusion: The implications of the findings for nursing education, faculty development, and research are described in the study

Cost-effectiveness of Public Caseload Midwifery Compared to Standard Care in an Australian Setting: a Pragmatic Analysis to Inform Service Delivery.

BACKGROUND: Decision-makers need quantifiable data on costs and outcomes to determine the optimal mix of antenatal models of care to offer. This study aimed to examine the cost-utility of a publicly funded Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) caseload model of care compared to other models of care, and demonstrate the feasibility of conducting such an analysis to inform service decision-making. METHODS: Incremental costs and incremental utility (health gains measured in quality adjusted life years) of public MGP caseload was compared to other models of care currently offered at a large tertiary hospital in Australia. Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) Global Short Form (GSF) scores were converted into utility values by mapping to the EuroQol 5 dimensions (EQ-5D), and then converting to Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs). Costs were assessed from a health system funders point of view. RESULTS: There were 85 women in the public MGP caseload care group and 72 receiving other models of care. Unadjusted total mean cost for mothers' and baby's health service use from study entry to 12 months postpartum was $27,618 for MGP caseload care and$33,608 for other models of care. After adjusting for clinical and demographic differences between groups, total costs were 22% higher (cost ratio 1.218, p = 0.04) for other models of maternity care. When considering costs to all funders, public MGP caseload care cost $5,208 less than other models of care. There was no significant difference in QALY between the two groups (difference: 0.010, 95$5,208 more per woman, or only public hospital funders $4,823 more per woman than if MGP caseload care was offered. Public MGP caseload care produced comparable health outcomes, with some indication that outcomes may be better for lower cost per woman.Full Tex

Cost-effectiveness of public caseload midwifery compared to standard care in an Australian setting: a pragmatic analysis to inform service delivery

AbstractBackgroundDecision-makers need quantifiable data on costs and outcomes to determine the optimal mix of antenatal models of care to offer. This study aimed to examine the cost utility of a publicly funded Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) caseload model of care compared to other models of care and demonstrate the feasibility of conducting such an analysis to inform service decision-making.ObjectiveTo provide a methodological framework to determine the value of public midwifery in different settings.MethodsIncremental costs and incremental utility (health gains measured in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)) of public MGP caseload were compared to other models of care currently offered at a large tertiary hospital in Australia. Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global Short Form scores were converted into utility values by mapping to the EuroQol 5 dimensions and then converting to QALYs. Costs were assessed from a health system funder’s point of view.ResultsThere were 85 women in the public MGP caseload care group and 72 received other models of care. Unadjusted total mean cost for mothers’ and babies’ health service use from study entry to 12 months post-partum was $27 618 for MGP caseload care and$33 608 for other models of care. After adjusting for clinical and demographic differences between groups, total costs were 22% higher (cost ratio: 1.218, P = 0.04) for other models of maternity care. When considering costs to all funders, public MGP caseload care cost $5208 less than other models of care. There was no significant difference in QALY between the two groups (difference: 0.010, 95% CI: −0.038, 0.018).ConclusionPublic MGP caseload care costs 22% less than other models of care, after accounting for differences in baseline characteristics between groups. There were no significant differences in QALYs. Public MGP caseload care produced comparable health outcomes, with some indication that outcomes may be better for lower cost per woman.</jats:sec

Fifth grade students engaged in a cooperative learning environment: Evaluating their ability to determine the status of their own conceptions about matter

This study integrated cooperative learning methods in classroom instruction to investigate the effects on achievement and conceptual change in matter concepts involving 70 fifth grade students after 10 weeks of instruction. Data obtained from the administration of two achievement tests indicated that there were significant differences between the pre-test and post-test mean scores on the Matter Unit Test as well as on the Matter Diagnostic Test. Since the notion of status is fundamental to the Conceptual Change Model (Posner, Hewson, Strike & Gertzog, 1982) this study also investigated the students' ability to determine the status of their own conceptions. Analysis of the students' use of written descriptors provided varied evidence of their ability to use technical language (intelligible, plausible, or fruitful) and effectively determine the status of their own conceptions