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Author: Brian S McGowan, PhD

MANUSCRIPT: Audio podcasts in practical courses in biochemistry – cost-efficient e-learning in a well-proven format from radio broadcasting

Introduction: Audio podcasts are an e-learning format that may help to motivate students to deal with the contents of medical education more intensely. We adopted a well-proven format from radio broadcasting, the radio documentary, to direct the listeners’ attention to information about practical courses in biochemistry over a period of 20 minutes at most. Information, original sounds, and a specific atmosphere allow listeners to perceive the contents intensely. Method: In order to organise the production of the podcast as cost-efficient and least time-consuming as possible, a student, a teacher, a clinician, and a technical assistant compile the core themes of their respective text blocks in an editorial conference first. After that, the speakers can elaborate on and record their blocks independently. Coordination is widely handled by the student. At two points of time, the podcasts were evaluated by the medical students by means of a questionnaire. Results: With little cost and time expenses, eight podcasts were produced. They have been used by the students extensively and have also been evaluated very positively by non-student listeners. For long-term usage, a regular reference to the podcast offer is required in the courses. Conclusion: Involving students, successful podcasts can be produced to support classroom teaching with little expenses and contribute to the external presentation of the medical faculty.

via Audio podcasts in practical courses in bio… [GMS Z Med Ausbild. 2013] – PubMed – NCBI.

MANUSCRIPT: Training of leadership skills in medical education

Background: Effective team performance is essential in the delivery of high-quality health-care. Leadership skills therefore are an important part of physicians everyday clinical life. To date, the development of leadership skills are underrepresented in medical curricula. Appropriate training methods for equipping doctors with these leadership skills are highly desirable. Objective: The review aims to summarize the findings in the current literature regarding training in leadership skills in medicine and tries to integrate the findings to guide future research and training development. Method: The PubMED, ERIC, and PsycArticles, PsycINFO, PSYNDEX and Academic search complete of EBSCOhost were searched for training of leadership skills in medicine in German and English. Relevant articles were identified and findings were integrated and consolidated regarding the leadership principles, target group of training and number of participants, temporal resources of the training, training content and methods, the evaluation design and trainings effects. Results: Eight studies met all inclusion criteria and no exclusion criteria. The range of training programs is very broad and leadership skill components are diverse. Training designs implied theoretical reflections of leadership phenomena as well as discussions of case studies from practice. The duration of training ranged from several hours to years. Reactions of participants to trainings were positive, yet no behavioral changes through training were examined. Conclusions: More research is needed to understand the factors critical to success in the development of leadership skills in medical education and to adapt goal-oriented training methods. Requirements analysis might help to gain knowledge about the nature of leadership skills in medicine. The authors propose a stronger focus on behavioral training methods like simulation-based training for leadership skills in medical education.

via Training of leadership skills in medical e… [GMS Z Med Ausbild. 2013] – PubMed – NCBI.

ABSTRACT: The effectiveness of team-based learning on learning outcomes in health professions education: BEME Guide No. 30.

Background: Team-Based Learning (TBL) is a student-centred active learning method, requiring less faculty time than other active learning methods. While TBL may have pedagogical value, individual studies present inconsistent findings. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of TBL on improving learning outcomes in health professions education. Methods: A peer-reviewed systematic review protocol was registered with the Best Evidence in Medical Education (BEME) organization. After comprehensive literature searching, title and full-text review were completed by two independent reviewers. Included studies assessed TBL and a valid comparator in health professions. Included studies were assessed for methodological quality by two independent reviewers. Studies were categorised by outcomes using the Kirkpatrick framework. Results: Of 330 screened titles, 14 were included. Seven studies reported significant increase in knowledge scores for the TBL group, four reported no difference and three showed improvement but did not comment on statistical significance. Only one study reported significant improvement in learner reaction for the TBL group while another study reported a significant difference favouring the comparator. Conclusions: Despite improvement in knowledge scores, there was mixed learner reaction. This may reflect the increased demands on learners in this student-centred teaching strategy, although further study is needed.

via The effectiveness of team-based learning on learni… [Med Teach. 2013] – PubMed – NCBI.

