Jaqui Hewitt-Taylor

Facilitating distance learning in nurse education

It has been suggested that distance learning is one method of providing increased flexibility, access, and cost effectiveness in nurse education (). This paper argues that distance learning courses must be designed and developed in such a way to enable the provision of adequate tutorial support. When considering incorporating technology into such courses it is essential to determine the ability of students to effectively utilise the technology associated with the course. This will ensure enhancement, rather than detraction from the students learning. This paper suggests that despite the concerns regarding individual learning styles not being conducive to distance learning approaches, through the development of thoughtful, appropriate, distance learning materials, and adequate tutorial support these may provide the most effective and efficient option for many students and education purchasers.

The conceptual and practical ethical dilemmas of using health discussion board posts as research data.

Background Increasing numbers of people living with a long-term health condition are putting personal health information online, including on discussion boards. Many discussion boards contain material of potential use to researchers; however, it is unclear how this information can and should be used by researchers. To date there has been no evaluation of the views of those individuals sharing health information online regarding the use of their shared information for research purposes. Objective To explore the views of contributors to online diabetes discussion boards with regards to if (and how) they feel their contributions to boards should be used by health researchers. Methods A qualitative approach was employed using online semistructured asynchronous (email) interviews. Interpretative description methodology was used to assess the interview transcripts, and quotations were extracted and anonymized to support each theme. Results 26 interviews were carried out. Participants agreed that forum posts are in the public domain and that aggregated information could be freely used by researchers. This was agreed to be a good way of ensuring that the view of people living with diabetes is being heard in research. There was no consensus on the need for permission to use individual information, such as quotations, with some people happy for this to be freely used and others feeling that permission is necessary. Conclusions Participants acknowledged the dichotomy of having placed information into the public domain in an unrestricted way, with some interviewees also wanting to retain control of its use. The Internet is a new research location, and rather than trying to apply traditional ethical norms to this new genre, a new modus operandi is required. The authors propose introducing new norms for presenting research carried out with online discussion boards.

What E-patients Want From the Doctor-Patient Relationship: Content Analysis of Posts on Discussion Boards

Background People with long-term conditions are encouraged to take control and ownership of managing their condition. Interactions between health care staff and patients become partnerships with sharing of expertise. This has changed the doctor-patient relationship and the division of roles and responsibilities that traditionally existed, but what each party expects from the other may not always be clear. Information that people with long-term conditions share on Internet discussion boards can provide useful insights into their expectations of health care staff. This paper reports on a small study about the expectations that people with a long-term condition (diabetes) have of their doctors using information gleaned from Internet discussion boards. Objective The aim of this study was to ascertain what people with diabetes who use Internet discussion forums want from their doctors. The study objectives were to identify what people with diabetes (1) consider their role in condition management, (2) consider their doctor’s role in managing their condition, (3) see as positive elements of their interactions with medical staff, and (4) find problematic in their interactions with medical staff. Methods The study used qualitative methodology to explore the experiences, views, and perceptions of individuals participating on 4 Internet message boards. Posts made on the discussion boards were analyzed using the principles of qualitative content analysis. The meanings of sections of data were noted using codes that were developed inductively; those with similar codes were merged into subcategories and related subcategories were combined to form categories. Results The key themes identified in the study were ownership of condition management, power issues between people with long-term conditions and doctors, and ways in which people seek to manage their doctors. Conclusions People with diabetes valued doctors who showed respect for them and their knowledge, and were willing to listen and openly discuss their options. Patients felt that they could and should take responsibility for and control of their day-to-day disease management. They saw doctors as having a role in this process, but when this was lacking, many people felt able to use alternative means to achieve their goal, although the doctor’s function in terms of gatekeeping resources could create difficulties for them in this respect.

Caring for children with complex needs: staff education and training.

Children who live with medical conditions that were previously considered incompatible with long term survival are often highly dependent on interventions and equipment which would traditionally have required hospitalization. However, it is generally accepted that their social, psychological, emotional and developmental needs are best met at home. One of the many factors that can impede these children from being discharged from hospital is the lack of availability of staff who can provide care and support for them and their families. Increasing the number of staff who are able to provide such support might, therefore, assist in providing for their care needs. This article reports on a study of the perceived education and training needs of staff who care for children with complex needs and their families.

