The article describes the ways in which formative evaluation was used in the development of a hospital's critical care nursing education program during the teaching/learning process, and in improving instruction in the program. Suggestions are made to guide others wishing to utilize formative evaluation effectively. (Author/AJ)

A continuing education program was successful in changing both the knowledge and behavior of an experimental group of pharmacists. Their attitudes were not significantly changed, and this might be explained through cognitive dissonance theory. (LBH)

University-school system cooperation in the formation of teacher centers has benefits for both parties--the school system can use the university resources, educational materials, research facilities, and scholarly expertise, while providing to the university training sites and field-based research opportunities. (MB)

A workshop series designed to change attitudes and culture in accident and emergency departments in Britain sought to influence clinical practice by sharing the experience of researchers and practitioners. It was considered an effective way to disseminate research, but real change must also involve other departments in the hospital. (SK)

Examines library education in Bangladesh. Discusses curriculum at all levels, continuing education, and professional opportunities. Notes that political turmoil has caused the shutdown of numerous public universities, creating significant impediments to training. (PEN)

Discussion of online learning and distance education focuses on continuing education possibilities for librarians. Highlights include how online courses work; overcoming feelings of isolation; the use of technology; the effectiveness of online learning; future trends and challenges; considerations before signing up; and finding online professional…

Health care providers were trained using standardized patients (individuals acting as patients) to conduct AIDS risk assessment and posttest counseling. Evaluations involving over 500 participants determined it was an effective technique; however, participants in group formats experienced discomfort. (SK)

Discusses literature concerning why and when adults return to school. Discusses study of 2,000 adults which investigated the concepts of transitions and triggers as possible reasons for returning to school. Findings indicate for 83 percent, learning was a utilitarian means; for 17 percent, learning was an end that justified itself. (JS)

Six-month case studies of five physicians who attended an arrhythmia conference found that changes in their job performance were (1) incremental (70 percent), which usually required learning; (2) structural (17 percent), requiring redirections of life or practice; and (3) accommodational (13 percent), resulting from regulations. (SK)

Two continuing medical education (CME) projects illustrate how theory may be used in practice. In a change project, a theory was generated to explain the role of CME in change and learning. A program on early detection of cancer tested social and behavioral theory in solving a health care problem. (SK)

Effects of a medical education program about diabetes mellitus were studied as a function of the extent to which participants' clinical environments were made to facilitate recommended practices. Subjects were 99 internal medicine residents and 15 internists staffing a general medicine clinic who attended a 3.5-hour diabetes seminar. (SLD)

Results of a survey of 1,028 physical therapy, dietetics, medical technology, and occupational therapy educators revealed that they have a high personal interest in research but lack the skills needed to take initiative and provide leadership for research in their respective disciplines. (Author/JOW)

The authors state that liberal education courses help police officers understand and even challenge their own organizational culture. They describe a program for which they are the faculty that aims to expose police officers to views different from their own in order to challenge their perspectives. (CH)

A study of the impact of family physicians' participation in continuing medical education activities on the quality of their professional services, as measured by an in-office audit of a random selection of charts, found no relationship between care and educational activities. (MSE)