Metodologia da problematização no ensino remoto para debater sobre infecções sexualmente transmissíveis em idosos / Problematization methodology in remote teaching to discuss sexually transmitted infections in the elderly

Resumo Introdução: Atualmente o Brasil mostra um expressivo aumento da sobrevida e consequente elevação do número de idosos na sua população. Do ponto de vista de propostas para a melhoria da qualidade de vida deles, a sexualidade deve ser compreendida a partir do princípio holístico, não somente do fator biológico. Nesse cenário, novas reflexões de profissionais da saúde tornam-se indispensáveis para o planejamento de ações específicas, objetivando a atenção integral à saúde do idoso. Relato de experiência: O presente relato de experiência traz o início de um diálogo com acadêmicos de Medicina de uma universidade pública sobre a complexidade da sexualidade e infecções sexualmente transmissíveis (IST) em idosos, buscando identificar o conhecimento desses discentes sobre o assunto e idealizar propostas de ação ao público-alvo. Para isso, estruturou-se uma estratégia de ensino-aprendizagem cuja abordagem consistiu na adaptação e aplicação da metodologia do Arco de Maguerez para o debate sobre IST no contexto da saúde pública brasileira, o qual foi realizado com base nas diretrizes do ensino remoto emergencial. Nossos resultados vão de encontro à literatura que visa compreender as representações sociais acerca da sexualidade dos idosos. Neles, verificou-se que as representações sociais acerca da sexualidade na terceira idade assemelham-se à descrição científica, apresentado similitude entre o senso comum e o conhecimento erudito. Discussão: Diante da discrepância descrita na literatura quanto aos conceitos errôneos por parte dos idosos e dos familiares e pelos profissionais de saúde acerca da sexualidade na terceira idade, são imprescindíveis a realização de campanhas e o desenvolvimento de medidas e estratégias preventivas voltadas para idosos, a fim reduzir a incidência de IST nessa comunidade. Para isso, são fundamentais estratégias de educação em saúde no ensino acadêmico e de educação profissional continuada para sedimentar os conhecimentos necessários na idealização de propostas eficazes. Conclusão: A partir da formação médica adequada e por meio da discussão dos aspectos complexos sobre o assunto, serão possíveis a construção, a implementação e a avaliação de políticas públicas de saúde para o enfrentamento das IST, de modo a diminuir as barreiras relacionadas à prevenção de doenças e à promoção de saúde sexual na população idosa.

Abstract Introduction: Brazil is currently reporting a significant increase in survival and consequent rise in its elderly population. From the point of view of proposals to improve their quality of life, sexuality should be understood from a holistic, and not just a biological, perspective. In this scenario, new reflections by health professionals become indispensable for the planning of specific actions aimed at providing comprehensive health care for the elderly. Experience report: This experience report describes the beginning of a dialogue with medical students from a public university about the complexity of sexuality and sexually transmitted infections among the elderly, seeking to identify their knowledge of the subject and devise proposals for action with the target audience. To this end a teaching-learning strategy was structured based on an approach that adapted and applied the Arc of Maguerez methodology to the debate on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the context of Brazilian public health, which was conducted out within the guidelines of emergency remote learning. Our results are in line with the literature that seeks to understand the social representations about sexuality among the elderly. It was found that the social representations about sexuality in the elderly are similar to the scientific description, with similarities between common sense and scholarly knowledge. Discussion: Given the discrepancy described in the literature regarding the misconceptions on the part of the elderly, family members and health professionals about sexuality in old age, it is essential that campaigns be conducted, and preventive measures and strategies developed for the elderly to reduce the incidence of STIs in this community. Hence, health education strategies are needed in academic teaching and continuing professional education to consolidate the knowledge required to devise effective proposals. Conclusions: Based on fit-for-purpose medical education, the discussion of complex aspects about this subject will support the construction, implementation, and evaluation of public health policies to tackle STIs, reducing barriers related to the prevention and promotion of sexual health in the elderly population.

