Epidemiological investigation of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in a Vietnamese bear rescue centre.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks affecting Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) and a Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) were previously reported in 2011 in two housing facilities at a Vietnamese bear rescue centre. In this study, demographic data of all animals housed in the centre at the time of the outbreaks (n = 79) were collected. Blood samples drawn from 23 bears at different timepoints were tested for FMDV-specific antibodies targeting using a non-structural protein (NSP) ELISA and by virus neutralisation test (VNT). The relationship between seroconversion and clinical signs was explored and epidemic curves and transmission diagrams were generated for each outbreak, where FMD cases were defined as animals showing FMD clinical signs. Outbreak-specific attack rates were 18.75 and 77.77%, with corresponding basic reproduction numbers of 1.11 and 1.92, for the first and second outbreaks, respectively. Analyses of risk factors showed that after adjusting for sex there was strong evidence for a decrease in odds of showing clinical signs per year of age. All samples collected from bears before the outbreak tested negative to NSP and VNT. All cases tested positive to VNT following onset of clinical signs and remained positive during the rest of the follow up period, while only 6 out of 17 cases tested positive to NSP after developing clinical signs. Six animals without clinical signs were tested post outbreaks; five seroconverted using VNT and three animals were seropositive using NSP ELISA. This study provides initial epidemiological parameters of FMD in captive bears, showing that FMDV is easily spread between bears in close proximity and can cause clinical and subclinical disease, both of which appear to induce rapid and long-lasting immunity.

The clinical characteristics of autistic women with restrictive eating disorders.

BACKGROUND: Autistic women are at high risk of developing restrictive eating disorders (REDs), such as anorexia nervosa. AIMS: This study provides an overview of the clinical characteristics of autistic women with REDs to (i) enhance understanding of increased risk, and (ii) support the identification of autistic women in eating disorder services. METHOD: We compared self-reported autistic and disordered eating characteristics of: autistic participants with REDs (Autism + REDs; n = 57); autistic participants without REDs (Autism; n = 69); and women with REDs who are not autistic (REDs; n = 80). We also included a group of women with high autistic traits (HATs) and REDs, but no formal autism diagnosis (HATs + REDs; n = 38). RESULTS: Autism + REDs participants scored similarly to Autism participants in terms of autistic characteristics and to REDs participants in terms of experiencing traditional disordered eating symptoms. Autism + REDs participants were distinguished from both groups by having more restricted and repetitive behaviours and autism-specific eating behaviours related to sensory processing, flexibility and social differences. HATs + REDs participants showed a similar pattern of scores to Autism + REDs participants, and both also presented with high levels of co-occurring mental health difficulties, particularly social anxiety. CONCLUSION: The presentation of autistic women with REDs is complex, including both traditional disordered eating symptoms and autism-related needs, as well as high levels of co-occurring mental health difficulties. In eating disorder services, the REDs presentation of autistic women and those with HATs should be formulated with reference to autism-specific eating behaviours and co-occurring difficulties. Treatment adaptations should be offered to accommodate autistic characteristics and related needs.

Stretch Causes cffDNA and HMGB1-Mediated Inflammation and Cellular Stress in Human Fetal Membranes.

Danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are elevated within the amniotic cavity, and their increases correlate with advancing gestational age, chorioamnionitis, and labor. Although the specific triggers for their release in utero remain unclear, it is thought that they may contribute to the initiation of parturition by influencing cellular stress mechanisms that make the fetal membranes (FMs) more susceptible to rupture. DAMPs induce inflammation in many different tissue types. Indeed, they precipitate the subsequent release of several proinflammatory cytokines that are known to be key for the weakening of FMs. Previously, we have shown that in vitro stretch of human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) induces a cellular stress response that increases high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) secretion. We have also shown that cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) induces a cytokine response in FM explants that is fetal sex-specific. Therefore, the aim of this work was to further investigate the link between stretch and the DAMPs HMGB1 and cffDNA in the FM. These data show that stretch increases the level of cffDNA released from hAECs. It also confirms the importance of the sex of the fetus by demonstrating that female cffDNA induced more cellular stress than male fetuses. Our data treating hAECs and human amnion mesenchymal cells with HMGB1 show that it has a differential effect on the ability of the cells of the amnion to upregulate the proinflammatory cytokines and propagate a proinflammatory signal through the FM that may weaken it. Finally, our data show that sulforaphane (SFN), a potent activator of Nrf2, is able to mitigate the proinflammatory effects of stretch by decreasing the levels of HMGB1 release and ROS generation after stretch and modulating the increase of key cytokines after cell stress. HMGB1 and cffDNA are two of the few DAMPs that are known to induce cytokine release and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activation in the FMs; thus, these data support the general thesis that they can function as potential central players in the normal mechanisms of FM weakening during the normal distension of this tissue at the end of a normal pregnancy.

