Biomedical subjects

D J Prideaux

Publications and source records attributed to D J Prideaux.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

Problem-based learning: its rationale and efficacy.

Problem-based learning (PBL) in medical education uses clinical cases as the context for students to study basic and clinical sciences. Its possible advantages over traditional approaches include its greater relevance to the practice of medicine, its ability to promote retention and application of knowledge, and its encouragement of self-directed life-long learning. Possible disadvantages include higher costs, both in resources and staff time. Although its efficacy is difficult to evaluate, the current enthusiasm for PBL seems justified and its use is likely to increase further.

Australia↗

PubMed1995

The comprehensibility of Australian educational literature for patients with asthma.

BACKGROUND: Education of patients with asthma is aimed at improving their knowledge, skills and attitudes, and thus compliance and control. Patient information pamphlets play a role in education, medication information and informed consent processes, and must be understood. We assessed the comprehensibility of Australian pamphlets on asthma. METHOD: 50 Australian pamphlets on asthma (written in English for adults) were selected from the Asthma Foundation, a teaching hospital in South Australia, the pharmaceutical industry, the National Asthma Campaign and specialist books and journal articles. The Australian Rix readability formula was used to estimate the grade of reading difficulty, and thus comprehensibility, of these patient information pamphlets (grade 1 = most comprehensible; grade 12 = most difficult). RESULTS: The mean grade of reading difficulty of the 50 patient information pamphlets was 8 (SD, 1.4; range, 6-11). One-third were written at or above grade 9 and two-thirds were at or above grade 8. CONCLUSION: As recent educational attainment data suggest that up to 52% of 15-69-year-olds in Australia comprehend text at or below grade 7, a substantial number of pamphlets on asthma are beyond the reading and comprehension abilities of many of their target population.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A "common" surgery curriculum: health care delivery and undergraduate surgical education in Australian teaching hospitals.

Undergraduate surgical education should focus on common surgical conditions and management principles. It has become increasingly difficult in Australia because of the changed patient mix in teaching hospitals. There has been an increased number of emergency admissions with a consequent reduction in elective surgery and pressure on inpatient and outpatient referrals. In addition, cost cutting has led to the intensification of staff workloads, thereby reducing potential time for teaching. Australian teaching hospitals are also tertiary referral centers. As such they have become more specialized with a more rapid turnover of acutely ill patients undergoing complex technologic treatments. More diagnosis and management of surgical conditions is conducted in ambulatory settings and through office and day surgery. The Heaslip Project at Flinders University was set up to evaluate and reform the undergraduate surgery curriculum. Graduate and student surveys revealed a need to concentrate on teaching about common surgical conditions, developing proficiency in skills and procedures and providing experience in the common principles of surgical care. These areas have now become the major components of changed surgery clerkships. Students also spend more time interacting with patients, participating in the planning and management of preoperative and postoperative care, and working in outpatient clinics. Although the reforms have addressed the identified concerns, they may not be sufficient if the patient mix in teaching hospitals continues to narrow. Teaching hospitals will continue to provide valuable educational experiences, but they should be supplemented and complemented with the experience of managing surgical patients in the wider community.

Australia↗