Are clinicians being prepared to care for abused women? A survey of health professional education in Ontario, Canada

Background: The current project undertook a province-wide survey and environmental scan of educational opportunities available to future health care providers on the topic of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women. Methods: A team of experts identified university and college programs in Ontario, Canada as potential providers of IPV education to students in health care professions at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. A telephone survey with contacts representing these programs was conducted between October 2005 and March 2006. The survey asked whether IPV-specific education was provided to learners, and if so, how and by whom. Results: In total, 222 eligible programs in dentistry, medicine, nursing and other allied health professions were surveyed, and 95% (212/222) of programs responded. Of these, 57% reported offering some form of IPV-specific education, with undergraduate nursing (83%) and allied health (82%) programs having the highest rates. Fewer than half of undergraduate medical (43%) and dentistry (46%) programs offered IPV content. Postgraduate programs ranged from no IPV content provision (dentistry) to 41% offering content (nursing). Conclusion: Significant variability exists across program areas regarding the methods for IPV education, its delivery and evaluation. The results of this project highlight that expectations for an active and consistent response by health care professionals to women experiencing the effects of violence may not match the realities of professional preparation

Comparison between neuropsychological evaluation instruments for severe dementia Comparação de instrumentos de avaliação neuropsicológica para a demência grave

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between two tools for cognitive evaluation, Mini-Mental State Examination-severe (MMSE-s) and Severe Impairment Battery (SIB), and the Bristol Daily Activities Functional Scale. METHOD: 50 patients from the Behavioral Neurology Section - EPM-UNIFESP - were evaluated. Mean age was 76.8&plusmn;7.9 (range 57 to 95); 32% were males; mean education was 5.0&plusmn;2.3 years (range 4 to 15); mean disease duration was 3.9&plusmn;1.5 years (range 2 to 10). RESULTS: Preliminary results in a small sample drawn from the study group do indicate a difference between the three cognitive scales. SIB and MMSE-s had a better correlation with functional score than MMSE, and MMSE-s had a correlation slightly better than SIB. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that it is possible to follow dementia patients up to severe stage as long as adequate instruments are used, and that there may be differences between scales with regard to sensitivity.<br>OBJETIVO: Avaliar a correlação entre dois instrumentos de avaliação cognitiva, o Mini-Exame do Estado Mental-grave (MEEM-g) e a Bateria para Comprometimento Grave (SIB), e compara-los com a Escala Funcional de Atividades Diárias Bristol. MÉTODO: Foram avaliados 50 pacientes provenientes do Setor de Neurologia do Comportamento - UNIFESP-EPM - com idade entre 57 e 95 anos (média 76,84 anos, desvio-padrão 7,94 anos e mediana 77,00 anos); 16 (32,0%) eram do sexo masculino; tempo de escolaridade era 4 a 15 anos (média 5,08&plusmn;2,31 anos e mediana 4,00 anos). RESULTADOS: Foi possível observar aspectos de sensibilidade entre o MEEM tradicional e os outros dois instrumentos de avaliação para fases avançadas. CONCLUSÃO: É possível seguir acompanhando o paciente demenciado, mesmo em fases avançadas da doença, em relação às avaliações cognitiva e funcional