Urinary bladder matrix devices support closure in complex sacral wounds.

The management of sacral wounds is often complicated by patient comorbidities and anatomical factors. This retrospective case series describes the management of 5 complex sacral wounds in which UBM devices were applied to facilitate wound closure. The wounds in this series were exacerbated by comorbidities and challenging wound presentations including tunneling and exposed bone. In this series, application of UBM particulate and sheets supported progressive wound closure, marked by neo-tissue formation and depth reduction with closure of tunneling in all cases. Results from this series underscore the utility of UBM devices in the management of sacral wounds and especially those further hindered by extensive tunneling.

Transarterial therapies in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma eligible for transarterial embolization: a US cost-effectiveness analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the cost-effectiveness of transarterial radioembolization (TARE) versus conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) and drug-eluting beads chemoembolization (DEE-TACE) for patients with unresectable early- to intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). DESIGN: A cohort-based Markov model with a five-year time horizon was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the three embolization treatments. Upon entering the model, patients with HCC received either TARE or one of the two other embolization treatments. Patients remained in a "watch and wait" state for tumor downstaging that allowed them to move to health states such as liver transplant, resection, systemic therapies, or cure. Clinical input parameters were retrieved from the published literature, and where values could not be sourced, assumptions were made and validated by clinical experts. Health benefits were quantified using quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Cost input parameters were obtained from various sources, including the Medicare Cost Report, IBM® Micromedex RED BOOK, and published literature. RESULTS: At five years, TARE was found to be cost-saving (saving $15,779 per person compared to cTACE) and produced 0.33 more QALYs per person than cTACE. TARE cost $13,696 more but produced 0.33 more QALYs than DEE-TACE, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $41,474 per QALY gained at five years. After accounting for parameter uncertainty, the likelihood of TARE being cost-effective was at least 90% against all comparators at a cost-effectiveness threshold of $100,000 per QALY gained. CONCLUSIONS: TARE produces more QALYs than cTACE and DEE-TACE, with a high probability of being cost-effective against both comparators.

The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer guideline recommends the use of transarterial radioembolization (TARE), conventional (cTACE), or drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEE-TACE) for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of TARE versus two alternative embolization treatments (cTACE and DEE-TACE) in treating patients with unresectable early- to intermediate-stage HCC.A cohort-based Markov model was developed to analyze the costs and benefits of these treatments from a US healthcare perspective within a 5-year time horizon. A 20-year time horizon was assessed as a scenario. In the model, patients were assigned to receive TARE, cTACE, or DEE-TACE and remained in the "watch and wait" stage for tumor downstaging. Data used in the model was taken from previous studies and in consultation with clinical experts. The benefits of the treatments were measured by considering the impact on the patient's quality of life. The costs associated with the treatments were obtained from various sources, including reports, publicly available databases, and published literature.The findings show that TARE is not only cost-saving compared to cTACE but also results in a higher number of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) per person. While TARE was more expensive than DEE-TACE, it produced more QALYs, further indicating more favorable patient outcomes and overall treatment effectiveness. These findings could potentially impact resource allocation and decision-making for the treatment of HCC.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of hydrophilic-coated catheters in long-term intermittent catheter users in the UK.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of single-use hydrophilic-coated intermittent catheters (HCICs) versus single-use uncoated intermittent catheters (UICs) for urinary catheterization. METHODS: The evaluation took a UK national health service (NHS) perspective. The population of interest were people using intermittent catheters, with either a spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis. A Markov model was developed that estimated costs and clinical evidence over the lifetime of a hypothetical cohort and applied health-related quality-of-life estimates. Model inputs were sourced from published evidence, including a network meta-analysis to inform the treatment effect (reduction in catheter-associated urinary tract infections [CAUTIs]), and were supported by expert opinion. The model outputs included per-patient lifetime costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and the incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER). Event counts were also produced. RESULTS: Using HCICs instead of UICs could prevent seven CAUTI events per patient over a lifetime horizon (1.8 requiring secondary care). Overall, lifetime use of HCICs is £3,183 more expensive than use of UICs per patient. However, for these additional costs, 0.55 QALYs are gained. The ICER is £5,755 per additional QALY gained. Key drivers of the model results were identified and subject to sensitivity analyses. The results were found to be robust to parameter uncertainty. CONCLUSION: HCICs are likely to be a cost-effective alternative to UICs, a result driven by substantial reductions in the number of CAUTIs. Their adoption across clinical practice could avoid a substantial number of infections, freeing up resources in the NHS and reducing antibiotic use in urinary catheter users.