Abstract: Breaking bad news in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: The need for medical education

The manner in which physicians deliver difficult diagnoses is an area of discontent for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The American Academy of Neurology’s Practice Parameter for care of the ALS Patient recommended teaching and evaluating strategies for disclosing the diagnosis (10). Our objective was to examine residents’ ability in and perceptions of communicating the diagnosis of ALS. Twenty-two resident physicians were videotaped and rated by two ALS neurologists as they delivered an ALS diagnosis to a standardized patient (SP) during an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Residents self-rated immediately after the OSCE, again after viewing their videotape, and completed a survey regarding the OSCE and delivering difficult diagnoses. OSCE performance was suboptimal, particularly for communication skills and empathy. The two examiners’ scores correlated except for the empathy subscore. Residents’ self-assessments did not align with the examiners’ scores either before or after watching their videotape. The survey uncovered residents’ apprehension and dissatisfaction with their training in diagnosis delivery. The results highlight a need for resident education in delivering an ALS diagnosis. The lack of correlation between residents’ and examiners’ scoring requires further study. Evaluation of empathy is particularly challenging. Residents agreed that OSCE participation was worthwhile.

via Breaking bad … [Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener. 2013] – PubMed – NCBI.

ABSTRACT: Review of online educational resources for medical physicists

Medical physicists are often involved in the didactic training of graduate students, residents (both physics and physicians), and technologists. As part of continuing medical education, we are also involved in maintenance of certification projects to assist in the education of our peers. As such, it is imperative that we remain current concerning available educational resources. Medical physics journals offer book reviews, allowing us an opportunity to learn about newly published books in the field. A similar means of communication is not currently available for online educational resources. This information is conveyed through informal means. This review presents a summary of online resources available to the medical physics community that may be useful for educational purposes.

via Review of online educational resources … [J Appl Clin Med Phys. 2013] – PubMed – NCBI.

ABSTRACT: owards meaningful simulation-based learning with medical students and junior physicians

Background: This research provides an educational perspective on simulation-based medical education by implementing both the characteristics of meaningful learning and the concepts of facilitating, training, and learning processes. Aims: This study aims to evaluate, from the perspectives of both facilitators and students, the meaningfulness of five different simulation-based courses. Methods: The courses were implemented in the spring of 2010. The data were collected from facilitators (n = 9) and students (n = 25) using group interviews (one individual interview), observations, video recordings, and pre- and post-questionnaires. The research analyzes qualitative data using the qualitative content analysis method to answer the following research question: From facilitators’ and students’ perspectives, how does the facilitating and training in simulation-based learning environments (SBLEs) foster the meaningful learning of students? Results: It seems that simulation-based learning is, at its foundation, meaningful since it inherently supports the many characteristics of meaningful learning. However, characteristics also exist that simulation-based learning does not inherently support. In this study, the goal-oriented, self-directed, and individual training characteristics were only somewhat supported during the facilitation and training in SBLEs. Conclusions: In running these courses in the future, facilitators should concentrate on those characteristics that were only somewhat supported.

via Towards meaningful simulation-based learning with … [Med Teach. 2013] – PubMed – NCBI.

ABSTRACT: Effectiveness of YouTube as a Source of Medical Information on Heart Transplantation

BACKGROUND:
In this digital era, there is a growing tendency to use the popular Internet site YouTube as a new electronic-learning (e-learning) means for continuing medical education. Heart transplantation (HTx) remains the most viable option for patients with end-stage heart failure or severe coronary artery disease. There are plenty of freely accessible YouTube videos providing medical information about HTx.
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of the present study is to determine the effectiveness of YouTube as an e-learning source on HTx.
METHODS:
In order to carry out this study, YouTube was searched for videos uploaded containing surgical-related information using the four keywords: (1) “heart transplantation”, (2) “cardiac transplantation”, (3) “heart transplantation operation”, and (4) “cardiac transplantation operation”. Only videos in English (with comments or subtitles in English language) were included. Two experienced cardiac surgeons watched each video (N=1800) and classified them as useful, misleading, or recipients videos based on the HTx-relevant information. The kappa statistic was used to measure interobserver variability. Data was analyzed according to six types of YouTube characteristics including “total viewership”, “duration”, “source”, “days since upload”, “scores” given by the viewers, and specialized information contents of the videos.
RESULTS:
A total of 342/1800 (19.00%) videos had relevant information about HTx. Of these 342 videos, 215 (62.8%) videos had useful information about specialized knowledge, 7/342 (2.0%) were found to be misleading, and 120/342 (35.1%) only concerned recipients’ individual issues. Useful videos had 56.09% of total viewership share (2,175,845/3,878,890), whereas misleading had 35.47% (1,375,673/3,878,890). Independent user channel videos accounted for a smaller proportion (19% in total numbers) but might have a wider impact on Web viewers, with the highest mean views/day (mean 39, SD 107) among four kinds of channels to distribute HTx-related information.
CONCLUSIONS:
YouTube videos on HTx benefit medical professionals by providing a substantial amount of information. However, it is a time-consuming course to find high-quality videos. More authoritative videos by trusted sources should be posted for dissemination of reliable information. With an improvement of ranking system and content providers in future, YouTube, as a freely accessible outlet, will help to meet the huge informational needs of medical staffs and promote medical education on HTx.