Parent rated bedtime resistance and comorbidity may predict levels of attention among Turkish children diagnosed with ADHD in on-line education classes during the COVID-19 outbreak.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the attention levels, of Turkish children and adolescents with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in on-line education classes with healthy controls. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional, internet-based, case-control study that recruited 6-18 years old patients diagnosed with ADHD and receving treatment and healthy controls from eight centers. The measurements used in the study were prepared in the google survey and delivered to the participants via Whatsapp application. RESULTS: Within the study period, 510 children with ADHD and 893 controls were enrolled. Parent- rated attention decreased significantly in both groups during on-line education classes due to COVID-19 outbreak (p<0.001; for each). Children and adolescents with ADHD had significantly elevated bedtime resistance, problems in family functioning difficulties than control children according to parental reports (p=0.003; p<0.001; p<0.001, respectively). Furthermore, bedtime resistance and comorbidity significantly predicted attention levels in on-line education. CONCLUSION: Our findings may underline the need to augment student engagement in on-line education both for children without attention problems and those with ADHD. Interventions shown to be effective in the management of sleep difficulties in children as well as parent management interventions should continue during on-line education.

Responding to nurses' communication challenges: Evaluating a blended learning program for communication knowledge and skills for nurses.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Blended Communication Skills Training Program for Nurses (CSTN). The program aims to improve nurses' knowledge about communication skills and structure for interactions with individuals who a have life limiting illness. METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study using a pre- and post-test quiz and self-efficacy questionnaire undertaken in Victoria, Australia. Nurses employed across three wards participated. The Blended CSTN comprised two major components: Asynchronous Web-Based Education Program and Experiential Workshop. The program focused on specific communication challenges: Gathering Information, Dealing with Difficult Questions, and Articulating Empathy. The primary outcome was improvement in knowledge of communication skills and structure. Self-efficacy and perceived importance of communication skills were assessed as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Eighteen nurses completed both Web-Based and Workshop components. Statistically significant increases in knowledge regarding communication skills and structure were found, with a large effect size for Gathering Information (r = 0.80) and moderate effect for Articulating Empathy (r = 0.62), and Responding to Difficult Questions (r = 0.532). Self-efficacy significantly increased for all measured communication skills. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge improvements and perceived self-efficacy in communication were observed after nurses participated in a blended education program PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: A blended CSTN may improve nurse-patient communication in the clinical setting, worthy of further study.

When Things Happen - The Story of COVID-19, Palliative Care, and An NGO.

Several natural disasters and the appearance of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created stressful situations to many health-care workers in the Philippines. New health-related challenges surfaced, and health-care workers felt lost since many of the challenges were either directly or indirectly caused by the fast-spreading coronavirus infections and its variants. Further, the way people die also changed, causing confusion and influencing the Filipino grief and bereavement processes. In response to the need of the health-care workers, a nongovernmental organization (NGO) through its education portal created and offered free webinars, aimed to help health-care workers understand and make sense of what was happening, thus empowering them with knowledge on how to manage the challenges and provide better care to the patients and the community as well. This article relates the process of planning and implementing online webinars during the era of social distancing and COVID-19 pandemic.

Developing social presence in online learning among nurses: Exploration of the community of inquiry models domain of social using a qualitative descriptive design.

There is marked increase in the demand for online learning in nursing curriculums. However, online learning has been criticised for being detached and impersonal resulting in low levels of engagement. In a world that is rapidly shifting to online learning as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic creating quality online learning environments has become more pressing. The Community of Inquiry (COI) is a well-established model used to frame online environments in many disciplines including nursing. The COI model proposes that social, cognitive and teacher presences must exist in the online learning space for learning to occur. It is argued that social presence remains less understood despite being one of the essential elements. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to understand how facilitators and participants engage with and use a social presence in an online seminar. It is concluded that when facilitators include the use of a social presence in the design of the online learning space in-depth engagement with online content also increases. This can happen rapidly (less than an hour) and continue for several weeks. It is deduced that a social presence enhances a sense of realness among participants of online learning and through an increased sense realness engagement increases.