A new economic model was developed from a United Kingdom National Health Service perspective, to explore whether hydrophilic-coated intermittent catheters would be "worth" introducing for intermittent catheter users with either a spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis. More specifically, costs were analyzed alongside clinical evidence and health-related quality-of-life data to investigate whether hydrophilic-coated intermittent catheters would offer a notable health benefit when compared with uncoated intermittent catheters for the assessed population, whilst keeping costs to the National Health Service sufficiently low. Model inputs were sourced from published evidence where possible, and experts were consulted otherwise. The results showed that, whilst lifetime use of hydrophilic-coated intermittent catheters is £3,183 more expensive than use of uncoated intermittent catheters per patient, the health benefit with hydrophilic-coated intermittent catheters offsets these costs, by definition a cost-effective result. This means that hydrophilic-coated intermittent catheters are likely to be a cost-effective alternative to uncoated intermittent catheters. Their adoption across clinical practice could avoid a substantial number of infections, thereby freeing up healthcare resources in the National Health Service and reducing antibiotic use in urinary catheter users.

Morning Connections: How do you support hospital staff working remotely during a global pandemic without providing 'staff support'?

When lockdown was announced in the United Kingdom, kitchen tables transformed into offices overnight, as many National Health Service (NHS) workers adapted to new ways of working from home. To respond to the developing situation, we established a programme of weekly 'Connections' meetings where staff could be together, remotely. This article describes the evolution of our Morning Connections and Oncology Connections virtual meetings, including the content of sessions, how they were evaluated and whether they met their intention to support colleagues during a particularly challenging time, both personally and professionally, for NHS staff.

An anchored matching-adjusted indirect comparison of fixed-dose combination calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate (Cal/BDP) cream versus Cal/BDP foam for the treatment of psoriasis.

OBJECTIVES: To undertake a comparison of Cal/BDP cream versus foam for the treatment of plaque psoriasis, with cross-trial population differences accounted for. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anchored matching-adjusted indirect comparison was undertaken, using individual patient data for Cal/BDP cream and published aggregated data for Cal/BDP foam. Altogether, 11 outcomes were analyzed, including PGA success, mPASI75, DLQI-related outcomes and treatment satisfaction across numerous domains. For each outcome an odds ratio or mean difference was calculated to represent the relative efficacy of Cal/BDP cream versus foam. Methods were guided by NICE Decision Support Unit recommendations. RESULTS: After adjustment, baseline characteristics were balanced across treatment arms in each analysis. There were no statistically significant differences in PGA success, mPASI75 or DLQI outcomes between Cal/BDP cream and foam when they were compared after their recommended treatment durations (8 weeks for cream and 4 weeks for foam). For treatment satisfaction after 1 week of treatment, Cal/BDP cream was significantly superior to the Cal/BDP foam in all but one domain of the questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: Cal/BDP cream and Cal/BDP foam have equivalent efficacy and HRQoL (measured in DLQI) outcomes when used for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis at their recommended treatment durations. A comparison of treatment satisfaction assessments after 1 week of treatment demonstrated that patients find Cal/BDP cream to be more convenient than foam.

Defining Terms Used for Animals Working in Support Roles for People with Support Needs.

