Effect of an integrated care pathway on acute asthma/wheeze in children attending hospital: cluster randomized trial.

Objective: To determine whether an integrated care pathway (ICP) could improve care delivered to patients coming to an emergency department only or to patients who were subsequently admitted.

Study Design: Children (age, 2-16 years; n = 298) coming to the ED with acute asthma/wheeze, were randomized by using a cluster design to either standard care or care delivered by an ICP.

Results: Children discharged from the ED who received care with an ICP (n = 118) received more prednisolone (81%; standard, 63%; P = .

Evaluating a Web-based graduate level nursing ethics course: thumbs up or thumbs down?

Background: This article discusses the course design, experiential findings, and evaluation of a Web-based course for graduate nurses examining professional health care practice and ethical issues.

Method: Using course input and evaluative data, the article addresses student and teacher perceptions of use of a Web-based delivery mode for graduate level courses and the appropriateness of this ethics course for graduate level students.

Results: Evaluative data supported existing knowledge concerning pros and cons of Web-based education.