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Current Issues.
Volume 1 Issue 1
Research Article Month : 06 (2017)
The Student Perspective: Using Explicit Instruction and Technology for
Critical Thinking Development
Ruth Swart
A mixed methods research study explored critical thinking
development with nursing students. Critical thinking was explicitly
discussed, integrating instructional strategies with course domain
knowledge. Questions developed for use with instructional technology
aimed at higher level thinking to facilitate student development of
critical thinking. Students were surveyed to gain their perspective
of the educational strategies used. Student online discussions were
assessed for critical thinking with qualitative content analysis using
three approaches for triangulation of findings. Thematic analysis of
open-ended student survey responses informed on their perspective
of critical thinking. Inclusion of a critical thinking skills tests provided
appraisal of critical thinking. The use of three methods of data collection
and analysis offered comprehensive understanding of findings. Students
were appreciative of technology use in delivering course information
and supporting their development of critical thinking. Two forms of
technology were beneficial in offering alternate means to actively
participate in learning, and meeting different needs and preferences.
Students noted alignment of critical thinking instruction with subjectspecific
content to facilitate understanding, application, and relevance
of course material to their learning. While the findings are limited to
students in the study, the instructional strategies can provide basis for
course design and implementation for critical thinking development.
Research Article Month : 06 (2017)
Effect of One-day Educational Program on MERS- Corona-Virus and
Its Determinants on Knowledge and Practice amongst Secondary School
Students at Al-Ahsa City
Salwa Hassanein
Aim: To investigate the effects of one-day educational program
on knowledge and ways of practices regarding MERS-CoV and its
determinants among females’ secondary school students.
Methods: Quasi-experimental research design with a single group
of participants was utilized. A sample of 192 students were pretested
before the administration of the health education program, and then,
post-tested after the administration of the health education program.
Results: Total of 192 female secondary school students participated
in the current study. The mean age was 16.3 ± .82; with 49.0% enrolled
in first year, 42.7% in second year and 8.3% in third year. There were
significant differences between the results of pre-test and post-test in
items of the questionnaires except for questions that have low response
rate of post-test. The results revealed that the majority of students
displayed a significant increase in the level of knowledge regarding
MERS-CoV; nature, modes of transmission, clinical features of the
disease, preventive measures and ways of practice.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that an educational program is
crucial for secondary school students as they represent a large segment
of the Saudi Arabian population and are thus considered knowledge
disseminators for their families and communities.
Research Article Month : 06 (2017)
Usefulness and Challenges of Sick Child Care Services for Single Mothers
Ikuko Sobue
Objective: To clarify the usefulness and challenges of sick child
care services based on users’ characteristics, the use and evaluation of
such services by single mothers were examined.
Methods: A qualitative, descriptive study. Semi-structured
interviews were conducted involving 10 single mothers with their
written consent to examine: the sick child’s age, the parent’s coping
with the child’s sickness, and sick child care service use.
Results: A large number of the single mothers were low-income,
non-regular employees. They needed to continue working even when
their children became sick. A daily service fee was too high for them,
and forced them to adopt measures that negatively affected their
children’s health and safety, such as taking them to nursery schools
despite the presence of sickness. They regarded high-quality medical,
nursing, and child care services, detailed recording and reporting, and
parental guidance provided in sick child care facilities as useful. They
trusted facility staff giving considerations for single mothers.
Conclusion: For single mothers with limited sources of personal
support, sick child care services were important social resources for
parenting, developmental support, and health assurance. The results
suggest the necessity of measures to accommodate service users’ needs,
such as reducing service fees for low-income households.
Editorial Month : 06 (2017)
Essence of Healthcare: People Caring for People
Sandra Sandoval Barrientos,
It is a reality that science and technology are enabling us to live
longer, with better living conditions and somehow with greater Access
to information through the web. In this scenario, people who require
healthcare have been changing their profile and needs. These are
people or more empowered users who not only know their rights in
health, but also requires them
Research Article Month : 06 (2017)
Does Public Hospitals Crowd Out Private Hospitals? Evidence from China
Province Level Data
Biao Xu
Background: China has promulgated a series of policies to
promote the development of private hospitals since 2009. However,
private hospitals developed only in a growing number but not growing
in market share of medical services. This paper aims to investigate
whether public hospitals had crowded private hospitals out of
healthcare market.
Methods: Using various datasets, this study employed an
instrumental variable technique to examine the existence of crowd-out
effects in hospital market.
Results: xx
Conclusion: Chinese public hospitals crowded private hospitals
out of inpatient market, and the crowding out effect persisted in all
areas with different level of economic development.
Volume 2 Issue 1
Review Article Month : 08 (2018)
‘Coping Well’ within Nursing Practice
Kathleen Hudson
To be able to cope well within nursing practice takes time, reflection,
and positive personal growth (experiential learning). Building effective
coping skills are necessary for nurses to remain engaged and committed
to their practice. Coping is a complicated maneuver within healthcare
as the environment and psychosocial interactions are quite complex.
Nurses’ work within a milieu consistently comprised of: stressful
patients and families, novice to expert peers caregivers, colleagues and
administrators with variable expectations for care provision, shifting time
schedules for various care activities, and still, basic needs of bathroom
and food breaks. This article reflects the fundamental components of
both nurses’ coping and resilience. Following this are creative strategies
for nurses to use including: self-care, care standards and advancements,
ethical competence, emotional presencing, resilience, and excellent and
caring communication. These are complex components required for
today’s nurses to remain engaged and reflecting high ethical standards
when delivering their nursing care for their patients’ and families’
wellbeing.
Research Article Month : 08 (2018)
Evaluation and Cost Effectiveness of a Telephonic Intervention to Improve
Chlamydia Rescreening among Adults
Theresa Wadas
Background: Despite the United States’ recommendation for
retesting after Chlamydia Trachomatis (CT) treatment, rescreening
rates for CT remains low. The purpose of this study was to compare
rescreening rates between routine care and a telephone intervention
among CT treated adults and to assess cost effectiveness.
Objectives: To assess rescreening rates and cost effectiveness of a
telephone intervention for CT rescreening among adults.
Method: CT treated participants were randomized to a control
group (CGroup) or an intervention group (IGroup). The IGroup
received telephone reminders at weeks 10, 11, and 12 following CT
treatment. Medical records were reviewed at 10-14 weeks after initial
CT treatment for rescreening rates. Cost effectiveness of the telephone
intervention was evaluated by comparison of manual placed calls versus
a telephone automation system.
Results: There were a total of 120 participants (60 per group).
Rescreening rates were 6.67% (n=4) in the CGroup and 20% (n=12)
in the IGroup. Rescreening rates were greater with the IGroup and
statistically significant (? = 0.03), An automated telephone system was
found to be more cost effective than use of a medical clerk manually
placing calls.
Conclusion: Telephone intervention is effective for improving CT
rescreening rates and cost effective with an automated system