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PubMed1997

Computer literacy in nursing: developing the information technology syllabus in nursing education.

This study has two main purposes: first, to identify and describe the computer skills required in nursing; and second, to find out what should be taught about information technology in nursing education. A three-round Delphi survey was carried out with a panel of experts representing nursing practice, nursing education, nurse students and consumers. The panel showed a consensus of opinion on 71% of the items included in the questionnaire designed for the study. The experts agreed that nurses must know how to use the computer for word-processing purposes, for accessing and using the hospital information system, and for e-mailing. Nurses must also be aware of system security and show a positive attitude towards computers. It is concluded that hospital information systems and nursing informatics should be integrated into laboratory and hospital training.

Attitude to Computers↗
PubMed2002

A descriptive study of registered nurses' experiences with web-based learning.

AIMS: To describe the experiences of registered nurses (RNs) who enrolled in a web-based course from either their home or the workplace. RATIONALE: In order to maintain competency in rapidly changing health care systems, and meet the challenge of overcoming traditional barriers to continuing education, RNs need access to innovative educational delivery methods. As yet, little is known about the web-based learners' experience, particularly when courses are accessed from the nursing practice setting. METHODS: The article focuses on the results from questionnaires conducted with 57 RNs enrolled in a web-based, postdiploma course. These findings emanate from a larger study using survey method and focus group interviews. Nurses' experiences were measured using the Online Learner Support Instrument which was developed and tested for use in the study. RESULTS: Most nurses found the course highly satisfactory. Not all experiences were positive however, and a number of challenges were faced. Access to the course from home was reported as very satisfactory for the majority, while work users encountered a number of serious barriers such as insufficient time and limited computer access. The RNs made significant gains in their learning with e-mail, Internet, keyboarding and word processing skills during the 16-week course. Lack of computer skills, erroneous perceptions of course workload and inadequate preparation for web learning were largely responsible for the majority of withdrawals. CONCLUSION: Web-based learning can be an effective mode of delivery for nursing education. Advance preparation by educational institutions, employers and prospective students is essential. Teachers, peers, technology, course design and the learning environment are key variables that influence the learners' experience and success.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2001

Preparing tomorrow's doctors: the impact of a special study module in medical informatics.

BACKGROUND: In response to the call for more informatics teaching in the medical curriculum, an elective special study module has been offered to first-year students at Queen's University since 1997. OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of a medical informatics course in terms of the use of skills acquired and attitudes held about information technology (IT) in medicine. METHODS: A postal structured questionnaire was sent to all 30 students who took the medical informatics special study module in 1997 and to all 29 students who took the module in 1998, plus an age and sex-matched group of controls in each year. Main outcome measures included attitudes to the role of IT in medicine and declared frequency of use of various software packages. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, those taking the module felt less confident initially with computers. There was a high level of positive attitude to computers in medicine following the course, in both study and control groups. There was a significantly greater use of word-processing (P=0.001) and presentation packages (P=0.0005) amongst third-year students compared with second-year students, but there was no significant difference in this regard between those taking the module and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Students' use of computer technology and IT skills, is more influenced by the demands of the overall curriculum than by undertaking a single module in medical informatics. A special study module may, however, provide valuable support by performing a 'remedial function'. The authors found the module a useful first step in the process of introducing medical informatics to the core curriculum.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2002

Distance learning project--information skills training: supporting flexible trainees in psychiatry.

This one-year project was designed to investigate the skills training needs of a group of 12 specialist registrars in psychiatry working as flexible trainees (part time) in the NHS. They had expressed concerns about their lack of information technology skills at training assessment seminars. A part-time project officer, was appointed to support the group giving information skills training to each flexible trainee on an individual basis, through a series of home visits. The project officer worked under the supervision of the London Library & Information Development Unit (LLIDU) from a home base, to identify with the insular feelings expressed by the project group. Project funding purchased a laptop computer with modem and a printer for each participant to use during the project. The training covered: basic search skills and developing search strategy techniques using quality filters particularly in relation to the MEDLINE database; how to search the Cochrane Library and PubMed and exploiting Internet information resources. The group asked for help with word processing and presentation software use. These needs were met in a series of half-day workshops. Experience and insight gained during the project will feed into future planning of information skills training for larger numbers of flexible trainees.

Education, Distance↗
PubMed1999

Use of technology to facilitate language skills in school-age children.