The nomenclature used to describe animals working in roles supporting people can be confusing. The same term may be used to describe different roles, or two terms may mean the same thing. This confusion is evident among researchers, practitioners, and end users. Because certain animal roles are provided with legal protections and/or government-funding support in some jurisdictions, it is necessary to clearly define the existing terms to avoid confusion. The aim of this paper is to provide operationalized definitions for nine terms, which would be useful in many world regions: "assistance animal", "companion animal", "educational/school support animal", "emotional support animal", "facility animal", "service animal", "skilled companion animal", "therapy animal", and "visiting/visitation animal". At the International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) conferences in 2018 and 2020, over 100 delegates participated in workshops to define these terms, many of whom co-authored this paper. Through an iterative process, we have defined the nine terms and explained how they differ from each other. We recommend phasing out two terms (i.e., "skilled companion animal" and "service animal") due to overlap with other terms that could potentially exacerbate confusion. The implications for several regions of the world are discussed.

Information sharing practices during the COVID-19 pandemic: A case study about face masks.

This article contributes an empirical analysis of information sharing practices on Twitter relating to the use of face masks in the context of COVID-19. Behavioural changes, such as the use of face masks, are often influenced by people's knowledge and perceptions, which in turn can be affected by the information available to them. Face masks were not recommended for use by the UK public at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to developments in scientific understanding, the guidance changed and by the end of 2020 they were mandatory on public transport and in shops. This research examines tweets in this longitudinal context and, therefore, provides novel insights into the dynamics of crisis communication in an ongoing crisis event with emerging scientific evidence. Specifically, analysis of the content of tweets, external resources most frequently shared, and users sharing information are considered. The conclusions contribute to developing understanding of the digital information ecology and provide practical insights for crisis communicators. Firstly, the analysis shows changes in the frequency of tweets about the topic correspond with key guidance and policy changes. These are, therefore, points in time official channels of information need to utilise the public's information seeking and sharing practices. Secondly, due to changes in face mask guidance and policy, the current literature on digital information ecology is insufficient for capturing the dynamic nature of a long-term ongoing crisis event. Challenges can arise due to the prolonged circulation of out-of-date information, i.e. not strategic misinformation, nor "mis"-information at all, which can have serious ramifications for crisis communication practitioners. Thirdly, the role of traditional media and other journalism/broadcasting platforms in shaping conversations is evident, as is the potential for scientific organisations' and individual people's Twitter user accounts. This plurality of contributors needs to be acknowledged and understood to inform crisis communication strategies.

COVID-19 and science advice on the 'Grand Stage': the metadata and linguistic choices in a scientific advisory groups' meeting minutes.

Science advice for governments attracted great scrutiny during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the public spotlight on institutions and individual experts-putting science advice on the 'Grand Stage'. A review of the academic literature identified transparency, a plurality of expertise, the science and policy 'boundary', and consensus whilst addressing uncertainty as key themes. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) has been the primary provider of coordinated scientific and technical advice to the UK Government during emergencies since 2009. Using the first 89 of SAGE's meeting minutes (study period: 22 January 2020-13 May 2021), the 'metadata' and linguistic choices are analysed to identify how SAGE's role and protocols are communicated. This includes understanding which experts were regularly taking part in discussions, the role of scientific experts in the science advisory system and their influence on policy choices, and the degree of consensus and uncertainty within this group of experts-all of which relate to the degree of transparency with the public. In addition, a temporal analysis examines how these practices, such as linguistically marking uncertainty, developed over the period studied. Linguistic markers indexing certainty and uncertainty increased, demonstrating a commitment to precise and accurate communication of the science, including ambiguities and the unknown. However, self-references to SAGE decreased over the period studied. The study highlights how linguistic analysis can be a useful approach for developing an understanding of science communication practices and scientific ambiguity. By considering how SAGE presents to those outside the process, the research calls attention to what remains 'behind the scenes' and consequently limits the public's understanding of SAGE's role in the COVID-19 response.