via Effectiveness of YouTube as a Source of M… [Interact J Med Res. 2013] – PubMed – NCBI.

ABSTRACT: Bringing continuing medical education to the bedside: The university of California, San Francisco Hospitalist Mini-College

INTRODUCTION:
As a relatively new generalist specialty, hospitalists must acquire new competencies that may not have been taught during their training years. Continuing medical education (CME) has traditionally been a mechanism to meet training needs but often fails to apply adult learning principles and fulfill current demands.
METHODS:
We developed an innovative 3-day course called the University of California, San Francisco Hospitalist Mini-College (UHMC) that brings adult learners to the bedside for small-group learning focused on content areas relevant to today’s hospitalists. The program was built on a structure of 4 clinical domains and 2 clinical skills labs. Sessions about patient safety and immersion into traditional academic learning vehicles, such as morning report and a morbidity and mortality conference, were also included. Participants completed a precourse survey and a postcourse evaluation.
RESULTS:
Over 5 years, 152 participants enrolled and completed the program; 91% completed the pre-UHMC survey and 89% completed the postcourse evaluation. Overall, participants rated the quality of the UHMC course highly (4.65; 1-5 scale). Ninety-eight percent of UHMC participants (n = 57) in 2011 to 2012 reported a “high” or “definite” likelihood to change practice, higher than the 78% reported by the 11,447 participants in other UCSF CME courses during the same time period.
DISCUSSION:
The UHMC successfully brought participants to an academic health center for a participatory, hands-on, and small-group learning experience that was highly rated. A shift of CME from a hotel conference room to the bedside is feasible, valued by participants, and offers a new paradigm for how to maintain and improve hospitalist competencies

via Bringing continuing medical education to the beds… [J Hosp Med. 2013] – PubMed – NCBI.

ABSTRACT: e-Professionalism: a new frontier in medical education

BACKGROUND:This article, prepared by the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics Undergraduate Medical Education Committee, discusses the evolving challenges facing medical educators posed by social media and a new form of professionalism that has been termed e-professionalism.SUMMARY:E-professionalism is defined as the attitudes and behaviors that reflect traditional professionalism paradigms but are manifested through digital media. One of the major functions of medical education is professional identity formation; e-professionalism is an essential and increasingly important element of professional identity formation, because the consequences of violations of e-professionalism have escalated from academic sanctions to revocation of licensure.CONCLUSION:E-professionalism should be included in the definition, teaching, and evaluation of medical professionalism. Curricula should include a positive approach for the proper professional use of social media for learners.

via e-Professionalism: a new frontier in medical… [Teach Learn Med. 2013] – PubMed – NCBI.

RESOURCE: 5 Intuitions about Adaptive Learning Platforms

Intuition 1: Adaptive Learning Platforms Will Prove to Be the Most Significant Learning Advance Over the Next Decade:

Looking back on the edtech landscape in 2025 we will remember the last 12 years as a story dominated by the growth of adaptive learning and the associated analytics that these platforms make possible. MOOCs will be an interesting blip, but not the real story.

Mobile learning, and the rapid growth of postsecondary students in the emerging economies will be important trends, but these developments will also have an important adaptive learning component. Most adaptive learning will take place on mobile devices, and very quickly most of this mobile adaptive learning will take place in emerging economies.

Intuition 2: Adaptive Learning and Analytics Are Inseperable and Mutually Reinforcing Trends:

The real story of adaptive learning platforms are data.

The data enables the systems to dynamically offer new learning pathways and different content types to students.

via 5 Intuitions about Adaptive Learning Platforms | Inside Higher Ed.