Has the Internet improved medical student information literacy skills? A retrospective case study: 1995-2005

Our goal in this investigation was to see if the popularity of the Internet has had an effect on searching skills and an increased awareness of where to search for appropriate medical information

Evaluation of a Web-Based Research Course

A web-based research course for graduate nursing students was developed, implemented, and evaluated for academic and satisfactions outcomes. A collaborative paradigm was utilized in designing the course to increase successful attainment of the graduate nursing program’s goal of a complete online graduate nursing MSN program. This web-based research course with 24 enrolled students was compared to an identical classroom based research course with 20 enrolled students. Areas of evaluation were academic outcomes of overall numerical course grades, satisfaction with course scores, and qualitative data on satisfaction of course. Results of this descriptive exploratory study demonstrated no statistically significant differences between the academic outcomes of these two groups of students. Both groups were satisfied with the course, however there was a statistically significant difference in mean satisfaction scores for the research courses. Further investigation of environmental factors will need to be done to determine the significance of differences in satisfaction outcomes

Using World-Wide-Web technology for pathology education

In this article, we describe the development of computer-based learning programs for pathology students at Jefferson Medical College. These programs are authored using HTML (HyperText Markup Language), and are available to students on campus and via the internet. Our computer-based learning resources include scheduling information, course goals and objectives, glossary of key words, self-assessment programs and image-based case studies. These educational programs are popular with the students. We recommend the use of World Wide Web technology to improve teaching and learning in pathology education

SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING READINESS IN MEDICAL STUDENTS AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

The purpose of this study is to investigate self-directed learning readiness (SDLR) in medical students at The Ohio State University. Questions to be addressed include, do the independent study students have higher SDLR scores than the lecture-discussion students, and to SDLR scores differ between the class years for the first three years of coursework? The first year of medical schools is identified as Med I, the second as Med II and the third as Med III. Self-directed learning (also referred to as: self-instruction, autonomous learning, independent learning, independent study, self-study (Guglielmino, 1977)) is defined by Griffin as a learning situation “which allows a student to develop personal competencies through experiences as an individual but in interaction with others when needed” (Griffin, 1965, p.2). Self-directed learning readiness will be measured by the Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale (Guglielmino, 1977)

Health Policy Newsletter Goes On-Line!

No abstract available

Developing and Sustaining a Web-Based Library Newsletter

Before the rising popularity of the Internet in the mid 1990s, Scott Memorial Library, like most others, used printed newsletters to inform users about new resources and services. The JEFFLINE Forum, our attempt to resuscitate the Library\u27s newsletter by employing the technical advantages-and increasing presence-of the Web, debuted in October of 1999. The fifth anniversary of the Forum seemed like a good time to look back at its evolution and to examine some of the challenges inherent in developing and sustaining a library newsletter

Information Literacy and Library Attitudes of Occupational Therapy Students

Information literacy, often described as a person\u27s ability to effectively find and evaluate answers to questions using a variety of information resources, is of particular importance to health care workers. This paper presents the results of an information literacy survey presented to the occupational therapy (OT) students at Thomas Jefferson University during a series of required class activities. Also described are the authors\u27 activities with the faculty and courses at Jefferson. The survey was made available to first-, second-, third-, and fourth-year occupational therapy students along with nursing students and pharmacy students. The survey is designed to identify research habits, skills, and preferences. Results confirm some commonly held perceptions about searching skills of young adults and an interesting dichotomy in students\u27 learning habits. The paper concludes with a discussion of recommendations to OT faculty and librarians on how to improve information literacy education. The survey can be obtained by contacting the authors

Multi-disciplinary medical case study development for first year medical students

This poster will describe the history of the medical informatics course and the process of designing the case studies to fit into the new course management system, and will review the experiences of the librarians involved

Implementing a graduate nursing program at a distance through an urban-rural partnership.

The purposes of this poster presentation are to 1) describe the implementation of a master’s of science in nursing (MSN) program by providing access to rigorous distance education to students living in rural Pennsylvania; 2) discuss building a critical mass of master’s prepared advanced practice nurse experts in rural communities; and 3) share formative and summative evaluation information. Through funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professions, Division of Nursing, the Jefferson School of Nursing (JSN) expanded its MSN program currently offered at the urban Philadelphia campus to the rural campus in Danville. Using the methodologies of live web-casting and live video over the Internet, distance students are afforded the opportunity to participate in a live classroom setting rather than experience the static distance methodology of reading through lectures themselves. For example, during the clinical courses, the faculty teaches onsite in Philadelphia webcasting to students in their rural homes so that they can view and hear the lecture. These newer technologies make possible real-time faculty-student dialogue, student-to-student dialogue, and enhance socialization. Furthermore, the use of advanced technologies allows distance students to discuss with peers and faculty alike, in real time, the problems, successes, and questions which arise during class and clinical practica, thereby enhancing critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills. This urban-rural partnership addresses increasing demands for educating greater numbers of master’s prepared advanced practice nurses to work in north and central rural Pennsylvania thus promoting access to health care in rural underserved communities

Multimethod teaching strategies to integrate selected QSEN competencies in a Doctor of Nursing Practice distance education program

The Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) initiative identified 6 competencies for the education of nurses (patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, safety, and informatics) and the related knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) for each competency. The initial QSEN focus was on competency development during prelicensure nursing education, with subsequent attention on adapting the KSAs for graduate programs that prepare advanced practice nurses for clinical roles. Description of successful QSEN competency integration in Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs is limited. Although the ultimate goal is executing DNP programs where quality and safety is thoroughly integrated throughout the curricula, the focus of this article is on multimethod teaching strategies to integrate selected QSEN KSAs into an existing online post-master’s DNP quality and safety course