Health Economic Assessment of Optimal Biological Treatment for Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: There is limited guidance on which biologic therapies should be prioritised for the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis, amongst the many available options. New mode-of-action biologics, as well as recently available biosimilars for existing biologics, continue to be developed making the choice of treatment sequence increasingly complex. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this analysis was to develop a cost-effectiveness model to determine the optimal placement of biologic therapies on the treatment pathway for psoriasis in the UK. METHODS: A cohort-based Markov model was developed in Microsoft Excel, from the perspective of the National Health Service and Personal and Social Services in the UK. The model followed a hypothetical cohort of patients over a lifetime. The health states in the model were defined by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index response. In the model, patients could receive a total of four separate treatments, including three active interventions and best supportive care. RESULTS: A fully incremental analysis was undertaken on a subset of commonly used treatment sequences. The results of the list price analyses determined the most cost-effective sequence to be adalimumab biosimilar followed by ustekinumab, secukinumab, then best supportive care. This sequence is associated with total costs of £78,731 and total quality-adjusted life-years of 14.74 over a patient's lifetime. CONCLUSIONS: This research suggests that the optimal first-line treatment in the UK is adalimumab biosimilar. The optimal second-line and third-line treatments depend on the magnitude of confidential discounts applied to the biologic treatments.

Gemfibrozil derivatives as activators of soluble guanylyl cyclase - A structure-activity study.

Previous studies demonstrated that anti-hyperlipidemic drug gemfibrozil acts as NO- and heme-independent activator of NO receptor soluble guanylyl cyclase. A series of new gemfibrozil derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for sGC activation. The structure-activity relationship study identified the positions in gemfibrozil's scaffold that are detrimental for sGC activation and those that are amendable for optimizing modifications. Compared with gemfibrozil, compounds 7c and 15b were more potent activators of cGMP-forming activity of purified sGC and exhibited enhanced relaxation of preconstricted mouse thoracic aorta rings. These studies established the overall framework needed for futher improvement of sGC activators based on gemfibrozil scaffold.

Using a Delphi Technique to Define a Feedback Culture in Graduate Medical Education.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Experts in medical education hypothesize that programs with a robust culture of feedback foster learning and growth for learners and educators, yet the literature shows no consensus for what defines a feedback culture in graduate medical education. METHODS: Using a two-round, modified Delphi technique in summer and fall of 2019, the authors asked a panel of experts to identify essential elements to a feedback culture. The research team compiled a list of experts and a list of 29 descriptors of a highly functioning feedback culture. Experts rated the items as an essential, compatible, or not important aspect of a highly functioning culture of feedback. Researchers set a minimum threshold of 80% agreement and used comments from panelists to revise elements that did not meet agreement during round one. Experts then rerated the elements using information on their initial ratings, aggregate panelist ratings, and comments from all panelists. RESULTS: The response rates from our panel of experts were 68% (17/25) for round one and 88% (15/17) for round two. Seventeen elements were rated as essential to a feedback culture. CONCLUSIONS: An expert panel endorsed essential elements that can be used to assess feedback culture in graduate medical education programs.

Fully Integrated Readiness for Service Training (FIRST): An Accelerated Medical Training Program for Rural and Underserved North Carolina.

PROBLEM: The U.S. primary care workforce remains inadequate to meet the health needs of the U.S. population. Effective programs are needed to provide workforce development for rural and other underserved areas. APPROACH: At the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine (SOM), between November 2014 and July 2015, the authors developed and implemented the Fully Integrated Readiness for Service Training (FIRST) Program, an accelerated curriculum focused on rural and underserved care that links 3 years of medical school with a conditional acceptance into UNC's 3-year family medicine residency, followed by 3 years of practice support post-graduation. Students are recruited to the FIRST Program during the fall of their first year of medical school. The FIRST Program promotes close faculty mentorship and familiarity with the health care system, includes a longitudinal quality improvement project with an assigned patient panel, includes early integration into the clinic, and fosters a close cohort of fellow students. OUTCOMES: As of March 2020, the FIRST Program had successfully recruited 5 classes of medical students, and 3 of those classes had matched into residency. In total, as of March 2020, 18 students had participated in the FIRST Program. NEXT STEPS: The FIRST Program will be expanded to additional clinical sites across North Carolina and to specialties beyond family medicine, including pediatrics, general surgery, and psychiatry.

