The purpose of this study was to measure and evaluate parental knowledge and misconceptions with regard to asthma and its treatment, to identify parental concerns with regard to the disease and its effects on their children, and to identify selected socio-demographic and medical correlates of the above. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 54 families with a child with asthma. The sample comprised all the parents of a consecutive series of asthmatic patients between the ages of two to eighteen years attending a family practice in Mandalay on the Cape Flats. Data were collected by means of a structured questionnaire administered to 52 mothers and 48 fathers, reflecting a 95.2 per cent response rate. Respondents completed the questionnaire in their homes. A 55 item Asthma Knowledge Test was developed and validated to assess medical knowledge. Parents obtained an average score of 72%. Scores of over 70% were obtained in the sub-sections of aetiology, symptomatology, pathophysiology, precipitants and environmental control. Parents were less informed in the sub-sections of asthma prognosis, general medical knowledge and asthma therapy. Misconceptions and deficiencies in asthma knowledge which could lead to inadvertent non-compliance were identified. The following misconceptions were shared by a significant number of parents: inhaler therapy weakens the heart, regular administration of medication leads to addiction and medicines becoming ineffective, and folk remedies are effective in asthma therapy. Parental educational status was the only significant correlate with performance on the Asthma Knowledge Test. There was no significant difference in the performances of mothers and fathers. 47% of parents smoked but there was no significant difference in the scores of smokers and non-smokers. Parental concerns centred predominantly on their lack of confidence to manage acute asthma attacks, followed by concern as to whether their children will outgrow asthma. Dependence on asthma medication and its perceived harmful effect on the heart and lungs were other concerns. The findings suggest the need for systematic asthma education especially with regard to acute attack management and preventive medications. The aims of such education should be to increase asthma knowledge, develop skills, improve attitudes, and develop positive expectations toward the outcome and effectiveness of treatment. An effort should be undertaken to discourage parental smoking in asthmatic families. Attention should be given to dispel misconceptions during educational programmes. The increased information needs of parents with a lower education should be addressed by health professionals. Parents should receive adequate information during the early stages of the disease to minimise their insecurity in coping with the illness and prevent the development of misconceptions that undermine their confidence in medications and care givers.

Study Objective: To investigate resident physician knowledge about sexual abuse prevalence and understanding about potential perpetrators. Design: Questionnaires were mailed to program directors in family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatric residency programs. Participants: The questionnaires were distributed to senior residents in their final months prior to graduation. Interventions: Residents were asked to fill out the questionnaire anonymously and return it to our institution in the prepaid envelope provided. Main Outcome Measures: Demographic characteristics and knowledge of sexual abuse prevalence and perpetrator characteristics were assessed. Chi-square contingency table analysis was used to compare responses of the three specialties. Results: The overwhelming majority (98.8%) of residents correctly identified a family member as the individual most likely to sexually abuse a child. Approximately half of the residents knew the correct prevalence of sexual abuse among females and among males. There was a weak understanding of the potential youthfulness of juvenile offenders. Conclusion: We believe that resident understanding of sexual abuse prevalence and about the youthfulness of juvenile offenders can be improved in all three specialties.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) curriculum was developed to incorporate learning outcomes and experiential opportunities for students to attain the core FNP knowledge for doctoral education. Historically, challenges related to developing clinical skills in blended/online programs has been problematic. The appeal of online FNP education has challenged educators to develop new ways to provide students opportunities to experience hands-on clinical skills within the subspecialties of the DNP, FNP role. With limited clinical sites, and now with more clinical access constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that new models of instruction provide students opportunities for skills training. The purpose of this project is to describe use of scaffolding methodology to design student skills learning activities using synchronous online and on-ground sessions during DNP intensives. Student and faculty input identified the types of practice skills and procedures needing improvement, such as suturing, electrocardiogram, etc. An intensive task force was organized to evaluate curricular elements; content was then mapped to analyze gaps. The first step included aligning advanced practice nursing skills sessions in each intensive with the related clinical courses offered within that semester. Then, students were organized into a skills rotation plan based on their date of admission and place within their program of study. Modifications required by COVID-19 on-ground restrictions necessitated re-thinking intensive skills sessions. Student satisfaction scores significantly improved after the intensive sessions were restructured. Faculty continue to seek feedback from the students to provide beneficial practice opportunities during the DNP intensives.

Introduction: I am a general practitioner in solo practice in Athlone. I work closely with a qualified nursing sister. Many of the patients we attend to have non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Aim: To implement change in the management of our patients with diabetes by developing a protocol for future improved care. Objective: To assess the quality of care provided to patients with (NIDDM), by a doctor - nurse team in private general practice. Method : The study was quantitative and qualitative and consisted of 3 sections : 1) an internal audit based on the retrospective examination of patients' medical records, 2) a questionnaire which was administered to determine patients' knowledge of their disease and 3) a focus group interview which centred around patients' experience of the disease and feelings about the service provided. The interview was audio taped. Findings: Problem areas identified were sub-optimal record keeping; poor attendance and infrequent eye and foot examinations; patients' knowledge of their disease was limited; certain aspects of doctor-patient and patient-family relationships that may impact negatively on care; fears and anxieties relating to the disease and perceptions oflocus of control as external.

No description available.

The adherence to published guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by primary care pediatricians (PDs) and family practice physicians (FPs), particularly those in rural areas, has not been well documented. This study examined survey responses from PDs and FPs who serve southern Appalachia (northeast Tennessee, southwest Virginia and Kentucky, and western North Carolina) regarding key practice parameters in line with the current American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. Results showed that both PDs and FPs reported adhering to most of the diagnosis and treatment guidelines. PDs were more likely than FPs to report using both parent and teacher input in diagnosis and reported prescribing different medications for ADHD to some degree. Both practice areas reported ongoing access to continuing medical education, which is a means to enhancing care of ADHD patients. Implications for primary care are given with attention to the limited availability of PDs in rural areas and future areas of research in rural mental healthcare are suggested.

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No description available.

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Three years ago, our residency program began a new approach to teaching practice management to our second- and third-year residents. The underlying principles for the new curriculum involved a realization that our residents lacked basic business understanding and that they would likely learn more effectively through a hands-on approach.The newcurriculum, which we describe in this article, is in large part built around the establishment of a mockpractice during thesecond year ofresidency. Although the curriculum is still evolving, initial response and evaluation have been encouraging.