The University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Training Program in Implementation Science: Program Experiences and Outcomes.

Purpose: We evaluated outcomes of trainees who have completed the Certificate program in Implementation Science at the University of California San Francisco. Methods: All students who completed the in-person Certificate Program between 2008 and 2015 (n = 71), or the online Certificate Program between 2016 and 2017 (n = 13), were eligible for our study. We assessed the potential impact of the Certificate Program on the professional development of trainees, through participant surveys on their self-reported level of comfort with pre-defined competencies, and on academic productivity. Results: Of eligible trainees, 54 in-person (77%) and 13 online (100%) Certificate Program participants completed surveys. In-person trainees reported a total of 147 implementation science-related publications in peer-reviewed journals (median 3 publications/trainee, IQR 1-15). Thirty-four trainees (63%) reported being a Principal Investigator (PI) of 64 funded implementation science-related grants (median 2 grants/trainee, IQR 1-4). Fifteen percent (15%, n = 8) of participants reported receiving an NIH grant on which they were the PI, including R01 or P01 level funding (n = 4, 7%) and K awards (n = 3, 6%). Both in-person and online trainees reported median high to moderate confidence for all 12 competencies assessed. Confidence waned in skills aligning with later stages of implementation research for all trainees. Conclusion: The moderate to high confidence in all competencies assessed and reported high level of academic productivity support the benefits of intensive, graduate-level training focused on applied methods to support career development of implementation scientists.

Can Web-based preenrollment alcohol brief interventions be effective screening tools? Precollege drinking behavior predicts college retention and alcohol violations.

Objective: To test if precollege drinking data gathered during an online brief intervention are associated with problems and could inform screening for campus alcohol prevention efforts. Participants: Two cohorts of incoming students (N = 5300). Method: Precollege alcohol drinking was gathered through an online preenrollment alcohol brief intervention. Drop out was obtained from university records. On-campus alcohol violations were obtained from university judicial affairs, and off-campus alcohol citations were obtained from the city police. The 2011 cohort was tracked for 4 years, the 2012 cohort for 3 years. Results: Precollege abstaining and heavy drinking were significantly associated with retention and alcohol violations, even with ethnicity, residency, and gender controlled. Association of precollege drinking with later college problems extended beyond the first year and affected retention up to four years of enrollment. Conclusions: The findings support using data from preenrollment alcohol brief interventions as screening tools to customize further campus alcohol interventions.

Ensino em Saúde LGBT na Pandemia da Covid-19: Oportunidades e Vulnerabilidades / LGBT Health education during the Covid-19 Outbreak: Opportunities and Vulnerabilities

Resumo: Introdução: A pandemia da Covid-19 e as medidas sanitárias de isolamento social impuseram a necessidade de reestruturação do ensino, com migração para tecnologias digitais. Em relação à educação em saúde da população de Lésbicas, Gays, Bissexuais, Travestis e Transexuais (LGBT), assunto que ainda está em processo de inserção nas escolas médicas, tal mudança trouxe novas oportunidades para a discussão do conteúdo, mas também criou e escancarou vulnerabilidades preexistentes. Relato de Experiência: Ocorreram no Brasil diversas experiências de educação em saúde LGBT durante o período da pandemia da Sars-Cov-2, com auxílio de plataformas digitais. Em uma universidade do Rio Grande do Norte, uma disciplina optativa de Atenção à Saúde da População LGBT, que já seria ministrada no formato presencial, sofreu modificações e acabou por ser ofertada no modelo remoto. A liga de semiologia de uma faculdade de São Paulo se viu obrigada a mudar a sua aula com a mesma temática em decorrência do isolamento social. Discussão: Essas experiências permitiram a análise de uma série de oportunidades e vulnerabilidades trazidas por esse momento de reformulações no ensino. A modalidade remota expôs e expandiu desigualdades sociais por conta da necessidade de equipamentos e internet para acesso aos conteúdos, marginalizando uma parcela vulnerável da população. Além disso, o ambiente digital pode ser inseguro para o pronunciamento de pessoas LGBT. Em contrapartida, essa modalidade permitiu a ampliação do público atingido pelas atividades, resultante da diminuição dos custos e da quebra de barreiras geográficas permitidas pelo ambiente digital. Surgiram inovações nas ferramentas de ensino, como uso de podcasts e vídeos, flexibilizando as formas de ensino e divulgação de informações. Conclusão: Diante das deficiências encontradas com a experiência do ensino remoto emergencial, espera-se que, no futuro, os aprendizados adquiridos levem a uma implementação curricular mais democrática de atividades inclusivas em ensino sobre saúde LGBT nas universidades.

