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BMC Medical Education Jul 2024Faculty development programs are crucial for promoting continuous learning, enhancing teaching effectiveness, and encouraging professional growth among medical...
Employing students' evaluations and tutors' perceptions to evaluate a faculty development program on problem-based learning at the Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University.
BACKGROUND
Faculty development programs are crucial for promoting continuous learning, enhancing teaching effectiveness, and encouraging professional growth among medical educators. Problem-based learning was introduced as a teaching strategy in our Faculty of Medicine in 2007. Thereafter, several rounds of a faculty development program were conducted to help teachers recognize their role as facilitators and assess areas for improvement.
METHODS
We conducted a mixed-methods study with a sample of 284 third-year medical students answering a questionnaire and 21 faculty members participating in focus groups. A validated 13-item questionnaire was used to investigate the students' evaluation of their tutors' performance in problem-based learning. Three sessions were then conducted with faculty members involved in problem-based learning to gain in-depth insights into their experiences and perspectives.
RESULTS
The mean performance ranking for tutors awarded by the students was above halfway. There was a significant positive correlation between tutors' performance ranking and all five of the learning approaches examined herein: constructive/active learning, self-directed learning, contextual learning, collaborative learning, and intra-personal behavior (p < 0.05). The data from the focus groups were analyzed under five broad themes: tutors' insights into their strengths and weaknesses, challenges in conducting problem-based learning, tutors' ways of preparing for problem-based learning, feedback, and suggestions for improving problem-based learning workshops.
CONCLUSIONS
This study recommends improvements and future directions for advanced program evaluation. Faculty development programs can be tailored to effectively address students and faculty members' goals and needs, which can benefit the teaching and learning process and foster a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth.
Topics: Humans; Faculty, Medical; Problem-Based Learning; Students, Medical; Focus Groups; Staff Development; Saudi Arabia; Surveys and Questionnaires; Program Evaluation; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Female; Male
PubMed: 38951776
DOI: 10.1186/s12909-024-05662-1 -
BMC Neurology Jul 2024Dyspnea is considered a silent threat to people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and may be a common concern in patients, however, little is known about how it affects...
BACKGROUND
Dyspnea is considered a silent threat to people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and may be a common concern in patients, however, little is known about how it affects quality of life. This study explored the experiences of independently mobile people who are affected by dyspnea in daily life.
METHODOLOGY
This was a cross-sectional mixed methods study that included an online questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The participants were included if they were diagnosed with Parkinson's disease; had a self-reported Hoehn and Yahr Score I, II or III; were mobilizing independently; and were Arabic speakers. Participants were excluded if they had any other musculoskeletal, cardiac, respiratory, or neurological diseases; or were previous or current smokers; or had been previously hospitalized due to respiratory complications.
RESULTS
A total of 117 participants completed the Arabic version of the Dyspnea-12 Questionnaire. Dyspnea was reported in all participants and that it had an adverse effect on their quality of life, especially during activities of daily living. Additionally, participants reported a lack of knowledge about pulmonary rehabilitation and were unaware of the availability and potential benefits of participation in programs.
CONCLUSION
Dyspnea was reported in people in the early stages (Hoehn and Yahr Stages I, II, and III) of Parkinson's disease, and may benefit from routine assessment of lung function, dyspnea management and participation in pulmonary rehabilitation.
Topics: Humans; Parkinson Disease; Dyspnea; Male; Female; Cross-Sectional Studies; Aged; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; Activities of Daily Living; Aged, 80 and over
PubMed: 38951752
DOI: 10.1186/s12883-024-03608-0 -
British Journal of Cancer Jul 2024The primary aim of specialised palliative care (SPC) is to improve the quality of life (QoL) for patients with a high symptom burden from a life-threatening disease....
BACKGROUND
The primary aim of specialised palliative care (SPC) is to improve the quality of life (QoL) for patients with a high symptom burden from a life-threatening disease. This randomised study aimed to assess the QoL impact of early integration of SPC alongside tumour-specific palliative treatment in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.
METHODS
We randomly assigned ambulatory patients with advanced GI cancer to early integration of SPC and palliative tumour-specific treatment or tumour-specific treatment alone. The primary endpoint was QoL assessed at baseline and every sixth week using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) questionnaire.
RESULTS
A total of 118 patients were randomised. The difference in total FACT-G score between patients assigned to early integration with SPC and controls was 5.2 points (95% CI: -0.1 to 10.5, p = 0.216), 6.7 points (95% CI: 0.2 to 13.3, p = 0.172), and 13 points (95% CI: 5.7 to 20.2, p = 0.004) at weeks 6, 12, and 24, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
This prospective randomised trial strengthens the argument for early integration of SPC with tumour-specific treatment in patients with advanced GI cancers. We found an improved QoL for patients with advanced GI cancer 24 weeks after randomisation to early integration of home-based SPC.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov (ref: NCT02246725).
