Design and Validation of Patient-Centered Communication Tools (PaCT) to Measure Students\u27 Communication Skills

Objective. To develop a comprehensive instrument specific to student pharmacist-patient communication skills, and to determine face, content, construct, concurrent, and predictive validity and reliability of the instrument. Methods. A multi-step approach was used to create and validate an instrument, including the use of external experts for face and content validity, students for construct validity, comparisons to other rubrics for concurrent validity, comparisons to other coursework for predictive validity, and extensive reliability and inter-rater reliability testing with trained faculty assessors. Results. Patient-centered Communication Tools (PaCT) achieved face and content validity and performed well with multiple correlation tests with significant findings for reliability testing and when compared to an alternate rubric. Conclusion. PaCT is a useful instrument for assessing student pharmacist communication skills with patients

Government Effectiveness And Institutional Trust In Japan, South Korea, And China

Japan, South Korea, and China have all achieved high economic growth rates in a relatively short period of time; they also have shared values. The phenomenon of rapid economic growth in a short period, however, raises questions about government effectiveness in managing sociopolitical issues such as corruption, human rights, and crime. By using the 2003 AsiaBarometer surveys, this article examines citizens\u27 perceptions about government effectiveness on the issues of corruption, human rights, and crime as well as the economy in the three countries. It then looks at the impact of said perceptions on trust in political institutions such as the central government, the legal system, and the legislature. The multilevel estimates suggest that effective management of the economy primarily affects trust in the central government; how the government deals with corruption primarily affects trust in parliament; whereas the management of human rights as well as crime reflects on trust in the legal system. © 2011 Policy Studies Organization

Evolution of an academic–public library partnership

A partnership to improve access to health information via an urban public library system was established in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2011. A multiyear project was outlined that included an information needs assessment, a training class for public library staff, information kiosks at library branches for delivering printed consumer health materials, and a series of health-related programming. The partnership evolved to include social service and community organizations to carry out project goals and establish a sustainable program that met the health and wellness interests of the community