Ten criteria for evaluating qualitative research proposals.

With the proliferation of interest in qualitative research in nursing comes the attendant problem of how to evaluate it appropriately. Qualitative research has its own unique history, philosophical foundations, and methodologies that separate it from the quantitative approach. Although the literature is crowded with guidelines for evaluating the latter, little is offered for the qualitative reviewer. The Research Proposal Evaluation Form: Qualitative Methodology is a partial solution to this dilemma. It provides a framework for critiquing the proposal phase of a qualitative study and can be an important guide both for the educator and for the novice researcher.

Beyond correspondence, video conferencing, and voice mail: Internet-based master's degree courses in nursing.

The changing health care system and increasing demands for primary care providers have prompted an increase in nurse practitioner programs in the United States. Nurses in rural areas that are underserved by primary care practitioners often are faced with time and distance barriers to returning to school for advanced education. This article describes Internet-based courses as a unique distance learning platform for preparing primary care nurse practitioners at the University of Kansas (KU) School of Nursing. Discussion includes course development process, matching methods to course content, and other information on promoting interaction between students and faculty.

RN education: beyond the baccalaureate degree.

With an emphasis on post-baccalaureate education, the University of Kansas School of Nursing has restructured its program for registered nurse students. The resultant RN-MS track allows completion of both the baccalaureate and master's degrees in nursing in a 2-year time frame. Computer competencies, individualization of instruction, and substitution of classes are integrated into a streamlined curriculum.

Developing educational programmes for nurses that meet today's addiction challenges.

Since undergraduate curricula have in the past offered little substance abuse content, bold and innovative educational programmes are necessary to prepare nurses for the addiction challenges of the 1990s. The University of Kansas and the American Nurses' Foundation (ANF) recently addressed the problem when they were jointly funded by the John W. and Effie E. Speas Memorial Trust to present an alcohol and other drug education project targeted to nurses practicing in the local community. 60 nurses in key clinical settings were given an opportunity to receive general information about substance abuse through two, 2-day workshops. The purposes of the project were; (1) to plan and develop materials for an alcohol and other drug abuse (AODA) curriculum for practicing nurses in a variety of clinical areas; (2) to assess the effectiveness of the programme through on-site and post-workshop participant evaluations; (3) and to refine the curriculum and materials according to evaluation data. Results indicated that participants' knowledge of AODA was significantly increased by the workshop. Attitudes also changed in two areas, permissiveness and belief in treatment interventions. Decreased permissiveness toward substance abuse persisted 3 months after the workshop indicating this may be a lasting change. The conclusion is that education can lead to a change in knowledge and attitudes toward substance abuse.

Alcohol and other drug abuse. Current perspectives for occupational health nurses.

1. Trends in alcohol, drug, and tobacco use indicate that the upward surge of the 1960s and 1970s has subsided, but the amount of drug use in this country is still higher than in any other industrial nation. Risk factors associated with age, gender, culture, and family point to a significant increase in the number of individuals in the work force with a substance abuse problem. 2. The etiology of alcohol and other drug addictions is a subject of controversy. One position adheres to biological determinants of disease, another adheres to psychological disorders. 3. Implications for nurses involve effective teaching/learning strategies that range from didactic content emphasizing long term consequences of the disease to specific methods of employee instruction.

Use of therapeutic touch in treatment of drug addictions.

The purpose of this pilot study is to examine the efficacy of Therapeutic Touch (TT) as a form of treatment intervention with persons who abuse alcohol and/or other drugs. A between-subjects design compared treatment outcomes of three groups of alcohol and other drug abusers over five months. The Addiction Severity Index (ASI), Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), Beck Depression Inventory (BI), and Personal Experiences: Therapeutic Touch and Frequency of Alcohol/Drug Use questionnaires were administered to the group receiving TT (Group A) and both control groups (Mimic TT Group B and No Intervention Group C) at various points in the study. Preliminary findings indicate that the use of TT could be effective in prolonging periods of abstinence for alcohol and other drug abusers.

Life history: a qualitative method of research.

The life-history method of qualitative research is an alternative to empirical methods for identifying and documenting health patterns of individuals and groups. It allows the nurse researcher to explore a person's microhistorical (individual) experiences within a macrohistorical (history of the time) framework. Life-history information challenges the nurse to understand an individual's current attitudes and behaviours and how they may have been influenced by initial decisions made at another time and in another place. This paper describes a new direction in nursing research and identifies specific steps for using the life-history approach.