Sleep well to perform well: the association between sleep quality and medical student performance in a high-stakes clinical assessment.

Study Objectives: To investigate medical students' sleep quality and duration prior to a major clinical assessment, and their association with clinical performance. Methods: Third year medical students were surveyed following the end of year Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) using a self-completed questionnaire. The questionnaire focussed on sleep in the month and night before the assessment. OSCE scores were linked to questionnaire data for analysis. Results: The response rate was 76.6% (216/282). Poor sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index > 5) was reported by 56.9% (123/216) and 34.7% (75/216) of students the month and night before the OSCE, respectively. Sleep quality the night before the OSCE was significantly associated with OSCE score (p = .038), but not sleep quality in the preceding month. The night before the OSCE, students obtained an average of 6.8 h sleep (median 7, SD 1.5, range 2-12 h). Short sleep duration (≤6 h) was reported by 22.7% (49/216) and 38.4% (83/216) of students in the month and the night before the OSCE, respectively. Sleep duration the night before the OSCE was significantly associated with OSCE score (p = .026), but no significant association was found between OSCE score and sleep duration in the preceding month. Use of medication to help with sleep was reported by 18.1% (39/216) of students in the preceding month and by 10.6% (23/216) in the night before the OSCE. Conclusions: Medical students' sleep quality and duration the night before a clinical assessment were correlated with their performance in that assessment.

Abnormal findings in peers during skills learning.

BACKGROUND: Peer physical examination (PPE), where students examine each other, is common in contemporary clinical skills learning. A range of benefits and risks have been explored in the literature. One persistent concern has been the identification and management of abnormal physical findings. Two previous studies have attempted to quantify the risk, one through the discussion of two exemplar cases and the other with a retrospective student survey. METHODS: Here, we report the first prospective study of the number and type of abnormalities encountered as part of early clinical skills learning in a medical programme. We have a formal written consent process for PPE, which includes the management of abnormal findings through the completion of an event form. Our data come from cohorts undertaking years 2 and 3 of the programme between 2003 and 2014. One persistent concern (of PPE) has been the identification and management of abnormal physical findings RESULTS: Nineteen event forms were completed over this period. The incidence rates per year ranged from 0.23 to 1.05 per cent. Abnormal findings included raised blood pressure, heart murmur, abnormal bedside test values, and eye and skin conditions. DISCUSSION: The low event rate, along with a feasible process for dealing with this issue, goes some way to reassuring those with concerns. We acknowledge that some abnormalities may have been missed, and that some data may have been lost as a result of incorrect process; however, even the highest annual rate is low in absolute terms. We recommend a formal process for managing abnormalities. Ideally this would be part of an overall PPE written policy, communicated to students, enacted by tutors and approved by the local ethics committee.

Evaluation of the effect of hand hygiene reminder signs on the use of antimicrobial hand gel in a clinical skills center.

Hand hygiene is a critical element of patient care, which needs to be learned and reinforced to become an autonomous behavior. Previous studies have explored aspects of hand hygiene behavior in the clinical workplace, but not in controlled learning environments with health professional students. Development of good hand hygiene behavior requires a multi-faceted approach, including education, reinforcement, feedback and audit. Our study aimed to identify the effect of unannounced hand hygiene reminder signs on the use of antimicrobial hand gel in a clinical skills center. Year 2 MBChB students received practical learning regarding hand hygiene in their clinical skills sessions. Baseline hand gel use was measured using before and after weighing of the bottles. An A5 sign was created to remind the students to hand cleanse and was used as an unannounced intervention. In semester 2 (2012), the student groups were randomly allocated as intervention (signs) or control (no signs). Hand gel use at all sessions was measured. Data were compared between groups and over time. In total, 237 students attended the skills sessions twice during the study. Hand gel use was not significantly different between the two study arms. Overall use was low, typically 1-2 hand gel pumps per student per session. In addition, hand gel use fell over time. A visual reminder to cleanse hands did not appear to have any effect on behavior. These findings may have implications for their value in a clinical setting. Low overall use of hand gel may be context-dependent. Students are in a simulated environment and examine 'healthy' peers or actors. There may have been inconsistent tutor role-modeling or problems with the educational approach to the skill. Analysis at the level of the group, and not the individual, may have also limited our study.