Journal of allied health
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Journal of allied health · Jan 2007
Growth and change in the physician assistant workforce in the United States, 1967-2000.
The physician assistant (PA) profession grew rapidly in the 1970s and 1990s. As acceptance of PAs in the health care system increased, roles for PAs in specialty care took shape and the scope of PA practice became more clearly defined. This report describes key elements of change in the demography and distribution of the PA population between 1967 and 2000, as well as the spread of PA training programs. ⋯ In 2000, more than 42% of accredited PA programs offered a master's degree, compared to master's degree programs in 1986. Although many critical issues of scope of practice and patient and physician acceptance of PAs have been resolved, the PA profession remains young and continues to evolve. Whether the historical contribution of PAs to primary care for rural and underserved populations can be sustained in the face of increasing specialization and higher-level academic credentialing is not clear.
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Journal of allied health · Jan 2007
What health care providers know (and need to know) about palliative care.
Health care education has been widely criticized for not providing training in end-of-life care. Despite calls from various scientific and professional organizations for formal educational improvement, most education in this area is "on the job." The current project is a secondary analysis of a surveyed convenience sample (n = 608) of health care providers in Kansas to determine knowledge, background, perceptions, and opinions about pain management and end-of-life care. ⋯ In addition, they state a need for increased support from insurers and legal and regulatory agencies to provide an acceptable standard of care. Providers responding to the survey also believe there is a significant need for patient education in this area.
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Journal of allied health · Jan 2007
Influence of an information literacy course on students' information search behavior.
The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of an information literacy course on students' information gathering behavior. ⋯ The introduction of an information literacy course did influence the information gathering behavior of students. Students showed an increased reliance on peer-reviewed references.
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Journal of allied health · Jan 2007
Are physical therapy clinical instructors teaching the Institute of Medicine core competencies? An exploratory investigation using student perceptions.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has recommended instituting clinical education reforms to ensure all health profession graduates acquire five core competencies; providing patient-centered care, working in interdisciplinary teams, employing evidence-based practice, applying quality improvement and utilizing informatics. The IOM has identified 28 specific skills associated with these competencies. This qualitative, exploratory study was conducted to begin to examine the extent to which physical therapy clinical instructors provide students with instruction the students perceived as promoting the acquisition of these skills. ⋯ This study supports the need for the profession of physical therapy to delineate formal and explicit clinical education instructional content and strategies to promote students' acquisition of the IOM core competency skills.