Abstract: Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic, and sanitary and social isolation measures imposed the need for restructuring health education, by migrating environments to digital technologies. As for health education for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transvestite and Transsexual (LGBT) population, a subject that is still in the process of being inserted in medical schools, this change brought new opportunities for discussion, but it also created and brought up pre-existing vulnerabilities. Experience Report: Around the country, during the Sars-Cov-2 pandemic period, there were several digitally-aided experiences of LGBT health education. At a University in Rio Grande do Norte, a non-mandatory discipline of Health Care for the LGBT Population, designed to be taught in a physical format, underwent modifications and ended up being offered remotely. The Semiology League at a College in São Paulo (SP) was forced to change its class with the same theme due to social isolation. In these and other experiences there were great challenges, but also a lot of innovation. Discussion: Those experiences brought into focus a series of opportunities and vulnerabilities in this moment of educational changes. Remote education exposed and expanded social inequalities due to the need for equipment and internet access, marginalizing a vulnerable portion of the population. Furthermore, the digital environment proved not to be a totally safe setting for LGBT people to speak their minds. In contrast, this method allowed for the expansion of the audience in some activities, resulting from digital environment cost reductions and lower geographical barriers. Also, there were expanded innovations in teaching tools, such as the use of podcasts and videos, making teaching and information dissemination processes more flexible. Conclusion: In view of the difficulties posed during these remote learning experiences, it is expected that, in the future, the lessons learned will lead to a more democratic curricular implementation of inclusive LGBT health activities in Universities.

Fostering researcher identity in STEM distance education: impact of a student-led on-line case study.

Researcher identity can be defined as the totality of traits such as confidence, logical thinking and having both the ability to design experiments, interpret results, and the desire to seek and succeed in authentic research. Therefore, the development of students' researcher identity can be supported by authentic research experiences embedded in introductory courses. Distance courses are increasingly more appealing to students and institutions, and there is a need to assess to what extent web-based education can provide opportunities to foster researcher identity. In an attempt to offer authentic research opportunities in a course with partially web-delivered content and to foster a research identity, we developed an outbreak case study-group project (OCS-GP) that is an investigation of a mock outbreak of illness. Participants were divided into groups tasked with conceiving an outbreak scenario and then identifying the cause and the source of the outbreak. The case studies were open-ended and designed to provide students with authentic learning experiences. Development of a researcher identity was evaluated in this exploratory study via reflective tests: participants in the OCS-GP demonstrated more willingness to conduct research, when compared with those who completed a similar outbreak case study but as individual assignment (OCS-IA).

Benefits of an on-line migraine education video for patients with co-occurring migraine and depression.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of an online, hour-long migraine education and management education program on health outcomes in people with migraine experiencing significant depressive symptoms. METHODS: Eligible individuals in the community with comorbid migraine and depressive symptoms (n = 95) participated in the 12-week study. Participants completed self-report questionnaires examining general functioning, headache-specific disability, migraine frequency, pain, and depressive symptoms, before, and at 2, 6, and 12 weeks following the migraine education and management program. Primary analyses evaluated change over time in each outcome, using individual linear growth curve models. RESULTS: After watching the migraine education and management video, there were significant effects of time (across all time points) for average pain level in the past 30 days (b = -0.20, p < .001), most intense pain level in the past 30 days (b = -0.33, p < .001) depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-8; b = -0.28, p = .002), and headache-specific disability (Headache Disability Inventory; b = -1.32, p < .001), such that each of these outcomes improved linearly over time. CONCLUSIONS: A brief, online educational video is practical and effective and can lead to enhanced migraine knowledge and self-management skills and lessen the burden of migraine and concurrent depressive symptoms.

