Maria Wamsley

A Literature Review of “Resident-as-Teacher” Curricula: Do Teaching Courses Make a Difference?

AbstractOBJECTIVES: To examine the evaluation methods of resident teaching courses and to estimate the effectiveness of these teaching courses. DESIGN: We searched the literature from 1975 to May 2003 using the PubMed MESH terms internship and residency and teaching; 1,436 articles were identified and 77 contained information regarding teaching courses. Fourteen articles contained information regarding outcomes of resident teaching courses and were selected for intensive review. MAIN RESULTS: Five uncontrolled pre-post studies used resident self-reported teaching skills/behaviors as outcome measures; all reported some improvement in self-reported skills. Three uncontrolled pre-post studies examined live or videotaped resident teaching encounters and all revealed improvement in some teaching skills. One uncontrolled trial and three nonrandomized controlled trials used learner evaluations of resident teaching behaviors as outcomes and all revealed an improvement in ratings of residents after course participation. Four randomized controlled trials of resident teaching curricula are included in this review. One study did not show any quantitative benefit of a resident teaching course on performance on an objective structured teaching evaluation. Two studies assessing resident teaching evaluations before and after course participation showed conflicting results. One study noted improvements in resident teaching skills assessed through videotape analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Resident teaching courses improve resident self-assessed teaching behaviors and teaching confidence. Teaching courses are linked to improved student evaluations. Further studies must be completed to elucidate the best format, length, timing, and content of resident teaching courses and to determine whether they have an effect on learner performance.

Development of a longitudinal integrated clerkship at an academic medical center

Abstract In 2005, medical educators at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), began developing the Parnassus Integrated Student Clinical Experiences (PISCES) program, a year-long longitudinal integrated clerkship at its academic medical center. The principles guiding this new clerkship were continuity with faculty preceptors, patients, and peers; a developmentally progressive curriculum with an emphasis on interdisciplinary teaching; and exposure to undiagnosed illness in acute and chronic care settings. Innovative elements included quarterly student evaluation sessions with all preceptors together, peer-to-peer evaluation, and oversight advising with an assigned faculty member. PISCES launched with eight medical students for the 2007/2008 academic year and expanded to 15 students for 2008/2009. Compared to UCSFs traditional core clerkships, evaluations from PISCES indicated significantly higher student satisfaction with faculty teaching, formal didactics, direct observation of clinical skills, and feedback. Student performance on discipline-specific examinations and United States Medical Licensing Examination step 2 CK was equivalent to and on standardized patient examinations was slightly superior to that of traditional peers. Participants’ career interests ranged from primary care to surgical subspecialties. These results demonstrate that a longitudinal integrated clerkship can be implemented successfully at a tertiary care academic medical center.

Continuity in a longitudinal out-patient attachment for Year 3 medical students

Context  Concerns about the quality of medical student learning experiences during traditional clerkships have prompted calls to restructure clinical education around continuity. Many US medical schools have added longitudinal out‐patient attachments to enhance student continuity with patients and supervising doctors. However, continuity with patients can be difficult to achieve and little is known about the independent effect of continuity with a supervising doctor and setting. This study describes students’ perceptions of the types of continuity experienced in longitudinal attachments and the learning associated with continuity.

Using tablets to support self-regulated learning in a longitudinal integrated clerkship.

Introduction The need to train physicians committed to learning throughout their careers has prompted medical schools to encourage the development and practice of self-regulated learning by students. Longitudinal integrated clerkships (LICs) require students to exercise self-regulated learning skills. As mobile tools, tablets can potentially support self-regulation among LIC students. Methods We provided 15 LIC students with tablet computers with access to the electronic health record (EHR), to track their patient cohort, and a multiplatform online notebook, to support documentation and retrieval of self-identified clinical learning issues. Students received a 1-hour workshop on the relevant features of the tablet and online notebook. Two focus groups with the students were used to evaluate the program, one early and one late in the year and were coded by two raters. Results Students used the tablet to support their self-regulated learning in ways that were unique to their learning styles and increased access to resources and utilization of down-time. Students who used the tablet to self-monitor and target learning demonstrated the utility of tablets as learning tools. Conclusions LICs are environments rich in opportunity for self-regulated learning. Tablets can enhance students’ ability to develop and employ self-regulatory skills in a clinical context.

Patient views of continuity relationships with medical students

Introduction: Continuity relationships between students and patients, that occur in a longitudinal integrated clerkship (LIC), enrich medical students’ opportunities to learn from patients and provide patient-centered care. Patient preferences for continuity with a primary provider are well-documented, but little is known about patients’ experiences of continuity with students. This study examines patients’ perception of continuity with and care received by students. Methods: This qualitative study uses data from semi-structured interviews with 32 patients of LIC students at an academic medical center. Data were analyzed for themes about continuity and experiences of care provided by students. Results: Patients valued relationships with students over time and across settings. Students’ contributions to their care included enhanced access to and coordination of care, communication, patient education and wellbeing. Patients with substantial continuity and/or who were moderately or severely ill described their student in a physician-like role more frequently than other patients. Patients appreciated patient-centered attitudes and behaviors in their students. Conclusion: Patients value continuity relationships with students, akin to that described between patients and their physicians. Patients described a variety of ways in which students enhanced their care and assumed a physician-like role. These patient perceptions support the concept of mutually beneficial relationships between students and patients.

