Investing in Development: Six High-Performing, High-Poverty Schools Implement the Massachusetts Teacher Evaluation Policy

We studied how six high-performing, high-poverty schools in one large Massachusetts city implemented the state’s new teacher evaluation policy. The sample includes traditional, turnaround, restart, and charter schools, each of which had received the state’s highest accountability rating. We sought to learn how these successful schools approached teacher evaluation, including classroom observations, feedback, and summative ratings. We interviewed 142 teachers and administrators and analyzed data using sensemaking theory, which considers how individuals’ knowledge and beliefs, the context in which they work, and the policy stimuli they encounter affect implementation. All schools prioritized the goal of developing their teachers over holding them accountable. The spillover effects of additional policies affected how these schools approached implementation.

Satisfaction with conduit harvest site scars in coronary bypass surgery

INTRODUCTION Scars from conduit harvesting are common in coronary artery bypass patients. As an outward manifestation of surgery, the scar is important in patient perception of operative success and quality of care received. The aim of this study was to determine patient satisfaction with scars from radial artery and saphenous vein harvests at a tertiary cardiothoracic centre. METHODS We surveyed 62 patients attending follow-up appointment using the Patient Scar Assessment Questionnaire. This is a reliable and valid measure of a patient's perception of scarring. Data were analysed using ratings of scar attributes and features. We compared findings according to site and patient choice of scar site using the Mann–Whitney U test. RESULTS Analysis of both global and summative ratings showed no overall statistical differences between arm and leg scars (p<0.05). However, patients given a choice gave significantly higher ratings of scar appearance on global ratings versus those given no choice. Patients also reported greater satisfaction with appearance than those given no choice on summative ratings (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Patient choice of conduit site is an important determinant of the overall rating of scar appearance. Overall satisfaction is influenced by scar appearance. Clinicians should ensure, wherever possible, that they involve patients in conduit site selection.