Experiencias en la formación de médicos familiares en la modalidad a distancia y virtual: una posibilidad para el sistema de salud colombiano / Experiencies in training family physicians through both virtual and distance-learning modes: a possibility for Colombia ́s health system / Experiências na formação de médicos familiares à distância e virtual: uma possibilidade para o sistema de saúde colombiano

Introducción. Mediante la Resolución 429 de 2016, Colombia adoptó el modelo de Atención Primaria en Salud como una política de atención integral en salud. Los médicos familiares son un elemento fundamental para su desarrollo. Para 2014, se estimó que en Colombia había poco más de 1,2 médicos familiares por 100.000 habitantes y solo siete programas de formación de posgrado presencial en todo el país, concentrados en las ciudades más desarrolladas. Por este motivo, el Ministerio de Educación y el Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social buscan incrementar la formación de especialistas en Medicina Familiar. Brasil, India, México, Paraguay y Sudan, entre otros países, exploraron la educación virtual y a distancia como una opción de formación médica para esta especialidad. Por lo anterior, los investigadores se preguntaron si las características que permitieron el desarrollo de estas experiencias en otros países podrían servir para orientar la creación de un programa similar en Colombia. Objetivo. Hacer una descripción detallada de las características que permitieron el desarrollo de experiencias de formación a distancia y virtual para médicos familiares en el mundo y, a partir de su análisis, encontrar bases que puedan servir para el desarrollo de un programa similar en Colombia. Metodología. Se trata de un estudio cualitativo, hermenéutico, basado en la recopilación y el análisis documentales. La búsqueda se hizo en Pub-med, ProQuest, Embase, Lilacs, Bireme, Springer Link, PlosOne y World Library of Science, utilizando los términos "distance learning", "family practice", "e-learning", "education B-learning", "ICT learning", "computer-assisted instruction", "educación a distancia", "educación virtual", y "medicina familiar y comunitaria". Resultados. Se seleccionaron 71 artículos de 23 países. Se señalaron las características comunes en los programas de educación virtual y a distancia, mediante una matriz de fortalezas, oportunidades, debilidades y amenazas, y se reseñaron los rasgos políticos, económicos, sociales, y tecnológicos del contexto colombiano que pudieren favorecer o no el desarrollo de un programa similar. Conclusiones. La educación de posgrado a distancia para médicos familiares ha sido posible en diferentes países. En Colombia, deben desarrollarse ajustes políticos, económicos, tecnológicos y legales para que un programa de estas características tenga un impacto significativo en el desarrollo de la especialidad.

Overview: Through Resolution 429 promulgated in 2016, Colombia adopts Primary Care model as comprehensive health service policy and family physicians have been essential for such model adoption. According to different sources, in 2014 there was an estimated 1.2 family physicians per 100.000 in-habitants and only 7 Family Medicine postgraduate programs throughout the country. Consequently, Colombia ́s National Health Ministry sought to increase training of Family Physicians. Countries such as Brazil, India, México, Paraguay y Sudan looked into virtual and distance- learning strategies as options for family physicians training. This led researchers to inquire whether such education options could allow the implementation of similar experiences in ColombiaObjective: Conducting a thorough description of features involved in the development of distance-learning and virtual education strategies for family physician training worldwide. Such description aimed as a means to develop a similar program in Colombia. Methodology: Qualitative-hermeneutic study based on data collection and analysis. Search was conducted through the following web search engines: PubMed, ProQuest, Embase, Lilacs, Bireme, Springer Link, Plos One and World library Of Science. Search terms included: "distance learning", "family practice", "e-learning", "education B-learning", "ICT learning", "computer-assisted instruction", " distance-learning education", "on -line education" and "family and community medicine." Results: 71 articles from 23 countries around the world were selected. Commonalities amongst on line education and distance-learning programs were drawn through the use of SWOT analysis that included social, political, economic and technological contextual features that may favor or hinder the development of a similar program in Colombian Conclusions: Graduate distance learning for Family Physicians has been successful in various countries. Colombia ought to implement political, economic, technological and legal adjustments to allow for the development of such an educational program and its significant impact for this medical specialty.

