Rapid evolution of microcomputer use in a faculty of health sciences.

OBJECTIVE: To assist with educational planning we surveyed health sciences faculty members in 1989 to determine their use of microcomputers, desire for further instruction and perceptions on what microcomputer services should be provided for students. The 1989 results were compared with those of a similar survey performed in 1986. DESIGN: A self-completed, mailed questionnaire, with up to three reminders. SETTING: Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. PARTICIPANTS: All full-time (FT) and part-time (PT) faculty members were sent the questionnaire; over 80% of the FT and 65% of the PT faculty members responded in 1986 and in 1989. RESULTS: The proportions of faculty members who used microcomputers increased significantly over the 3 years, from 71% to 87% among FT members (p = 2.2 x 10(-8)) and from 48% to 69% among PT members (p = 4.9 x 10(-8)). There were significant increases in the use of many of the applications, especially database and filing uses (from 10% to 41% among FT members [p less than 1 x 10(-9)] and from 6% to 34% among PT members [p less than 1 x 10(-9)]) and on-line access to bibliographic databases (from 7% to 37% among FT members [p less than 1 x 10(-9)] and from 3% to 18% among PT members [p less than 1 x 10(-9)]. These changes occurred mainly through individual initiative and voluntary continuing education. CONCLUSIONS: The extraordinary rate of adoption of microcomputers attests to their perceived usefulness. Curriculum planners need to consider how the success of microcomputer applications can be evaluated objectively and how successful applications can be integrated into educational programs.     

Multimedia Bootcamp: a health sciences library provides basic training to promote faculty technology integration

Background

Recent research has shown a backlash against the enthusiastic promotion of technological solutions as replacements for traditional educational content delivery. Many institutions, including the University of Virginia, have committed staff and resources to supporting state-of-the-art, showpiece educational technology projects. However, the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library has taken the approach of helping Health Sciences faculty be more comfortable using technology in incremental ways for instruction and research presentations. In July 2004, to raise awareness of self-service multimedia resources for instructional and professional development needs, the Library conducted a "Multimedia Bootcamp" for nine Health Sciences faculty and fellows.

Methods

Case study.

Results

Program stewardship by a single Library faculty member contributed to the delivery of an integrated learning experience. The amount of time required to attend the sessions and complete homework was the maximum fellows had to devote to such pursuits. The benefit of introducing technology unfamiliar to most fellows allowed program instructors to start everyone at the same baseline while not appearing to pass judgment on the technology literacy skills of faculty. The combination of wrapping the program in the trappings of a fellowship and selecting fellows who could commit to a majority of scheduled sessions yielded strong commitment from participants as evidenced by high attendance and a 100% rate of assignment completion. Response rates to follow-up evaluation requests, as well as continued use of Media Studio resources and Library expertise for projects begun or conceived during Bootcamp, bode well for the long-term success of this program.

Conclusion

An incremental approach to integrating technology with current practices in instruction and presentation provided a supportive yet energizing environment for Health Sciences faculty. Keys to this program were its faculty focus, traditional hands-on instruction, unrestricted access to technology tools and support, and inclusion of criteria for evaluating when multimedia can augment pedagogical aims.

     

BP: A microcomputer program for use in a hypertension clinic

This paper presents details of a computer program, BP, designed for use with an outpatient clinic. The program is implemented on a PET4000, microcomputer and is intended principally for a hypertension follow-up clinic, although it could be easily adapted for other clinics. It allows for initial patient data entry, the entry of data acquired at subsequent visits, the alteration of data, list of all data or a pre-determined subset, and a data sort and tabulation facility. The program is intended to be run by staff who have little experience with computers.     

The Human Genome Project: a paradigm for information management in the life sciences

The major product of the Human Genome Project will be a series of linked data sets containing the genetic and physical location of all genes on each chromosome, plus the complete nucleotide sequence of the genome for humans and several model organisms. Here we summarize the current status of attempts to collect, analyze, and distribute this information in an electronically accessible form. Although formidable problems remain to be solved in the acquisition and adequate representation of the genetic, physical, and biological data, this project is a model for the rapid dissemination of genome and related information in biology and medicine.     

The role of academic health sciences centres in international health.

For many years, Canadian academic health science centres have been active in international health. This brief review describes the activities of the Canadian Society for International Health, the Canadian University Consortium for Health in Development, and McGill, McMaster and Ottawa universities. Three principles are derived from these examples. Health must be placed in the broader context of development, and international health initiatives must be intersectoral. Canadian universities can make a distinctive and important contribution to health and development internationally, but this requires a clear commitment to scientific excellence and social responsibility. Finally, Canadian institutions, as representatives of the North, have much to learn through collaboration and partnerships with institutions in the South.     

The use of a microcomputer in a biomedical research project

The use of an inexpensive microcomputer system in an NIH-supported biomedical research project is explained. Computer programs which store and analyze air pollution data; records from hospitals, doctors' offices, pharmacies, and schools; and data from a community public health survey are described. The analysis consists primarily of calculations of various temporal and geographical correlation coefficients in order to determine whether particulate air pollution is affecting public health in southern Puerto Rico.     

Short form 36 (SF36) health survey questionnaire: normative data for adults of working age.

OBJECTIVES--To gain population norms for the short form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF36) in a large community sample and to explore the questionnaire''s internal consistency and validity. DESIGN--Postal survey by using a booklet containing the SF36 and several other items concerned with lifestyles and illness. SETTING--The sample was drawn from computerised registers of the family health services authorities for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, and Oxfordshire. SAMPLE--13,042 randomly selected subjects aged 18-64 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Scores for the eight health dimensions of the SF36. RESULTS--The survey achieved a response rate of 72% (n = 9332). Internal consistency of the different dimensions of the questionnaire was high. Normative data broken down by age, sex, and social class were consistent with those from previous studies. CONCLUSIONS--The SF36 is a potentially valuable tool in medical research. The normative data provided here may further facilitate its validation and use.