Technology offers numerous possibilities for facilitating language and literacy skills in school-age children and adolescents. Narrative skills can be addressed by the use of specialized programs as well as generic word processing software. Writing skills can be targeted due to the variety of possibilities for input as well as options for supporting spelling and syntax. Reading skills might be improved by the use of programs that focus on decoding, as well as hypertext tools that highlight the use of text patterns or signals.

Auditory Perception↗
PubMed1999

The evolution of language.

The emergence of language was a defining moment in the evolution of modern humans. It was an innovation that changed radically the character of human society. Here, we provide an approach to language evolution based on evolutionary game theory. We explore the ways in which protolanguages can evolve in a nonlinguistic society and how specific signals can become associated with specific objects. We assume that early in the evolution of language, errors in signaling and perception would be common. We model the probability of misunderstanding a signal and show that this limits the number of objects that can be described by a protolanguage. This "error limit" is not overcome by employing more sounds but by combining a small set of more easily distinguishable sounds into words. The process of "word formation" enables a language to encode an essentially unlimited number of objects. Next, we analyze how words can be combined into sentences and specify the conditions for the evolution of very simple grammatical rules. We argue that grammar originated as a simplified rule system that evolved by natural selection to reduce mistakes in communication. Our theory provides a systematic approach for thinking about the origin and evolution of human language.

Biological Evolution↗
PubMed1999

Evidence relating human verbal memory to hippocampal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.

Studies in rodents and nonhuman primates have linked the activity of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors within the hippocampus to animals' performance on memory-related tasks. However, whether these receptors are similarly essential for human memory is still an open question. Here we present evidence suggesting that hippocampal NMDA receptors, most likely within the CA1 region, do participate in human verbal memory processes. Words elicit a negative event-related potential (ERP) peaking around 400 ms within the anterior mesial temporal lobe (AMTL-N400). Ketamine, an NMDA-receptor antagonist, reduces the amplitude of the AMTL-N400 (in contrast to other hippocampal potentials) on initial presentation, eliminates the typical AMTL-N400 amplitude reduction with repetition, and leads to significant memory impairment. Of the various hippocampal subfields, only the density of CA1 neurons correlates with the word-related ERPs that are reduced by ketamine. Altogether, our behavioral, anatomical, and electrophysiological results indicate that hippocampal NMDA receptors are involved in human memory.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Stressors associated with dyspnea in childhood: patients' insights and a case report.

OBJECTIVE: To highlight the concept that stress can be associated with dyspnea in children. METHODS: A chart review identified 22 patients (age range, 9-17 years) referred to a pediatric pulmonologist, who were offered instruction in self-hypnosis for treatment of dyspnea that persisted despite medical therapy. Patients were offered the opportunity to use hypnosis to gain insight into the causes of their dyspnea. RESULTS: The dyspnea resolved in 18 of the 22 patients within 1 month of instruction in self-hypnosis for relaxation and symptom reduction. Eight of the 22 patients (age range, 11-16 years) chose to use hypnosis for insight. Using automatic word processing, they explained that their dyspnea was associated with stressful situations, or that it reduced the chances of having to experience an uncomfortable situation. For example, a girl with dyspnea resulting from vocal cord dysfunction realized during hypnosis that she developed her symptom in order to prevent herself from talking about information that might cause discomfort were it disclosed. As soon as the patient decided that she could trust herself to handle the information appropriately, her symptom resolved. CONCLUSIONS: Dyspnea may provide patients with a way of expressing their reactions to perceived or anticipated stress. Thus, stress reduction interventions may prove very helpful in resolving this symptom. However, in some cases gaining an insight into the potential cause of the dyspnea may increase the effectiveness of therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Effects of dynamic office chairs on trunk kinematics, trunk extensor EMG and spinal shrinkage.

Seated work has been shown to constitute a risk factor for low-back pain. This is attributed to the prolonged and monotonous low-level mechanical load imposed by a seated posture. To evaluate the potential health effects with respect to the low back of office chairs with a movable seat and back rest, trunk kinematics, erector spinae EMG, spinal shrinkage and local discomfort were assessed in 10 subjects performing simulated office work. On three separate occasions subjects performed a 3 h task consisting of word processing, computer-aided design and reading. Three chairs were used, one with a fixed seat and back rest and two dynamic chairs, one with a seat and back rest movable in a fixed ratio with respect to each other, and one with a freely movable seat and back rest. Spinal shrinkage measurements showed a larger stature gain when working on the two dynamic chairs as compared with working on the chair with fixed seat and back rest. Trunk kinematics and erector spinae EMG were strongly affected by the task performed but not by the chair type. The results imply that dynamic office chairs offer a potential advantage over fixed chairs, but the effects of the task on the indicators of trunk load investigated were more pronounced than the effects of the chair.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Source document position as it affects head position and neck muscle tension.