Introdução. Em 2016 mediante a Resolução 429, a Colômbia adotou o modelo de Atenção primária em Saúde (APS) como uma política de atenção integral em saúde (PAIS), os médicos familiares são um elemento fundamental para seu desenvolvimento. Para 2014 foi estimado no país mais do que 1,2 médicos familiares por cada 100.000 habitantes e somente 7 programas de formação de Pós-Graduação presencial no país todo, concentrados nas principais cidades. Os Ministérios de Educação e de Saúde e proteção Social procuram incrementar a formação de especialistas em Medicina Familiar. Brasil, India, México, Paraguay e Sudán, são entre outros países, exploraram a educação virtual e a distância como uma opção de formação médica para esta especialidade. Pelo anterior, os pesquisadores questionam sobre se as características que permitiram o desenvolvimento dessa experiência nesses países, servem para orientar a criação de um programa semelhante na Colômbia. Objetivo. Descrever detalhadamente as características que permitiram o desenvolvimento de experiências de formação à distância e virtual para médicos familiares no mundo, para buscar alternativas de desenvolvimento de um programa semelhante na Colômbia.Metodologia. estudo qualitativo, hermético, baseado na colheita e análise documental. A busca bibliográfica foi realizada nas bases de dados especializadas (Pubmed, ProQuest, Embase, Lilacs, Bireme, Springer Link, Plos One y World library Of Science) usando os térmos "distance learning", "family practi-ce", "e-learning", "education B-learning", "ICT learning", "computer-assisted instruction", "educación a distancia", "educación virtual" e "medicina familiar y comunitaria". Resultados. Foram selecionados 71 artigos de 23 países para identificar características comuns dos programas de educação virtual e a distância, com fortalezas, oportunidades, fraquezas e ameaças, sendo também resenhados os atributos políticos, econômicos, sociais e tecnológicos do contexto colombiano. Conclusões. A educação de Pós-graduação a distância para médicos familiares tem sido possível em vários países. Na Colômbia podem ser desenvolvidos ajustes para gerar as condições que favoreçam a realização de um programa como esse com alto impacto significativo.

Use of a web-based education program improves nurses' knowledge of breastfeeding.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the baseline knowledge and knowledge gained of nurses, nursing students, midwives, and nurse practitioners who completed Breastfeeding Basics, an online educational program. DESIGN: This study reports on an anonymous evaluation of an online breastfeeding education program developed and maintained to promote evidence-based breastfeeding practice. PARTICIPANTS: Included in the study were 3736 nurses, 728 nurse practitioners/midwives, and 3106 nursing students from the United States who completed ≥ one pretest or posttest on the Breastfeeding Basics website between April 1999 and December 31, 2011. METHODS: Baseline scores were analyzed to determine if nurses' baseline knowledge varied by selected demographic variables such as age, gender, professional level, personal or partner breastfeeding experience, and whether they were required to complete the website for a job or school requirement and to determine knowledge gaps. Pretest and posttest scores on all modules and in specific questions with low pretest scores were compared as a measure of knowledge gained. RESULTS: Lower median pretest scores were found in student nurses (71%), males (71%), those required to take the course (75%), and those without personal breastfeeding experience (72%). The modules with the lowest median pretest scores were Anatomy/Physiology (67%), Growth and Development of the Breastfed Infant (67%), the Breastfeeding Couple (73%), and the Term Infant with Problems (60%). Posttest scores in all modules increased significantly (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Breastfeeding Basics was used by a large number of nurses and nursing students. Gaps exist in nurses' breastfeeding knowledge. Knowledge improved in all areas based on comparison of pretest and posttest scores.

Using a strengths model to build an on-line nursing education program.