Using Standardized Patients to Evaluate Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Knowledge and Skill Acquisition for Internal Medicine Residents

ABSTRACT Comprehensive clinical competency curricula for hazardous drinking and substance use disorders (SUDs) exists for medical students, residents, and practicing health care providers. Evaluations of these curricula typically focus on learner attitudes and knowledge, although changes in clinical skills are of greater interest and utility. The authors present a pre-post clinical skill evaluation of a 10-hour screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) curriculum for hazardous drinking and SUDs for primary care internal medicine residents using standardized patient examinations to better determine the impact of SBIRT training on clinical practice. Residents had large improvements in history taking, substance use screening skills, SUD assessment and diagnostic skills, and in SBIRT knowledge, including documentation, systems, and diversity issues. Residents made moderate improvements in brief intervention skills. Future SBIRT curricular evaluations would ideally include a controlled comparison with larger samples from multiple institutions.

The Impact of an Objective Structured Teaching Evaluation on Faculty Teaching Skills

Background: Objective structured teaching evaluations (OSTEs) have been utilized to evaluate educational curricula and for resident and faculty development. Purpose: This study examines the impact of an OSTE on faculty teaching effectiveness and faculty satisfaction. Methods: From 2004 to 2007, 46 faculty members participated in the OSTE. Faculty assessed their teaching abilities with a retrospective pre-post-test analysis. Faculty teaching evaluations for the 6 months before and after the OSTE were compared. Faculty participants completed satisfaction questionnaires regarding their OSTE experience and made teaching plans for the future. Results: After the OSTE, faculty reported statistically significant improvements in all self-assessed teaching skills. There was, however, no improvement in their teaching evaluations. Faculty satisfaction with the OSTE experience was high. They indicated teaching plans incorporating lessons from the OSTE. Conclusions: Faculty felt the OSTE was a rewarding experience and reported improvement in their teaching abilities; however, faculty teaching evaluations did not improve.

Implementation of interprofessional education (IPE) in 16 U.S. medical schools: Common practices, barriers and facilitators

BACKGROUND Enhanced patient outcomes and accreditation criteria have led schools to integrate interprofessional education (IPE). While several studies describe IPE curricula at individual institutions, few examine practices across multiple institutions. PURPOSE To examine the IPE integration at different institutions and determine gaps where there is potential for improvement. METHOD In this mixed methods study, we obtained survey results from 16 U.S. medical schools, 14 of which reported IPE activities. RESULTS The most common collaboration was between medical and nursing schools (93%). The prevalent format was shared curriculum, often including integrated modules (57%). Small group activities represented the majority (64%) of event settings, and simulation-based learning, games and role-play (71%) were the most utilized learning methods. Thirteen schools (81.3%) reported teaching IPE competencies, but significant variation existed. Gaps and barriers in the study include limitations of using a convenience sample, limited qualitative analysis, and survey by self-report. CONCLUSIONS Most IPE activities focused on the physician role. Implementation challenges included scheduling, logistics and financial support. A need for effective faculty development as well as measures to examine the link between IPE learning outcomes and patient outcomes were identified.

Using an objective structured teaching evaluation for faculty development

Medical Practice) and ROL (Reflecting on Learning). Needs assessment is integral to the process as topics are derived from faculty concerns. ROMP is a hybrid of quality assurance and physician support group. Topics, suggested at each meeting, included issues of communication, ‘difficult patients’, professionalism, mistakes in care and identity of doctoring. ROL is a series on varied aspects of teaching in the outpatient and inpatient settings. It linked facultygenerated concerns and group discussion. It utilised several formats, appropriate to the topic:

Team-Based Learning Exercise Efficiently Teaches Brief Intervention Skills to Medicine Residents.

ABSTRACT Background: Evaluations of substance use screening and brief intervention (SBI) curricula typically focus on learner attitudes and knowledge, although effects on clinical skills are of greater interest and utility. Moreover, these curricula often require large amounts of training time and teaching resources. This study examined whether a 3-hour SBI curriculum for internal medicine residents utilizing a team-based learning (TBL) format is effective for SBI skills as measured by a standardized patient (SP) assessment. Methods: A waitlist-controlled design was employed. Results: Twenty-four postgraduate year 2 (PGY-2) and PGY-3 residents participated in a SP assessment prior to the TBL session (waitlist control group) and 32 participated in a SP assessment after the TBL session (intervention group). The intervention residents demonstrated better brief intervention skills than waitlist control residents, but there were no differences between the groups in screening and assessment skills. Residents receiving the TBL curriculum prior to the SP assessment reported increased confidence in all SBI skills. Conclusion: Findings indicate that a brief educational intervention can improve brief intervention skills. However, more intensive education may be needed to improve substance use screening and assessment.