title: Chaos theory as a planning tool for community-based educational experiences for health students.
abstract: Educational and community health systems are social systems composed of a group or collection of entities for which there is a unifying principle. The purpose of this paper is to briefly explain chaos theory and to apply it to the Interdisciplinary Rural Health Training Program (IRHTP) as a case study. The IRHTP is an existing rural, community based educational program for baccalaureate and graduate health care students. Chaos theory attempts to understand the underlying order in processes that appear to not have any guidelines or principles. These processes typically involve the interaction of several elements over time. Chaos theory provided the university with a method of anticipating the natural flux between order and chaos to allow the system to function at its highest level. To thrive in such a complex dynamic environment the authors recommend application of Ockerman's Five Factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, East Carolina University, 306 Belk, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. veldeb@mail.ecu.edu
authors.forename: Beth P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Velde
authors.forename: Annette G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Greer
authors.forename: Deirdre C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Escott-Stump
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D004500:Education, Graduate; D004517:Education, Professional / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D010934:Planning Techniques; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D012424:Rural Population; D013597:Systems Analysis; D014481:United States