Measurements of head position, mechanical load at C7, and level of muscle EMG activity in the muscles of the neck were compared across six document positions in both a reading task and a typing (word processing) task. Source documents, identified as a primary visual task, were placed in two positions in front of the subject, flat on the table to each side of the keyboard, and on a document stand at each side of the keyboard. Each of the 20 subjects performed both a reading task and a typing task in each of these document positions while measurements were taken. It was found that the greatest variations in head position occurred in head rotation with documents flat on the table. This document position on each side also produced the greatest level of muscle tension in both the neck extensors and, to a lesser degree, the sternocleidomastoid muscles. In addition, greater variability between document position measures was found in the typing condition.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Analysis of ocular surface area for comfortable VDT workstation layout.

This paper proposes a comfortable visual display terminal (VDT) workstation layout based on an analysis of ocular surface area (OSA). A large OSA induces eye irritation and eye fatigue because the eye surface is highly sensitive to various stimuli. The authors considered that OSA must be one of the useful indices of visual ergonomics and applied it to evaluate VDT workstation layout. Each subject was asked to perform a word processing task using four different VDT workstation layouts. It was found that the main factor affecting OSA was not cathode ray tube (CRT) height itself but the distance between the CRT and keyboard. Thus the following workstation layout is recommended to realize comfortable VDT operation: (1) the desk height should be adjusted to the user's height; and (2) the CRT display should be set closer to the keyboard to provide a smaller OSA.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The role of computer-aided assessment in health professional education: a comparison of student performance in computer-based and paper-and-pen multiple-choice tests.

There is a lack of empirical research in the use of computers in assessment. A study was conducted to compare student performance in computerized and paper-and-pen multiple-choice tests and assess the extent and effect of 'computer anxiety'. The LXR.TEST 5.1 software was used for the computerized test. A validated rating scale was used to assess computer anxiety. Most students had little computer experience other than in word processing. Only about a third of the students had moderate to mild computer anxiety. Neither computer experience nor anxiety correlated significantly with performance in the computer test. Whereas students performed significantly better in the paper test than in the computer test, there was no statistical difference in ranking in the two assessments formats. This suggests that computer-based assessment could be used with confidence for the purposes of ranking students, but care should be taken in using it for grading.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Lifelong learning skills: how experienced are students when they enter medical school?

Widening participation initiatives together with changes in school curricula in England may broaden the range of lifelong learning skills experience of new undergraduates. This project examines the experience levels of current students, as a comparative baseline. First-year medical students completed a questionnaire on arrival, investigating their practice of 31 skills during the previous two years. Responses show that most students have regularly practised transferable skills. However, significant numbers report little experience, particularly in IT skills such as email, using the Internet, spreadsheets and databases. Some remain unfamiliar with word processing. Library research, essay writing and oral presentation are also rarely practised by substantial numbers. One-third of students lack experience of evaluating their own strengths and weaknesses. Current students already show diversity of experience in skills on arrival at medical school. Changes in the near future may increase this range of experience further, and necessitate changes to undergraduate courses.

Attitude↗
PubMed2000

The effects of a computer skill training programme adopting social comparison and self-efficacy enhancement strategies on self-concept and skill outcome in trainees with physical disabilities.

