A Method of Hospital Infection Surveillance Incorporating the Use of the Computer

The records of all patients in the hospital on a particular date were studied for hospital-acquired infections. Results were compared with a continuing surveillance based on discharge reporting. Collection of data was programmed for analysis by using the hospital computer. Thirteen per cent of the patients manifested an infection after admission, but before or on the survey day. Results elsewhere are similar. Areas of the hospital with a relatively higher incidence of infection did not have clusters of particular pathogens

Solution-focused approaches in the practice of UK educational psychologists : a study of the nature of their application and evidence of their effectiveness

Solution-focused approaches are increasingly widely used in the practice of the applied educational psychologist (EP) (Ajmal and Rees, 2001; Durrant, 1993; Redpath and Harper, 1999; Rhodes and Ajmal, 1995). Based on a small-scale computer-mediated exploratory survey, this article examines the nature of such practice and investigates whether and how solution-focused practice is evaluated and contributes to EPs' knowledge and skills base. The exploratory study is integrated into an overview of solution-focused therapy and a literature review of the application of solution-focused practice by EPs. Based on the review and analysis of the survey, the article proposes ways by which solution-focused practice can be evaluated by busy EP practitioners and therefore become potentially evidence-based