The on-line environment is the new frontier for academia struggling to define its place in the evolving economy. A concern is how to engage students who maximize their on-line experience and graduate in a timely manner. A strengths model was used as the basis for development of an on-line doctoral nursing program. Upon entering the program, students were given a strengths assessment that focused both students and faculty on the positive attributes students were bringing to their doctoral studies. A positive feedback methodology using on-line discussions in each course was used to support the identified strengths. The optimal picture of a successful entering doctoral student appears to be a person whose top five strengths are learner, achiever, input, connectedness and responsibility. A strengths model promotes a positive learning environment and supports a teacher-learner dynamic where faculty members are encouraged to focus on the students' strengths rather than their challenges.

RN-BSN curricula: designed for transition, not repetition.

Combined efforts of professional mandates, employer preferences for increased educational levels of staff registered nurses (RNs), Magnet's higher environmental ratings, the Institute of Medicine report, and Aiken's (2003, 2008, & 2011) clinical research outcomes have spawn renewed attention for RN-baccalaureate degree of science in nursing (BSN) education. Yet, nationally, only 21.6% of associate degree nurses are continuing their education (Health Resources and Services Administration, 2010). Designing programs with the student as the center, where student/faculty engagement is the goal, has enabled one school of nursing to develop a quality on-line RN-to-BSN program. Core values of the program reveal a faculty who is committed to development of education to transition the associate degree and/or diploma graduate to professional nursing practice without repetition of content and learning activities.

The pathology informatics curriculum wiki: Harnessing the power of user-generated content.

BACKGROUND: The need for informatics training as part of pathology training has never been so critical, but pathology informatics is a wide and complex field and very few programs currently have the resources to provide comprehensive educational pathology informatics experiences to their residents. In this article, we present the "pathology informatics curriculum wiki", an open, on-line wiki that indexes the pathology informatics content in a larger public wiki, Wikipedia, (and other online content) and organizes it into educational modules based on the 2003 standard curriculum approved by the Association for Pathology Informatics (API). METHODS AND RESULTS: In addition to implementing the curriculum wiki at http://pathinformatics.wikispaces.com, we have evaluated pathology informatics content in Wikipedia. Of the 199 non-duplicate terms in the API curriculum, 90% have at least one associated Wikipedia article. Furthermore, evaluation of articles on a five-point Likert scale showed high scores for comprehensiveness (4.05), quality (4.08), currency (4.18), and utility for the beginner (3.85) and advanced (3.93) learners. These results are compelling and support the thesis that Wikipedia articles can be used as the foundation for a basic curriculum in pathology informatics. CONCLUSIONS: The pathology informatics community now has the infrastructure needed to collaboratively and openly create, maintain and distribute the pathology informatics content worldwide (Wikipedia) and also the environment (the curriculum wiki) to draw upon its own resources to index and organize this content as a sustainable basic pathology informatics educational resource. The remaining challenges are numerous, but largest by far will be to convince the pathologists to take the time and effort required to build pathology informatics content in Wikipedia and to index and organize this content for education in the curriculum wiki.

Experiences and Lessons of an On-line Biomedical Ethics Course / 한국의학교육

The Korea's first-ever on-line biomedical ethics education class began in September 1999. The class, one of the 18 on-line lectures offered in the Fall Semester, 1999 by Seoul National University Virtual Campus, allows the Korean general public the opportunity to attend an SNU lecture. Although the discussion sites are limited to the randomly selected 40 students taking the 16-week-long course, any one can read the instructor's lecture on the Internet. (http://snuvc. snu.ac.kr/class/h601) The topics of this course include abortion, euthanasia, organ transplantation, human cloning and etc. As members of the team responsible for this unprecedented biomedical ethics education program in Korea, we, the authors, report the experiences that the team went through both in preparing for and running the course. We concludes from the experience that we had that 16 weeks are too long for an on-line course without academic credits or sufficient number of tutors. Also, we suggest that in the near future the on-line biomedical ethics course should be able to be used for continuing education of such medical professions as medical doctors and nurses.