Technology-assisted Learning

Information technology provides potential advantages for educational provision in terms of flexible access, decreased need for on-site teaching accommodation and enhanced explanations by the use of special electronic effects. However, in order for students to gain the maximum benefit from the use of technology to assist in learning, there are specific issues that must be addressed by those designing and providing this type of education. This paper highlights some of these issues. These include clarification of the teachers role, the skills required and parameters which must be considered in facilitating information technology, assisted learning and the planning required to ensure that a coordinated educational experience is offered.

Providing Support at Home for Children and Young People Who Have Complex Health Needs

Preface. Chapter 1. Children and Young People who have Complex and Continuing Health Needs. Chapter 2. Putting the Child or Young Person First. Chapter 3. The Child or Young Person as a Part of the Family. Chapter 4. Working with Pparents. Chapter 5 Working in the Family Home. Chapter 6. Supporting Young People. Chapter 7. Grief, Loss and Bereavement. Chapter 8. Choices and Rights. Chapter 9. Ethical Issues Involved in Supporting Children, Young People, and their Families. Chapter 10. Organisational Issues. Chapter 11. Working with Children and Young People and their Families. Appendix: Useful Resources. References. Index.

Evidence for practice

This paper identifies the documentary sources that can be included in the evidence base that informs practice, including the relative merits of research based and non-research based sources. It goes on to debate the issues involved in using research findings from both qualitative and quantitative paradigms in a review of the current best evidence. Finally, it discusses the place of clinical expertise and patient choice in evidence based practice, and how this can be combined with documentary evidence to provide optimum and individualised patient care.

A nurse’s role in promoting social capital in children and young people: Sarah Hean and colleagues report on the importance of maintaining a social network to the health and recovery of sick children and young people

Enabling childrens wellbeing by supporting their social networks is an important role of childrens nurses. This article presents the concept of social capital as a cognitive tool to help nurses reflect on why and how supporting these networks is important. Through three case studies the authors introduce the attributes of social capital and how these may be applied and inform practice in hospital and community healthcare settings.

Using the Internet as a source of information and support: a discussion paper on the risks and benefits for children and young people with long-term conditions

Children and young people who have long-term conditions are likely to seek healthrelated information via the Internet. Because of their continuing contact with children with such conditions, primary care practitioners may be well placed to discuss with them and their families the risks and benefits of accessing information online. This includes not only the relative merits of particular sites but also more general online safety issues. To achieve this, it may be helpful for primary care practitioners to consider how they view risk in general, the risks associated with the Internet and the vulnerabilities of children and young people, particularly those with long-term conditions. What is already known about this subject Using the Internet to access health-related information carries some risks. Using the Internet to access health-related information has benefits. Children with long-term conditions may be perceived as particularly vulnerable to harm. Perspectives of risk and benefit vary between individuals. What this paper adds Primary care practitioners may be well placed to discuss the risks and benefits of using online health resources with children, young people and their families. Being able to discuss general perceptions of risk and harm with primary care practitioners may enable children with long-term conditions to learn to manage the risks and maximise the benefits of using online resources. Exploring their own perceptions of risk and benefit, and their application to online resources, may enable primary care practitioners to feel equipped to have such discussions with children and their families.

Education for registered nurses who care for children with complex, continuing physiological needs.

There is an increasing population of children who have complex and continuing physiological needs whose social, psychological, emotional and developmental needs are best met at home, rather than in a hospital environment. However, one of the many factors which can impede children who have complex and continuing health needs being discharged from hospital is a lack of staff who can provide care and support for them and their families. Increasing the number of staff who are able to provide such support may therefore assist in improving the provision of appropriate care for this group. However, despite the recognition of the needs of children with complex and continuing health needs and their families, there is currently a relative lack of post registration nurse education specific to this client group. This paper reports on the rationale for development, design, and evaluation of a module of study for staff who care for children with complex needs and their families. The evaluation includes module content, sharing learning with other modules of study, the potential for using distance learning approaches, and the potential tension between learning and academic study.