Barbara Thomas

Breast health educational interventions. Changes in beliefs and practices of working women.

Health education programs supported by womens groups or workplaces have been successful in reaching large populations and changing intentions to perform breast health behaviors. This study examined the responses women working in the automotive industry had to two health education interventions, mailed pamphlets, and a combination of mailed material and classes at the worksite compared to a control group. A quasi-experimental design was used. Of the 948 women completing the pre-test, 437 also completed the post-test and were highly representative of the initial sample. The findings suggest that although the mailed information produced some change in practices and intentions, the classes in combination with the mailed pamphlets produced greater change. In addition, confidence in breast self examination as a method of detecting an existing breast lump increased from pre-test to post-test across all age groups. The reported influences on the womens decisions related to breast health varied across the life span. The results of this study can be used to support the development of effective health promotion programs for use at workplaces to increase the likelihood of women engaging in healthy breast practices.

Using the Internet to Identify Women's Sources of Breast Health Education and Screening

ABSTRACT Health professionals, womens groups, the media and the Internet have all played a role in educating the public about breast health and breast screening methods. Yet, with all the information that is available to women, their participation rates have been less than optimal. This paradox has resulted in the need to learn more about the sources that influence women to participate in breast screening. In an innovative study using the Internet, over 800 women, primarily from Canada and the United States, were surveyed about their knowledge, attitudes and influences regarding their breast screening practices. Current health status, screening practices and influences of various health professionals on womens health promotion activities were analyzed. Comparisons of the womens perceptions across age groups and national differences between Canadian and American respondents are presented. Women in the older age group reported receiving more encouragement for breast screening activities from physicians, nurses and others than did younger women. American respondents reported perceiving more support from nurses for breast screening than did their Canadian counterparts. A high number of American respondents reported having been diagnosed with breast cancer, while only a small number of Canadian respondents reported this diagnosis. The results from this study can be used in planning health promotion activities relevant to various populations of women. Benefits and limitations of using the Internet as a research medium are briefly discussed.

Faculty Development: A Transcultural Experience

A collaborative education program between Schools of Nursing at the Jordan University of Science and Technology and the University of Windsor, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), provides advanced clinical and theoretical education for Jordanian faculty and thus enriches the education of nursing students. This article describes the preparation of the faculty development proposal and the implementation of the project in a transcultural context, and identifies strengths and limitations of the project. Recommendations for effective strategies regarding international development in nursing education are made and a discussion of the benefits that ensued to both faculties is included.

Advancing the Development of Human Resources in Nursing in Jordan

BACKGROUND This article describes a collaborative international health and development program between a Jordanian and a Canadian university. It presents a human resource development model in Jordan that has been the basis for a variety of developmental activities for practicing nurses and nurse educators in academic and clinical settings. METHOD Reciprocal visits by leaders of the project, as well as continued collaboration between key members of the two universities were instrumental in ensuring success of this venture. RESULTS The activities implemented in this project culminated in the development of a pragmatic human resource development model that is sensitive to issues particularly relevant to the Jordanian culture. CONCLUSION The collaborative venture discussed in this article has enabled nurses and nurse educators to increase their academic and clinical skills and raised the profile of the nursing profession in Jordan.

Collaborating for breast health education and research. A university, industry, and community agency partnership.

Initiating a collaborative health education program about breast health required talent, expertise, and workload contributions from all involved including university researchers, a regional breast screening agency, and local industries. The credibility and opinions of liaisons or key informants were valued highly, and their support was critical to the success of the project. Participation in any collaborative project is predicated on benefits perceived by each of the partners. The community agency reaped the benefits of greater dissemination of their educational materials through the interventions. The project increased corporate and union awareness of the resources of this agency and in this community. Throughout the project, meetings and telephone conferences were held on a weekly or biweekly basis with the liaisons. Liaisons disseminated updates to management and union representatives.

Patient Stories: A Way to Enhance Continuing Education

Using breast health and illness, this article reviews relevant research literature and compares it for congruency with patient stories. Inconsistencies and issues found are related to desired outcomes and decision-making. Patients may view cancer treatment as an unbroken continuum from pre-diagnosis to completion of treatment. While moving through the continuum, they interact with nursing professionals in several roles and locations. Strategic suggestions acknowledge the need to incorporate health professionals, patients and families in the continuing education activity. Nurses working in continuing education have the opportunity to improve care along the treatment continuum and reduce the distance between research and practice. Implications for nursing practice and continuing education are identified. Suggestions for enhancing continuing education related to this continuum are made.