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Internationally, centralised systems of student evaluation have become normative practice in higher education institutions, providing data for monitoring teaching quality and for teacher professional development. While extensive research has been done on student evaluations, there is less research-based evidence about teachers' perceptions of and engagement with student evaluations, the focus of the research reported in this paper. An interpretive approach framed the study in which data were gathered through questionnaire and interview responses from teaching staff at three New Zealand tertiary institutions. Results highlighted the general acceptance of the notion of student evaluations, recurring ideas about the limitations of evaluations and significant gaps in the way academics engage with student evaluation feedback. Recommendations for enhancing teacher engagement with student evaluation are made to optimise the potential for student evaluations to inform teaching development and to improve students' learning experiences.

Objective: As in other English-speaking countries, asthma is a major and increasing health problem in New Zealand. This study examined the risk factors for asthma in children aged 7-9. Methods: Cases and controls were randomly selected from participants in the Wellington arm of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Cases were children with a previous diagnosis of asthma and current medication use (n=233), and controls were children with no history of wheezing and no diagnosis of asthma (n=241). Results: After controlling for confounders, factors significantly associated with asthma were maternal (OR=3.36, 95% Cl 1.88-5.99) and paternal asthma (OR=2.67, 95% Cl 1.42-5.02), and male sex (OR=1.81, 95% Cl 1.17-2.81). Children from social classes 5 and 6 or with unemployed parents (OR=2.32, 95% Cl 1.22-4.44) were significantly more likely to have asthma than children in social classes 1 and 2. There was no significant association between having polio vaccination (OR=2.48, 95% Cl 0.83-7.41), hepatitis B vaccination (OR=0.66, 95% Cl 0.42-1.04) or measles/mumps/rubella vaccination (OR=1.43, 95% Cl 0.85-2.41) and asthma. Conclusions: This study has confirmed the associations of family history and lower socio-economic status with current asthma in 7-9 year old children. The role of vaccinations requires further research. (Aust N Z J Public Health 2001;25:44-9)

What we know already. There are significant changes in the way that health and social care is being understood and delivered in Scotland. Chaplains are already proficient at promoting the spiritual health and wellbeing of individuals however their impact on organisational spirituality and compassionate communities is fragmented. What this paper adds. This article describes three key elements of health and social care; patient centred care; preventative care and an asset based approach and then proceeds to show how healthcare chaplains contribute to this agenda. Why this is important. Greater awareness is required amongst those working in primary health and social care of the potential of spiritual care to support health and well-being within communities. Greater awareness is required within the chaplaincy community of the issues facing those working in primary health and social care, the common challenges and the areas of shared interest How this impacts on Chaplaincy. Chaplains have key learning needs: to be aware of current health and social care policies and to be innovative in promoting the spiritual health and wellbeing of individuals, organisations and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]