ABSTRACT
This article describes a service-learning project that was designed to help undergraduate health professions students understand the complexities related to aging in place. The service-learning project also incorporated a research component to expose the students to the research process. Students' reflections regarding the benefits that they derived from the experience suggest that they value learning about older adults through one-on-one interactions more than they value the opportunity to participate in the research project. Implications for undergraduate health professional education are discussed.
Subject(s)
Geriatrics/education , Independent Living , Students/psychology , Female , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Male , Young AdultABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: Audience Response Systems (ARS or "clickers") are becoming a popular addition to the college classroom. Instructors are using this educational technology to elicit feedback from students, to determine students' knowledge of content before or during lectures, and to increase participation in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to examine first-year allied health students' perceptions of the impact of clickers on participation during an introductory health professions course. METHOD: At the mid-point of the course, students completed a survey that assessed their perception of classroom participation. During the second half of the course, clickers were introduced to classroom activities. The survey was re-administered at the end of the course; students also had the opportunity to write a narrative comment. RESULTS: Students felt that clickers increased their level of interaction with the instructor and participation of the class as a whole. CONCLUSION: Clickers may be a practical way to increase student participation in first-year allied health courses.
Subject(s)
Allied Health Occupations/education , Educational Technology/instrumentation , Students, Health Occupations/psychology , Adult , Curriculum , Educational Measurement , Female , Humans , Male , Personal Satisfaction , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Cancer survivors often compare their situations to other survivors' situations. However, types of social comparison processes used and resulting outcomes are not clearly delineated. This study explores usage and consequences of three social comparison styles (downward, upward and parallel) of adult cancer survivors in free narratives, using content analysis of 30 autobiographical books by survivors ranging in age from 30-70 (M = 54, SD = 10.04); 43 percent prostate cancer, 17 percent breast cancer and 40 percent other cancers. Overall, cancer survivors used more parallel comparisons than directional comparisons, followed by upward comparisons. Each type of comparison was associated with different kinds of positive and negative consequences.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Neoplasms/psychology , Personal Construct Theory , Sick Role , Social Identification , Survivors/psychology , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Psychological Theory , WritingABSTRACT
The purpose of this research is to explore the impact of an Assisted Living Services (ALS) program on directors of state-funded congregate housing. Using focus groups, we interviewed congregate housing directors about how adding the ALS program to their facilities impacted their management experiences. Four themes emerged from the analysis of the focus group data: (1) importance of assisted living services for promoting aging in place; (2) "costs" of offering ALS; (3) differences in how the ALS program was implemented; and (4) organizational issues emerging from the merger of housing and health-care models. Based on the present findings, we propose a number of policy issues that need to be addressed when services are added to existing housing.
Subject(s)
Administrative Personnel/psychology , Assisted Living Facilities/organization & administration , Housing for the Elderly/organization & administration , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Assisted Living Facilities/economics , Attitude of Health Personnel , Connecticut , Female , Focus Groups , Housing for the Elderly/economics , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Male , Models, Organizational , Program Evaluation , Qualitative Research , State Government , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Bringing state-subsidized assisted living services (ALS) into congregate housing (CH) is a strategy for reducing rates of nursing home placement. This article discusses CH residents' reactions as a new ALS program was introduced in their housing, and it provides recommendations for others who are considering the implementation of similar programs. DESIGN AND METHODS: Focus groups and face-to-face interviews with residents in a CH facility explored their experiences over time with the new ALS program. Residents were interviewed before the program was initiated and 6 months later as a way to better understand their knowledge of and feelings about the program. RESULTS: A qualitative analysis of the interview data revealed several patterns of complex attitudes and emotions linked to the program. Although the overwhelming majority of residents endorsed the program as a way to avoid nursing home placement, few understood the features of the program (e.g., cost and eligibility requirements). ALS participants' accounts of services suggested the presence of a highly "medicalized" approach. IMPLICATIONS: When new community-based models are implemented for elders, policy makers need to evaluate how these programs affect quality of life. Further, program guidelines for bringing ALS into existing housing have to address how the program complements the home-like nature of the housing.
