ABSTRACT
Evaluation of strategies for teaching research is a major priority in nursing education. This quasi-experimental evaluation of the Guided Design model for teaching nursing research showed highly significant (p less than or equal to .0001) improvements in knowledge of research and attitudes toward research among three classes of graduate nursing students. In this model, a hypothetical professional, created by the instructor, guides students through the development of a research proposal to address a problem in a reality-based clinical situation. The instructor structures the class so that at each research step, students receive instructions, apply new learning to closed problems, and then engage in group decision-making, regarding the appropriate research step in their proposal; upon completion of each step, they receive feedback regarding the hypothetical professional's decisions. The consistent improvement in our students' research performance and attitudes suggests that Guided Design is a useful model for teaching nursing research.
Subject(s)
Education, Nursing, Graduate , Models, Theoretical , Nursing Research , Adult , Attitude , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Teaching/methodsSubject(s)
Attitude , Education, Nursing, Graduate , Research , Students, Nursing/psychology , Teaching/methods , Educational Measurement , Humans , Pilot Projects , TexasABSTRACT
This study assessed the validity of the Spanish surname infant mortality rate as an index of urban Mexican American health status. Neonatal, postneonatal, and risk-factor-specific mortality rates were computed from linked birth and infant death records of the 1974-75 Harris County, Texas, cohort of 68,584 for Spanish surname White, non-Spanish surname White, and Black single live births. Infants of Mexican-born immigrants were distinguished from those of other Spanish surname parents by parental nativity information on birth records. Infants of Mexican immigrants had paradoxically low mortality rates for high birth order, high maternal age, and delayed or absent prenatal care; only infants weighing less than 1500 gm showed expected high rates. Findings suggested loss of infant death data compatible with migration and under-registration of deaths. The Spanish surname infant mortality rate may be spuriously low and does not appear to be a valid indicator of Mexican American health status even in an urban, non-border area considered to have excellent birth and death registration.
Subject(s)
Health Status Indicators , Health Surveys , Infant Mortality , Adolescent , Adult , Birth Certificates , Birth Order , Death Certificates , Female , Hispanic or Latino , Humans , Infant, Low Birth Weight , Infant, Newborn , Maternal Age , Mexico/ethnology , Pregnancy , Prenatal Care , Risk , TexasABSTRACT
This survey determined the job-related activities being carried out by graduates of the University of Texas School of Public Health (UTSPH), whether the graduates received preparation for each activity in their academic program, and what continuing education was needed in each job-related activity. It was found that there was a difference between job activities of UTSPH graduates and their perceptions of their preparation at UTSPH for these activities. Further study is planned.