Improving pre-service elementary teachers' self-reported efficacy for using the professional teacher standards in health education.

Background: The effectiveness of health education methods courses for pre-service elementary teachers has not been assessed for improving the pre-service elementary teacher's self-efficacy for using the professional teacher standards in health education (PTSHE).

Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used to assess pre-service elementary teachers' self-efficacy toward using the PTSHE. Four institutions whose elementary education programs provide a health education methods course were recruited to participate in the study.

Development of a pre-service teachers' self-efficacy instrument regarding teacher health education standards.

Background: Whereas many education programs expect students to use national standards in various content areas, few studies have been conducted that examine pre-service teachers' confidence in demonstrating their use of the professional teacher standards.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was 2-fold: (1) To develop the Pre-service Health Education National Standards Self-efficacy (PHENSS) Scale; and (2) To establish the instrument's ability to draw inferences from PHENSS Scale scores.

Methods: The final instrument consisted of 29 items and 4 demographic items.

Evaluation of decontamination procedures used in primary care.

This study examined decontamination and infection control procedures in general practice. Four primary care trusts participated with a response rate of 80 per cent. The study showed evidence of poor compliance with national standards and examples of unsafe practice.