The cost-effectiveness of TheraSphere in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who are eligible for transarterial embolization.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study is to estimate the cost-effectiveness of TheraSphere against other embolic treatments in a population with early to intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are unresectable at presentation and are eligible for transarterial embolization (TAE), conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) or drug-eluting bead TACE (DEB-TACE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Markov model was constructed using a UK National Health Service (NHS) perspective, a 20-year time horizon, and four-week cycles. The eight health states included 'watch and wait', 'transplantation' (pre-, post and post (No HCC)), 'resection', 'no HCC other', 'pharmacological management' and 'death'. Clinical data were sourced from literature and expert opinion. Resource use and costs were reflective of the NHS, and benefits were quantified using Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs), with utility weights sourced from literature. Comparators were TAE, cTACE and DEB-TACE. The primary output was the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) expressed as cost per QALY gained. An ICER of under £20,000/QALY gained for an intervention is cost-effective and represents efficient use of healthcare resources. Extensive deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were undertaken. RESULTS: TheraSphere patients were predicted to gain 0.7 additional QALYs compared to all other treatments. The base case ICERs for TheraSphere were £17,300, £17,279 and £23,020 per QALY gained compared to TAE, cTACE and DEB-TACE, respectively. In the TheraSphere cohort, 87% more patients were predicted to achieve downstaging compared to all other treatment options. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that treatment with TheraSphere is a potentially cost-effective option for patients with early to intermediate stage HCC.

Concurrent multi-lineage differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells through spatial presentation of growth factors.

Severe tendon and ligament injuries are estimated to affect between 300 000 and 400 000 people annually. Surgical repairs of these injuries often have poor long-term clinical outcomes because of resection of the interfacial tissue-the enthesis-and subsequent stress concentration at the attachment site. A healthy enthesis consists of distinct regions of bone, fibrocartilage, and tendon, each with distinct cell types, extracellular matrix components, and architecture, which are important for tissue function. Tissue engineering, which has been proposed as a potential strategy for replacing this tissue, is currently limited by its inability to differentiate multiple lineages of cells from a single stem cell population within a single engineered construct. In this study, we develop a multi-phasic gelatin methacrylate hydrogel construct system for spatial presentation of proteins, which is then validated for multi-lineage differentiation towards the cell types of the bone-tendon enthesis. This study determines growth factor concentrations for differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells towards osteoblasts, chondrocytes/fibrochondrocytes, and tenocytes, which maintain similar differentiation profiles in 3D hydrogel culture as assessed by qPCR and immunofluorescence staining. Finally, it is shown that this method is able to guide heterogeneous and spatially confined changes in mesenchymal stem cell genes and protein expressions with the tendency to result in osteoblast-, fibrochondrocyte-, and tenocyte-like expression profiles. Overall, we demonstrate the utility of the culture technique for engineering other musculoskeletal tissue interfaces and provide a biochemical approach for recapitulating the bone-tendon enthesis in vitro.

Utilizing the F3App to Capture Learner Feedback About Faculty Teaching.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requires soliciting learner feedback on faculty teaching, although gathering meaningful feedback is challenging in the medical education environment. We developed the Faculty Feedback Facilitator (F3App), a mobile application that allows for real-time capture of narrative feedback by residents. The purpose of our study was to assess efficacy, usability, and acceptability of the F3App in family medicine residency programs. METHODS: Residents, faculty, and program directors (PDs) from eight residency programs participated in a beta test of the F3App from November 2017 to May 2018; participants completed pre- and postimplementation surveys about their evaluation process and the F3App. We interviewed PDs, and analyzed responses using a thematic analysis approach. RESULTS: Survey results showed significant postimplementation increases in faculty agreement that accessing evaluations is easy (42%), evaluations are an effective way to communicate feedback (34%), feedback is actionable and meaningful (24%), and the current system provides meaningful data for promotion (33%). Among residents, agreement that the current system allows meaningful information sharing and is easy to use increased significantly, by 17% each. The proportion of residents agreeing they were comfortable providing constructive criticism increased significantly (22%). PDs generally reported that residents were receptive to using the F3App, found it quick and easy to use, and that feedback provided was meaningful. CONCLUSIONS: Participating programs reviewed the F3App positively as a tool to gather narrative feedback from learners on faculty teaching.