Virtual patients improve history-taking competence and confidence in medical students.

PURPOSE: Klark is a novel online medical education tool (www.klark-cases.com) where students take histories from virtual patients with common presentations from multiple specialities. We investigated whether Klark could enhance student confidence and competence in history-taking, and whether students find Klark helpful. METHODS: A single cohort of first-year clinical medical students had access to Klark for three weeks. At both ends of the trial, participants were asked to complete feedback forms and participate in two mock Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) history stations. Outcome measures included self-reported confidence and competence in history-taking, performance in OSCE stations, and qualitative user experience data. RESULTS: Seventy participants successfully completed a case on Klark (mean 18.7), of which 63 (90% user retention) completed  ≥ 2 cases. Self-reported competence (p < 0.001) and confidence (p < 0.001) improved. Participants found Klark to be helpful, impactful, and would recommend it to other students. OSCE scores improved for medical (57% vs. 69%, p < 0.001) and surgical (58% vs. 70%, p < 0.001) histories. CONCLUSIONS: Klark improved competence and confidence in history-taking. Students found it helpful and chose to continue using the platform. By developing confidence and competence at their own pace in the Klark simulated environment, students can then maximise benefit from in-person clinical opportunities.

Predictors of return to desired activity 12 months following unicompartmental and total knee arthroplasty.

Background and purpose - 1 in 5 patients are dissatisfied following unicompartmental or total knee arthroplasty (UKA or TKA). This may be partly explained by failing to return to desired activity post-arthroplasty. To facilitate return to desired activity, a greater understanding of predictors of return to desired activity in UKA and TKA patients is needed. We compared rates of return to desired activity 12 months following UKA vs. TKA, and identified and compared predictors of return to desired activity 12 months following UKA vs. TKA. Patients and methods - Patients were prospectively recruited from 2 hospitals prior to undergoing UKA or primary TKA. Patients reported preoperatively the activity/activities that were limited due to their knee that they wished to return to after arthroplasty. At 12-months postoperatively, patients reported whether they had returned to these activities ('return to desired activity'). Preoperative predictors evaluated were age, sex, BMI, education, comorbidities, pain expectations, Oxford Knee Score (OKS), UCLA Activity Score, and EQ-5D. Generalized linear models assessed the relationship between potential predictors and return-to-desired-activity. Results - The response rate of all patients eligible for 12-month follow-up was 74%. TKA patients (n = 575) were older (mean (SD) 70 (9) vs. 67 (10)) with a greater BMI (31 (6) vs. 30 (5)) than patients undergoing UKA (n = 420). 75% of UKA and 59% of TKA patients returned to desired activity. TKA patients had a greater risk of non-return to desired activity than patients undergoing UKA (risk ratio (95% CI) 1.5 (1.2-1.8)). Predictors of non-return to desired activity following UKA were worse OKS (0.96 (0.93-0.99)), higher BMI (1.04 (1.01-1.08)), and worse expectations (1.9 (1.2-2.8)). Predictors of non-return to desired activity following TKA were worse EQ-5D (0.53 (0.33-0.85)) and worse OKS (0.98 (0.96-1.0)). Interpretation - UKA patients were more likely to return to desired activity than TKA patients. Predictors of return to desired activity differed following UKA and TKA. Optimizing selection of arthroplasty procedure based on patient characteristics and targeting predictors of poor outcome may facilitate return to desired activity with potential to enhance postoperative satisfaction.

18F-Choline PET/CT Detected Skull Base Paraganglioma.

We present a case of a right skull base paraganglioma detected using F-choline PET/CT in a 63-year-old man. The F-choline PET/CT scan was performed to assess a known prostate cancer. In addition, the scan demonstrated a mildly choline-avid (SUVmax, 3.8) tumor within the carotid sheath of the right skull base, extending through the jugular foramen to the cerebellomedullary and cerebellopontine angles. F-choline may provide a superior alternative to FDG in imaging paragangliomas of the skull base because, unlike FDG, there is no significant F-choline uptake in the adjacent brain.