PubMed: 38951699
DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02764-x -
NPJ Primary Care Respiratory Medicine Jun 2024Every year, there are ~100,000 hospital admissions for asthma in the UK, many of which are potentially preventable. Evidence suggests that carefully conceptualised and...
Every year, there are ~100,000 hospital admissions for asthma in the UK, many of which are potentially preventable. Evidence suggests that carefully conceptualised and implemented audit and feedback (A&F) cycles have the potential to improve clinical outcomes for those with chronic conditions. We wanted to investigate the technical feasibility of developing a near-real time asthma dashboard to support A&F interventions for asthma management in primary care. We extracted cross-sectional data on asthma from 756 participating GP practices in the Oxford-Royal College of General Practitioners Research and Surveillance Centre (RCGP RSC) database in England comprising 7.6 million registered people. Summary indicators for a GP practice were compared to all participating RCGP RSC practices using practice-level data, for the week 6-12th-Mar-2023. A weekly, automated asthma dashboard with features that can support electronic-A&F cycles that compared key asthma indicators for a GP practice to RCGP RSC could be created ( https://tinyurl.com/3ydtrt85 ): 12-weeks-incidence 0.4% vs 0.4%, annual prevalence 6.1% vs 6.7%, inhaled relievers to preventer 1.2 vs 1.1, self-management plan given 83.4% vs 60.8%, annual reviews 36.8% vs 57.3%, prednisolone prescriptions 2.0% vs 3.2%, influenza vaccination 56.6% vs 55.5%, pneumococcal vaccination ever (aged ≥65 years) 90.2% vs 84.1% and current smokers 14.9% vs 14.8%. Across the RCGP RSC, the rate of hospitalisations was 0.024%; comparative data had to be suppressed for the study practice because of small numbers. We have successfully created an automated near real-time asthma dashboard that can be used to support A&F initiatives to improve asthma care and outcomes in primary care.
Topics: Humans; Asthma; England; Quality Improvement; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Male; Adult; Middle Aged; Primary Health Care; Aged; Adolescent; Young Adult; Child; General Practice
PubMed: 38951547
DOI: 10.1038/s41533-024-00377-8 -
Sleep & Breathing = Schlaf & Atmung Jul 2024
PubMed: 38951384
DOI: 10.1007/s11325-024-03095-0 -
Acta Parasitologica Jun 2024Crenosoma vulpis (Dujardin,1845) is a lungworm which has spread worldwide in canines and is associated with upper respiratory infections. In a majority of cases, the...
PURPOSE
Crenosoma vulpis (Dujardin,1845) is a lungworm which has spread worldwide in canines and is associated with upper respiratory infections. In a majority of cases, the infections are accompanied with chronic cough. Diagnosis of lungworms is often underdiagnosed and can be misinterpreted as other respiratory diseases.
METHODS
The Small Animal Clinic of the University Veterinary Hospital admitted an 11-month-old dog presented with persistent cough associated with difficulty in breathing and even asphyxia. Based on clinical symptoms, the patient underwent radiological and bronchoscopic examination. Bronchoscopy revealed the presence of lungworms obturating the branches of the tracheobronchial tree. Larvae were collected by bronchoscopic lavage and subjected to parasitological and molecular examination.
RESULTS
Microscopic detection and morphological identification of the worms removed during the bronchoscopy confirmed the presence of female adult worms. The subsequent molecular characterisation of the mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (cox1) and 12S ribosomal DNA (rDNA)), nuclear (18S rDNA) genes, as well as the analysis of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) region of the ribosomal DNA, confirmed the Crenosoma vulpis species. Faecal samples were processed using the Baermann method, which confirmed the presence of the larval stage 1 of C. vulpis. The therapy with fenbendazole at a dose of 50 mg/kg of live weight once daily for the period of 7 days was initiated for the patient.
CONCLUSION
This paper presents the first molecularly confirmed clinical case of a Crenosoma vulpis infection in an 11-month-old female dog of the Miniature Schnauzer breed in Slovakia.
PubMed: 38951380
DOI: 10.1007/s11686-024-00861-8 -
Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi Jul 2024A 19-year-old male patient with high-risk acute B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia received haploidentical stem cell transplantation. He developed anemia repeatedly and...
A 19-year-old male patient with high-risk acute B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia received haploidentical stem cell transplantation. He developed anemia repeatedly and parvovirus B19 nucleic acid was positive in blood plasma. The patient was diagnosed with cold agglutinin syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction including respiratory failure and hepatitis. In the conflict between viral infection and the treatment of cold agglutinin syndrome, we provided supportive treatment, complement inhibitors to control hemolysis, and antiviral therapy. After timely glucocorticoid and immunosuppressant therapy, the patient had achieved a good response.
