The relationship between hospital readmissions of medicare beneficiaries with chronic illnesses and home care nursing interventions.

A retrospective audit of the charts of 62 Medicare patients with diagnoses of congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was conducted. Data that described marital status, number of visits made, number of hospital readmissions, and types of nursing interventions were collected. A significant relationship was found between certain nursing interventions and hospital readmissions.

Characteristics of pregnant women, utilization, and satisfaction with prenatal services in St. Petersburg, Russia.

A descriptive study with a convenience sample of 47 subjects drawn from two birthing houses was conducted in St. Petersburg, Russia, under the auspices of the World Health Organization Healthy Cities Project. Data were collected with a self-administered questionnaire given to women in birthing houses after delivery and prior to discharge. Subjects ranged in age from 16 to 38 years. Sixty-one percent of women began prenatal care within the 1st trimester, 35% within the 2nd trimester, and 2% received no prenatal care. Younger women were more likely than older women to start prenatal care in the 1st trimester, but received less teaching by health care providers. Younger women also expressed more stress and need for counseling. In addition, 83% of low-birthweight babies were born to younger women. These findings indicate a focus by health care personnel on older pregnant women, although younger pregnant women were at higher risk for poor pregnancy outcome. The strongest statistically significant correlations were found among the patient satisfaction variables, indicating that satisfaction with prenatal services may influence when women begin prenatal care services.

Evaluation of staff development services in extended care facilities.

An evaluation research survey that focuses on educational services offered in a staff development department at a corporation of extended care facilities is discussed. Each facility was queired regarding existing inservice programs, including the use of evaluation tools. A response rate of 100% was achieved. No evaluation instrument was used for 72% of the inservice education programs offered. The data indicate the need for comprehensive and consistent program and learner evaluation.

Student evaluations: are they an appropriate criterion for promotion?

Are student evaluations appropriate tools for evaluating faculty for promotion? Dennis gives a balanced perspective on the arguments both pro and con. Can a student who is just learning a subject judge a faculty member's command of the subject matter? What factors can a student adequately assess-presentation? subject matter knowledge? motivational power? Dennis looks at the dangers and benefits of adding student evaluations to the compendium of evidence for faculty promotion.