Here is code for printing a report in Access and Word from within VB
Note you must first reference 'Microsoft Access 8.0 Object Library' and 'Microsoft Word 9.0 Object'
The version may be different depending on what version of Access and Word you have (You must have these programs already installed for this to work)

Code:
        Dim appAccess As Access.Application
        Set appAccess = New Access.Application'these set up the object
appAccess.OpenCurrentDatabase "I:\Payroll\Payroll.mdb"'put the database path here
        appAccess.Run "SetParam", CDate(txtPPE.Text)'this runs a macro in access named setparam
appAccess.DoCmd.OpenReport "Payroll New Full", acViewNormal'this actually prints the report
        appAccess.Quit'quits access
        Set appAccess=Nothing'frees up memory
Here is for Word
Code:
            Dim appWord As Word.Application
            Set appWord = New Word.Application'these set up the object
appWord.Documents.Open "I:\Payroll\Payroll Forms Access.doc", , , , , , , , , , , True'put document path here
            appWord.Run "Payroll", CDate(txtPPE.Text)'runs a macro in word
            appWord.ActiveDocument.Close'closes 
appWord.Quit'quits word
set appWord=Nothing'frees memory
Of course this is just printing but once you open the db or doc you can use any VBA commands like to maximize a form in Access add this after the OpenForm (where my openReport is) line:
Code:
  appAccess.DoCmd.Maximize
Does that help, if it is confusing just email me

Note: Things to watch for with subclassing (that what this is called) Word and printing if you try to quit while it is still sending to the printer then it prompts the user about aborting the print.