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A STUDY OF THE IDENTIFICATION OF CORE CONTENT OF TECHNICAL COURSES IN THREE ALLIED HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES Peggy Ann Bensman A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate School of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY March 1975 BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY il ABSTRACT The study was undertaken to determine if there were a common core of content included in the technical courses of dental hygiene programs at the certificate or associate degree level and nursing and radiologic technology programs at the associate degree level. The study also ascertained whether there were possible additions or deletions to content that was being taught in these programs. The information was obtained through a questionnaire survey which was sent to the directors of all of the three types of programs in the United States. Five levels were used to determine the amount of emphasis placed on each item of content. Two cores of common con tent were identified: core A which included content on which 75% or more of the respondents placed average or greater emphasis and core B which included content on which 51% or more of the respondents placed average or more emphasis . Thirty-two items of content were analyzed as to whether they were common to two or three of the programs under investigation. The findings revealed that seventeen items of content were common to the three programs at the core A level and twenty-three at the core B level. Six were common to two programs at the core A level and eight at the core B level. The conclusion reached in this study was that there was a common core of technical content in dental hygiene, nursing and radiologic technology programs as presently being taught in separate courses. The greatest similarity of content was found in the technician-patient relations category. The conclusion was also reached that the content which was presently included in the three types of programs would remain as essential content in the programs within the next ten years if the opinions presented by the respondents were valid. The results of the study have implications for departments of allied health, educators, students and practitioners in the allied health field. The findings could serve as a basis for determining content to be included in core courses or other types of common learning experiences. m ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I take pride in expressing my appreciation to all those who have assisted me in a variety of ways throughout the writing of this dissertation. I am indebted to Dr. Morris J. Weinberger, the chairman of my committee for many reasons, but mostly for his interest in me as a person. I am also indebted to the other members of my committee: Dr. Leslie J. Chamberlin, Dr. Fred Pigge and Dr. Donald Ragusa for their assistance which each rendered when requested. I am also indebted to my typist and the many relatives and friends who were helpful to me in innumerable ways but most particularly to my parents without whose assistance, understanding and prayers the writing of this dissertation would not have been possible. IV TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES.............................................................................................. vii Chapter 1 . THE PROBLEM , DEFINITIONS AND PROCEDURES.................... 1 Introduction to the Problem........................................................ 1 Statement of the Problem............................................................. 4 Definition of Terms........................................................................ 6 Allied Health Personnel........................................................ 6 Core.............................................................................................. 7 Technical Course .................................................................... 8 Dental Hygienist...................................................................... 9 Nurse Technician .................................................................... 10 Radiologic Technologist........................................................ 10 Significance of the Study............................................................. 11 Problem to be Investigated........................................................ 11 Procedures........................................................................................ 11 Organization of the Study........................................................... 12 2. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE........................................................ 13 Overview of Core Curricula ...................................................... 13 Core Curricula in Allied Health............................................... 17 V Chapter Page Summary.......................................................................................... 44 3. STATEMENT OF PROCEDURES ...................................................... 47 Introduction................................................................................... 47 Distribution of Questionnaire.................................................. 54 Analysis of Data.......................................................................... 58 4. REPORT OF FINDINGS................................................................. .. 60 Introduction................................................................................... 60 Respondents................................................................................. 60 Analysis of Data.......................................................................... 62 Disease Process .................................................................... 63 Introduction to Health Care................................................ 70 Pharmacology.......................................................................... 72 Problem Solving...................................................................... 73 Safety Factors ........................................................................ 74 Application of Technical Skills......................................... 75 Technician - Patient Relations........................................... 77 Final Question........................................................................ 78 Summary of Findings........................ 78 5. SUMMARY AND SUGGESTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL RESEARCH.................................................................... 87 Summary.......................................................................................... 8 7 Conclusions................................................................................... 89 vi Chapter Page Limitations .............................................................. 93 Suggestions for Additional Research.................................... 95 Recommendations for Use of This Study.............................. 97 Schools or Departments of Allied Health....................... 98 Educators................................................................................. 99 Students................................................................................... 101 Practitioners................................................................ 102 BIBLIOGRAPHY................................................................................................. 105 APPENDIXES A. Survey on Curriculum Content .................................................... 115 B. List of Directors Included in Sample Group........................... 122 C. Items Found to Be Unreliable...................................................... 124 D. List of Institutions to Which the Questionnaire Was Sent............................................... 126 E. Responses by States.............................................................. 158 F. Graphs Depicting Emphasis by Programs ................................ 160 Vil LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Arrangement of Core: General Studies .................................... 38 2. Arrangement of Core: Special Studies...................................... 38 3. Reliability of Items Used in Questionnaire.............................. 57 4. Summary of Questionnaire Returns............................................. 61 5. Dental Hygiene Programs, Responses by Percentage..................................................................................... 64 6. Nursing Programs, Responses by Percentage......................... 66 7. Radiologic Technology Programs, Responses by Percentage ............................................................................... 68 8. Commonalities of Content............................................................. 80 t Chapter 1 THE PROBLEM, DEFINITIONS AND PROCEDURES Introduction to the Problem Almost unnoticed in the mounting concern and debate over the "crises" in health care is the fact that revolutionary changes have occurred since World War II in the ways in which health services are produced. Pressed by increased demand for services and assisted by scientific breakthroughs, the technology of delivering health care has been significantly altered over the past three decades in a form that parallels the growth of other productive activities: the utilization of capital equipment has expanded and the division or specialization of labor has increased. With respect to health manpower. .it was possible only a short time ago to count the different types of personnel utilized in providing health care easily on the fingers of two hands; at present upwards of twenty hands are needed