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Describes the Interactive Video in Schools (IVIS) Programme developed in the United Kingdom; discusses IVIS as a strategy for innovation; explains various forms of software and the nature of interaction; and considers issues of interactive video and educational improvement, including integration into the curriculum and the relationship between teachers and students. (Seven references) (LRW)

Introduction The UK pharmacists with independent prescribing rights (pharmacist independent prescribers [PIPs]) are authorised to prescribe within their areas of competence. To enable PIPs to provide pharmaceutical care to residents in care homes and assume responsibility for medicines management, a process for development and assessment of competence is required. The aim of this research was to develop a training and accreditation process (training programme) to enable PIPs to operate safely and effectively within care homes. Methods: Located in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland across four sites and based on a systematic review, it consisted of four phases: (1) initial stakeholder engagement, (2) uni-professional focus groups and interviews, (3) expert panel consensus and (4) feasibility testing. Four PIPs were trained each to provide pharmaceutical care to 10 care home residents. An expert panel synthesised the evidence at each stage to develop each iteration of the training programme. Content analysis was used throughout. Results Differences in baseline knowledge of PIPs required inclusion of a Personal Development Framework and the provision of a mentor. Face-to-face training focussed on managing medicines for a complex older person, minimising prescribing costs and supporting people without capacity. Provision of time to understand local context and develop relationships with care homes and general practitioners was identified as a central requirement. PIPs were assessed for competency via viva. Feasibility testing demonstrated that the derived training programme was acceptable, practical and effective. Discussion The model seemed to work, but due to small numbers, larger-scale testing of the training programme is now required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To develop a training programme to enable pharmacists with prescribing rights to assume responsibility for the provision of pharmaceutical care within care homes, a systematic review and narrative synthesis was undertaken to identify reported approaches to training pharmacists and use this literature to identify potential knowledge requirements. Methods: A PROSPERO‐registered systematic review was performed using key search terms for care homes, pharmacist, education, training and pharmaceutical care. Papers reporting primary research focussed on care of the older person within the care home setting were included. No restrictions were placed on methodology. Two researchers independently reviewed titles, abstracts and papers. Agreement on inclusion was reached through consensus. Data on titles, training and activities undertaken were extracted and knowledge requirements identified. Findings were synthesised and reported narratively. Key findings: Fifty‐nine papers were included, most of which were uncontrolled service evaluations. Four papers reported an accreditation process for the pharmacist. Thirteen papers reported providing tools or specific training on a single topic to pharmacists. The main clinical and therapeutic areas of activity (requiring codified knowledge) were dementia, pain, antipsychotic and cardiovascular medication. Provision of pharmaceutical care, effective multidisciplinary working and care home staff training represented the main areas of practical knowledge. Conclusions: Information regarding training and accreditation processes for care home pharmacists is limited. This study provides insight into potential codified and practical knowledge requirements for pharmacists assuming responsibility for the provision of pharmaceutical care within care homes. Further work involving stakeholders is required to identify the cultural knowledge requirements and to develop a training and accreditation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prescribing, monitoring and administration of medicines in care homes could be improved. Research has identified the need for one person to assume overall responsibility for the management of medicines within each care home. and shown that a pharmacist independent prescriber service is feasible in this context.Aims and Objectives: To conduct a cluster randomised controlled trial to determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a pharmacist-independent prescribing service in care homes compared to usual general practitioner (GP)-led care.Objectives: To perform a definitive randomised controlled trial (RCT) with an internal pilot to determine the intervention's effectiveness and cost-effectiveness and enable modelling beyond the end of the trial.Methods: This protocol is for a cluster RCT with a 3-month internal pilot to confirm that recruitment is achievable, and there are no safety concerns. The unit of randomisation is a triad comprising a pharmacist-independent prescriber (PIP) based in a GP practice with sufficient registered patients resident in one or more care homes to allow recruitment of an average of 20 participants. In the intervention group, the PIP will, in collaboration with the GP: assume responsibility for prescribing and managing residents' medicines including medication review and pharmaceutical care planning; support systematic ordering and administration in the care home, GP practice and supplying pharmacy; train care home and GP practice staff; communicate with GP practice, care home, supplying community pharmacy and study team. The intervention will last 6 months. The primary outcome will be resident falls at 6 months. Secondary outcomes include resident health-related quality of life, falls at 3 months, medication burden, medication appropriateness, mortality and hospitalisations. A full health economic analysis will be undertaken. The target sample size is 880 residents (440) in each arm) from 44 triads. This number is sufficient to detect a decrease in fall rate from 1.5 per individual to 1.178 (relative reduction of 21%) with 80% power and an ICC of 0.05 or less.Discussion: Recruitment is on-going and the trial should complete in early 2020. The trial results will have implications for the future management of residents in care homes and the ongoing implementation of independent pharmacist prescribing.Trial Registration: ISRCTN, ID: 17847169. Registered on 15 December 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naturalistic research should produce reports which afford participants access to the process of interpretation. Naturalistic researchers should anticipate the need for negotiation relationships. However, the consequence of giving participants access to the process of interpretation is that it generates conflict. (JN)

This article reports on findings from a larger qualitative research study on shared decision- making (SDM) in Egyptian schools. The main aim of the study was to identify barriers to SDM in Egypt's secondary schools, using qualitative data collected from nine general secondary schools in the Damietta governorate, Egypt. Data were collected through interviews with 85 research participants, including head teachers, deputy heads, heads of department, Board of Trustees members and newly appointed teachers. The data analysis revealed various barriers that interact and hinder the involvement of teachers in the decision-making process at the school level. While cultural factors presented themselves strongly as potential barriers to such involvement, centralised control over schools was perceived by many participants as significantly more influential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Editorial. Comments on the idea of evidence-based practice and policy-making in education. Images of relationship of the teacher on research; Features of professional development; Target of educational policy-making.

A preface is presented for this issue of "Cambridge Journal of Education."

An obituary for evaluation practitioner Barry MacDonald is presented.