Topics: Humans; Male; Parvovirus B19, Human; Young Adult; Multiple Organ Failure; Parvoviridae Infections; Anemia, Hemolytic; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune
PubMed: 38951100
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112138-20231210-00376 -
Accuracy of the defining characteristics of respiratory nursing diagnoses in patients with COVID-19.International Journal of Nursing... Jul 2024To analyze the accuracy of the defining characteristics of four respiratory nursing diagnoses (ND) in patients with COVID-19 and on oxygen therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the accuracy of the defining characteristics of four respiratory nursing diagnoses (ND) in patients with COVID-19 and on oxygen therapy.
METHODS
This is a cross-sectional study conducted in four Brazilian public hospitals in two regions of the country. A total of 474 patients with COVID-19 receiving oxygen therapy were assessed. Latent-adjusted class analysis with random effects was used to establish the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of the defining characteristics evaluated for each ND.
RESULTS
Among the ND that constituted the study (impaired spontaneous ventilatory, impaired gas exchange, ineffective airway clearance, and dysfunctional ventilatory weaning response), the following defining characteristics had the highest simultaneous Se and Sp (>0.8): decrease in tidal volume, confusion, irritability, dyspnea, decreased breath sounds, orthopnea, impaired ability to cooperate and respond to coaching, and decrease in the level of consciousness.
CONCLUSIONS
Recognizing the clinical signs that predict respiratory ND in patients affected by COVID-19 can contribute to the nurse's accurate diagnostic inference and designate the appropriate nursing interventions to achieve the desired results and avoid complications.
PubMed: 38951045
DOI: 10.1111/2047-3095.12481 -
Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal... Jul 2024To identify associations between procedural characteristics and success of neonatal tracheal intubation (NTI) using video laryngoscopy (VL).
OBJECTIVE
To identify associations between procedural characteristics and success of neonatal tracheal intubation (NTI) using video laryngoscopy (VL).
DESIGN
Prospective single-centre observational study.
SETTING
Quaternary neonatal intensive care unit.
PATIENTS
Infants requiring NTI at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
INTERVENTIONS
VL NTI recordings were evaluated to assess 11 observable procedural characteristics hypothesised to be associated with VL NTI success. These characteristics included measures of procedural time and performance, glottic exposure and position, and laryngoscope blade tip location.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
VL NTI attempt success.
RESULTS
A total of 109 patients underwent 109 intubation encounters with 164 intubation attempts. The first attempt success rate was 65%, and the overall encounter success rate was 100%. Successful VL NTI attempts were associated with shorter procedural duration (36 s vs 60 s, p<0.001) and improved Cormack-Lehane grade (63% grade I vs 49% grade II, p<0.001) compared with unsuccessful NTIs. Other factors more common in successful NTI attempts than unsuccessful attempts were laryngoscope blade placement to lift the epiglottis (45% vs 29%, p=0.002), fewer tracheal tube manoeuvres (3 vs 8, p<0.001) and a left-sided or non-visualised tongue location (76% vs 56%, p=0.009).
CONCLUSION
We identified procedural characteristics visible on the VL screen that are associated with NTI procedural success. Study results may improve how VL is used to teach and perform neonatal intubation.
PubMed: 38951017
DOI: 10.1136/fetalneonatal-2024-326992 -
Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal... Jul 2024To identify associations between procedural characteristics and success of neonatal tracheal intubation (NTI) using video laryngoscopy (VL).
OBJECTIVE
To identify associations between procedural characteristics and success of neonatal tracheal intubation (NTI) using video laryngoscopy (VL).
DESIGN
Prospective single-centre observational study.
SETTING
Quaternary neonatal intensive care unit.
PATIENTS
Infants requiring NTI at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
INTERVENTIONS
VL NTI recordings were evaluated to assess 11 observable procedural characteristics hypothesised to be associated with VL NTI success. These characteristics included measures of procedural time and performance, glottic exposure and position, and laryngoscope blade tip location.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
VL NTI attempt success.
RESULTS
A total of 109 patients underwent 109 intubation encounters with 164 intubation attempts. The first attempt success rate was 65%, and the overall encounter success rate was 100%. Successful VL NTI attempts were associated with shorter procedural duration (36 s vs 60 s, p<0.001) and improved Cormack-Lehane grade (63% grade I vs 49% grade II, p<0.001) compared with unsuccessful NTIs. Other factors more common in successful NTI attempts than unsuccessful attempts were laryngoscope blade placement to lift the epiglottis (45% vs 29%, p=0.002), fewer tracheal tube manoeuvres (3 vs 8, p<0.001) and a left-sided or non-visualised tongue location (76% vs 56%, p=0.009).
CONCLUSION
We identified procedural characteristics visible on the VL screen that are associated with NTI procedural success. Study results may improve how VL is used to teach and perform neonatal intubation.
PubMed: 38951016
DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2024-326992