Implementing workforce development in health care: A conceptual framework to guide and evaluate health service reform

Abstract

The term ‘workforce development’ is increasingly popular in the health-care field. It appears to encompass a range of human and organizational development activity. However, there has been limited explication of the concept of workforce development in Australian health care at area health service levels. It is timely to develop a framework for workforce development and processes to guide any evaluation of the implementation of workforce development strategies. This paper presents a framework that has been developed through consultative processes in an area health service and an associated review of literature.     

Activity-based blended learning

As part of the trend towards blended learning, the Open University of Shell International Exploration and Production is shifting from predefined content-based learning to activity-based learning grounded in learners' actual workplace problems. This article acts as a case study by describing key design principles adopted by the organization and also describes how the shift addressed courses that served multinational participants. Data are provided on the learning activities in thirty-seven courses redesigned in 2002 (covering nearly 300 separate learning activities). The article concludes with some comments on work that still needs to be done as well as key implications for practitioners in other organizations.     

REVIEWS

Johnson, S. M. (2004). The practice of emotionally focused couple therapy (2nd ed.).
Nichols, W. C. (Ed.). (2004). Family therapy around the world: A festschrif t for Florence W. Kaslow .
McCarthy, B., & McCarthy, E. J. (2004). Getting it right the first time: Creating a healthy marriage .
Quinn, W. H. (2004). Family solutions for youth at risk .     

PSYCHODYNAMICS AND EXECUTIVE DYSFUNCTION: A NEUROBIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

The purpose of this article is to illustrate how neurobiological deficits and subcortical structures contribute to psychodynamic processes. Specifically, this paper seeks to enhance our clinical understanding of the consequence of such contributions by clarifying how a person might select and maintain dysfunctional behaviors or responses. Viewing the brain from an evolutionary perspective, with physical and mental survival as the goal of evolved brain function, specific dysfunctional behaviors are shown to be context and time dependent regulatory or modulatory procedures, which compensate for missing neural connections. This paper describes two courses of treatment with the same patient, first for procrastination and later for perversion. In each treatment deficits are identified and compensatory skills are discussed.     

Motherhood and “Moral Career”: Discourses of Good Motherhood Among Southeast Asian Immigrant Women in Australia

In this paper, I examine the lived experience of motherhood among Cambodian, Lao and Vietnamese immigrant women in Australia. The women in this study felt a profound change through the process of becoming a mother; they experience the “transformation of self.” The results reveal several discourses of good motherhood. Becoming a mother was experienced as a moral transformation of self and women were urged to perform their moral career. The representation of mothers as the “keepers of morality” is prominent. Women's moral career is influenced by an ethic of care and responsibility for others, particularly their children. The paradoxical discourse of motherhood is profound in the women's narratives of their lived experiences of motherhood. It is clear that motherhood is not an easy task. When this is combined with difficulties resulting from migration, motherhood becomes double burdens. Lack of sufficient English, financial difficulties and support network in a homeland make the task of good motherhood difficult to achieve. Social and health care services need to take women's experiences into account if sensitive care for immigrant women is to be achieved.     

虐待老人问题的跨文化研究

虐待老人作为一个世界性社会问题 ,由于其与不同社会文化背景紧密相联 ,所以不同国家对之有不同理解。本文结合国外虐待老人问题的研究成果 ,从中华民族伦理传统入手 ,着重分析了我国虐待老人行为中施虐者与受虐者之间特殊的心理矛盾 ,并提出为照料者和受虐老人提供支持的方法     

香港1997年後的政商關係:一個三維範型分析(英文)

本文提出香港97年回歸後政商關係三種互勤模式:社團主義模式、直選或多元模式、及委任或諮詢模式。在宏觀層面,立法會的功能團體選舉屬社團主義模式;由分區直接選舉選出來的議員則屬直選或多元模式;而委任非官守成員到行政會議則代表著委任或諮詢模式。親商派、獨立派及建制派議員或成員在立法會及行政會議的數目分佈一直多於反商派,這使商界自回歸以來迄今都處於優越地位,其利益在現行政治及行政架構下得到充分保障。     

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Diverse Populations

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder of childhood. Given the high prevalence of ADHD and its significant impact on children and families, it is important for social workers to understand and know how to respond. This paper looks at Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, explores its causes, and gives special attention to its effect on diverse populations. In addition, it discusses empirically supported treatment interventions used for children with ADHD, particularly the role of parent training in the management of ADHD. Finally, it discusses the applicability of using parent-training programs with diverse populations.