Evaluating student learning: an Australian case study

Determining the quality of student learning is an ongoing challenge to all educators. However, for educators and students in the health professions, evaluation of learning takes on a different dimension in terms of ensuring that graduates are competent, and thus safe, practitioners. This paper outlines the processes and methods by which student learning has been evaluated throughout a 22-year period at a large school of nursing in a Australian university. First, a historical overview of the major methods used demonstrates how relevant educational theories and sociopolitical forces and movements have influenced the whole curriculum including evaluation methods. Second, examples of current evaluation methods for undergraduate clinical and theoretical units are described. Reflections about past successes and future challenges conclude the paper.

Determinants of nurses' intention to administer opioids for pain relief

A statewide cross-sectional survey was conducted in Australia to identify the determinants of registered nurses' intention to administer opioids to patients with pain. Attitudes, subjective norms and perceived control, the key determinants of the Theory of Planned Behavior, were found to independently predict nurses' intention to administer opioids to these patients. Perceived control was the strongest predictor. Nurses reported positive overall attitudes towards opioids and their use in pain management. However, many negative attitudes were identified; for example, administering the least amount of opioid and encouraging patients to have non-opioids rather than opioids for pain relief. The findings related to specific attitudes and normative pressures provide insight into registered nurses' management of pain for hospitalized patients and the direction for educational interventions to improve registered nurses' administration of opioids for pain management.

Improving pain management by nurses: A pilot Peer Intervention Program

Significant pain continues to be reported by many hospitalized patients despite the numerous and varied educational programs developed and implemented to improve pain management. A theoretically based Peer Intervention Program was designed from a predictive model to address nurses' beliefs, attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy, perceived control and intentions in the management of pain with p.r.n. (as required) narcotic analgesia. The pilot study of this program utilized a quasi-experimental pre-post test design with a patient intervention, nurse and patient intervention and control conditions consisting of 24, 18 and 19 nurses, respectively. One week after the intervention, significant differences were found between the nurse and patient condition and the two other conditions in beliefs, self-efficacy, perceived control, positive trend in attitudes, subjective norms and intentions. The most positive aspects of the program were supportive interactive discussions with peers and an awareness and understanding of beliefs and attitudes and their roles in behavior.

Pancreatic A and B cell hyperfunction in the Mendenhall syndrome

A 16-year-old boy with persistent hyperglycaemia (approximately 16 mmol/l in the fasting state) and acanthosis nigricans had insulin resistance and received daily up to 2800 U of short-acting, soluble, highly purified porcine insulin. The number and affinity of insulin receptors were markedly decreased. No significant insulin binding to IgG could be detected. Immunoreactive insulin varied between 1344 and 2400 mU/l. Endogenous insulin secretion and proinsulin levels were grossly elevated in the fasting state (C-peptide 2.2-3.5 pmol/ml; proinsulin approximately 1 pmol/ml). After an oral glucose tolerance test and intravenous arginine infusion, B cell hypersecretion was confirmed. The molar ratio of C-peptide to immunoreactive insulin, normally approximately 7, was about 0.3, clearly indicating that most of the immunoreactive insulin was exogenous. The molar ratio of proinsulin to C-peptide, which is about 0.05 in fasting control subjects, was 0.23-0.45, clearly showing that too high a proportion of proinsulin was being secreted. This may indicate that the constant hyperstimulation of the B cell leads to reduced conversion of proinsulin to insulin. Immunoreactive glucagon levels were within normal limits fasting but were above normal after intravenous arginine infusion. Thus, in this case of diabetes with acanthosis nigricans, the severe insulin resistance, probably caused by a receptor defect, was associated with markedly increased B cell function.

Ultrastructure of somatotroph cells at different times in a circadian period, in mice bearing a slow growing transplanted hepatoma

An electronmicroscopic study of STH cells from mice bearing transplanted hepatomas was performed at different time points, in a circadian period. Normal mice served as controls. The STH cells of control animals showed circadian variations inplasmic reticulum and lysosomes, which suggest increased secretion of growth hormone along the light peroid. In mice bearing hepatomas the morphologic aspect of these organelles would also indicate an increase of STH elaboration at 1200 and 1600. These changes were more remarkable than in controls and mainly consisted of hypertrophy of the Golgi complex, extended and compact endoplasmic reticulum and presence of large amounts of lysosomes. Besides, another peak of secretion seems to be present at 0000, considering the dilatation of the Golgi complex and endoplasmic reticulum cisternae. Some findings are coincident with observations made by others in the hypophysis of animals bearing transplantable tumors, where circadian periodicity was not studied. The STH cytological circadian variations could be correlated with other variations could be correlated with other variables, such as STH values in plasma and hypophysis, and DNA synthesis and mitotic activity of SS1-H hepatoma.

Lower motor neuron disease with spinocerebellar degeneration

A patient with polymyositis responded initially to steroid therapy. A muscle biopsy disclosed features of primary myopathy and group atrophy. The patient became refractory to therapy and died with relentlessly progressive weakness. The autopsy disclosed lower motor neuron involvement and degeneration of the spinocerebellar tracts. There was loss of Purkinje cells, which may have occurred secondary to an anoxic episode prior to death. The case is unique because of the limited involvement of the lower motor and spinocerebellar systems.