ABSTRACT
Health and social care students in a faculty in the United Kingdom learn together in an interprofessional module through online discussion boards. The module assessment encourages engagement with technology and with group members through peer review. An evaluation of student experience of the module gathered data from 48 students participating in 10 online groups. Analysis of contributions to discussion boards, and transcripts of interviews with 20 students revealed differing levels of participation between individuals and groups. Many students were apprehensive about the technology and there were different views about the advantages and disadvantages of online learning. Students interacted in a supportive manner. Group leadership was seen as associated with maintaining motivation to complete work on time. Students reported benefiting from the peer review process but were uncomfortable with critiquing each other's work. Sensitivity about group process may have inhibited the level of critical debate. Nevertheless the module brought together students from different professions and different sites. Examples of sharing professional knowledge demonstrated successful interprofessional collaboration online.
Subject(s)
Education, Distance/methods , Education, Professional/methods , Health Occupations/education , Social Work/education , Adult , Attitude to Computers , Consumer Behavior , Education, Distance/standards , England , Female , Humans , Internet , Interprofessional Relations , Interviews as Topic , Male , Peer Review , Problem-Based Learning/methods , Program Evaluation , Students, Health Occupations/psychologyABSTRACT
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study sought to explore the presenting nature of cardiac symptoms as experienced by women diagnosed with a myocardial infarction. The objectives were to use the participants' own words to gain a detailed understanding of how they perceived their evolving symptoms. BACKGROUND: Women with coronary heart disease tend to delay seeking help despite experiencing symptoms. The classic hallmarks used to diagnose a myocardial infarction have been based on research primarily involving white middle-aged men with a focus on specific descriptions of chest pain. Whether these hallmarks apply to women in the same way as they apply to men is an area of increasing contention. DESIGN: Using a purposive sample, a qualitative design was used to investigate the nature of cardiac symptoms experienced by women prior to and at the time of their myocardial infarction. METHOD: Twelve women participated in semi-structured in-depth tape-recorded interviews conducted while they were in hospital. RESULTS: Three interlinking themes emerged, which reflect a changing dynamic status in health, mediated by the perceived threat of individual symptoms. These included gradual awareness, not having pain in the chest and reactions to symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: It would appear that symptom presentation and distribution amongst women may not follow the pattern traditionally associated with current understanding of a 'typical' myocardial infarction. These differences together with perceptions about their cardiac symptoms may influence their health-seeking behaviours. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Women with a myocardial infarction may present with non-specific chest symptoms, which are difficult to interpret or recognize by patients and health professionals alike. Skill in recording history and in performing a comprehensive assessment of initial and current symptoms will enable nurses to identify women with a differential diagnosis of chest pain readily. Additionally, to increase awareness of coronary heart disease, nurses must use any opportunity to educate women of all age groups.
