Delivering Point-of-Care ultrasound teaching using a video conferencing technique.

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has usually been taught using a hands-on, in-person approach. We present a novel approach to delivering POCUS virtually using a dual image videoconferencing technique. We outline an easily implementable approach and summarize medical students' experience and feedback. This form of delivery has potential to improve instructional delivery in resource restricted settings or during pandemic restrictions where a hands-on approach may not be possible.

L'échographie au chevet fait généralement l'objet d'un enseignement pratique, en personne. Nous présentons une nouvelle approche, virtuelle, pour son enseignement, par visioconférence à double flux vidéo. L'approche que nous décrivons est facile à mettre en œuvre. Nous résumons l'expérience et les commentaires des étudiants en médecine sur cette modalité qui est susceptible d'améliorer l'enseignement dans des contextes où les ressources sont limitées ou en cas de pandémie, lorsque l'approche pratique n'est pas possible.

Use of wearable point-of-view live streaming technology for virtual physical exam skills training.

We piloted a virtual teaching tool comprised of a chest-mounted smartphone streaming point-of-view footage over videoconferencing software to deliver a physical exam skills session. Compared to medical students taught via third person view through pre-recorded video followed by preceptor-led discussion, a higher proportion of students taught via point-of-view wearable technology reported improved knowledge of demonstrated skills and feeling engaged, comfortable interacting with their tutor, and better able to visualize demonstrated exam maneuvers. This accessible, affordable, and easily replicable innovation can potentially enhance virtual clinical skills teaching and enable novel distant clinical learning opportunities for healthcare professions students and educators.

Nous avons mis à l'essai un outil d'enseignement virtuel, notamment pour les cours de techniques d'examen physique, qui consiste dans le fait de porter un téléphone intelligent fixé sur la poitrine pour diffuser en direct, par le biais d'un logiciel de vidéoconférence, pour réaliser un examen physique plutôt que subjectif. Comparativement aux étudiants en médecine qui pour le cours ont visionné une vidéo préenregistrée prise par caméra objective, suivie d'une discussion dirigée par un précepteur, un plus grand nombre d'étudiants ayant suivi le cours par le biais d'une technologie portable avec par le biais d'un dispositif technologique portable déclarent avoir amélioré leurs connaissances sur les techniques présentées, se sentir engagés et à l'aise pour interagir avec l'enseignant, et avoir été en mesure de bien voir les gestes d'examen montrés. Cette innovation accessible, abordable et facilement reproductible pourrait permettre d'améliorer l'enseignement virtuel des habiletés cliniques et d'offrir de nouvelles possibilités d'enseignement.

Assessing effective mask use by the public in two countries: an observational study.

OBJECTIVES: During the COVID-19 pandemic wearing a mask in public has been recommended in some settings and mandated in others. How often this advice is followed, how well, and whether it inadvertently leads to more disease transmission opportunities due to a combination of improper use and physical distancing lapses is unknown. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study performed in June-August 2020. SETTING: Eleven outdoor and indoor public settings (some with mandated mask use, some without) each in Toronto, Ontario, and in Portland, Oregon. PARTICIPANTS: All passers-by in the study settings. OUTCOME MEASURES: Mask use, incorrect mask use, and number of breaches (ie, coming within 2 m of someone else where both parties were not properly masked). RESULTS: We observed 36 808 persons, the majority of whom were estimated to be aged 31-65 years (49%). Two-thirds (66.7%) were wearing a mask and 13.6% of mask-wearers wore them incorrectly. Mandatory mask-use settings were overwhelmingly associated with mask use (adjusted OR 79.2; 95% CI 47.4 to 135.1). Younger age, male sex, Torontonians, and public transit or airport settings (vs in a store) were associated with lower adjusted odds of wearing a mask. Mandatory mask-use settings were associated with lower adjusted odds of mask error (OR 0.30; 95% CI 0.14 to 0.73), along with female sex and Portland subjects. Subjects aged 81+ years (vs 31-65 years) and those on public transit and at the airport (vs stores) had higher odds of mask errors. Mask-wearers had a large reduction in adjusted mean number of breaches (rate ratio (RR) 0.19; 95% CI 0.17 to 0.20). The 81+ age group had the largest association with breaches (RR 7.77; 95% CI 5.32 to 11.34). CONCLUSIONS: Mandatory mask use was associated with a large increase in mask-wearing. Despite 14% of them wearing their masks incorrectly, mask users had a large reduction in the mean number of breaches (disease transmission opportunities). The elderly and transit users may warrant public health interventions aimed at improving mask use.