PURPOSE: The aim of this controlled, quasi-experimental study was to evaluate the effects of both self-efficacy enhancement and social comparison training strategy on computer skills learning and self-concept outcome of trainees with physical disabilities. METHOD: The self-efficacy enhancement group comprised 16 trainees, the tutorial training group comprised 15 trainees, and there were 25 subjects in the control group. Both the self-efficacy enhancement group and the tutorial training group received a 15 week computer skills training course, including generic Chinese computer operation, Chinese word processing and Chinese desktop publishing skills. The self-efficacy enhancement group received training with tutorial instructions that incorporated self-efficacy enhancement strategies and experienced self-enhancing social comparisons. The tutorial training group received behavioural learning-based tutorials only, and the control group did not receive any training. The following measurements were employed to evaluate the outcomes: the Self-Concept Questionnaire for the Physically Disabled Hong Kong Chinese (SCQPD), the computer self-efficacy rating scale and the computer performance rating scale. RESULTS: The self-efficacy enhancement group showed significantly better computer skills learning outcome, total self-concept, and social self-concept than the tutorial training group. The self-efficacy enhancement group did not show significant changes in their computer self-efficacy: however, the tutorial training group showed a significant lowering of their computer self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: The training strategy that incorporated self-efficacy enhancement and positive social comparison experiences maintained the computer self-efficacy of trainees with physical disabilities. This strategy was more effective in improving the learning outcome (p = 0.01) and self-concept (p = 0.05) of the trainees than the conventional tutorial-based training strategy.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Work Content and Eye Discomfort in VDT Work.

A questionnaire study of Swedish public employees with frequent and different types of VDT work (n = 2,025) was conducted. Eight different kinds of eye discomfort were examined, and an additive index was constructed. Eye discomfort was statistically related to aspects of work organization. The highest levels of discomfort were reported by computer-aided design (CAD), data entry, and word processing groups; groups with mixed VDT tasks displayed the lowest level of symptoms. Time spent at a VDT, low degree of work control, time pressure, and high pace of work were all associated with relatively high levels of eye discomfort. There was significant interaction between experience of stress and time spent at a VDT with respect to both the eye discomfort index and three specific symptoms (itching, gritty feeling, and dryness). Whereas dryness, smarting, and itching of the eyes seem most strongly related to work conditions, redness and watery eyes seem most weakly related.

Control↗
PubMed1995

Dimensions of Job Control in Computerized and Traditional Office Work and Its Health Effects.

This study investigates whether a consistent relationship exists between computerization and job control. It also examines the role of job control as a predictor of stress symptoms typical for data entry and word processing (VDU) work. Two groups of VDU users and two comparable non-VDU-user groups took part in this study. A special questionnaire made it possible to assess global job control and four indexes of control related to specific aspects of work (control over choice of tasks and methods, control over time frame, control related to one's skill, and control related to participation in the decision-making process). Results did not show an unequivocal relation between computerization and the latitude of control. The latitude of control depends on the task performed and the aspect of control we are considering. Regression analyses showed that global control is a good predictor of job satisfaction, some mood disturbances, and visual complaints. The other aspects of control are related in a variety of ways to stress symptoms. The role of a Type A behavior pattern in the relationship between job control and stress symptoms varies depending on which aspect of control is being considered. It was concluded that because of the high functional differences between various aspects of control, it is better to avoid using the concept of global control and, when possible, apply specific indexes of control.

VDU work↗
PubMed1983

Apple II computer software for DNA and protein sequence data.

In our attempt to make the aid of a computer for the molecular biology laboratory available on a low-cost basis, we have improved the programs that we published recently. We have experienced in our laboratory, and have learned from others, that the average lab has an increasing demand to use a time-sharing-independent computer for the bulk of data handling. A microcomputer can give this independence. At the same time, a microcomputer can serve as a terminal for the few computer jobs, such as data communication or extensive search programs, which have to be conducted on a time-sharing basis. In this paper, we describe the programs which can be executed on a Apple II microcomputer using the Apple Language System. This system gives the researcher the opportunity to learn to handle sequence data, and it also includes a word processing system useful in writing letters and manuscripts and storing text.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

A dBASE III surgical pathology reporting and encoding microcomputer system.

The authors have developed a menu-driven dBASE III system for surgical pathology reporting and encoding in Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED). The system requires no knowledge of dBASE and is readily installed on any IBM-standard personal computer equipped with a fixed disk. The use of dBASE memo fields provides the integration of word processing and database functions. Preliminary gross examination reports are automatically accompanied by data from former cases on the same patient. Patient demographics, SNOMED codes, and final diagnoses are stored on the fixed disk; complete reports are saved on floppy diskettes. Cases can be retrieved by patient name, surgical number, or SNOMED codes. Daily work lists, frozen section-final diagnosis correlations, turnaround time reports, and listings of incomplete cases are easily obtained. Cytologic results can also be entered, allowing automatic correlation with surgical cases.

Humans↗