Teaching and Assessment of Medical Students During Complex Multifactorial Team-Based Tasks: The "Virtual on Call" Case Study.

Abstract: Although considerable efforts have been made to incorporate simulation-based learning (SBL) in undergraduate medical education, to date, most of the medical school curricula still focus on pure knowledge or individual assessment of objective structured clinical examination skills (OSCE). To this end, we designed a case study named "iG4 (integrated generation 4) virtual on-call (iVOC)". We aimed to simulate an on-call shift in a high-fidelity virtual hospital setting in order to assess delegates' team-based performance on tasks related to patient handovers (prioritisation, team allocation). Methods: A total of 41 clinical year medical students were split into 3 cohorts, each of which included 3 groups of 4 or 5 people. The groups consisted of a structured mix of educational and cultural backgrounds of students to achieve homogeneity. Each performing group received the handover for 5 patients in the virtual hospital and had to identify and deal with the acutely unwell ones within 15 minutes. We used TEAMTM tool to assess team-based performances. Results: The mean handover performance was 5.44/10 ± 2.24 which was the lowest across any performance marker. The overall global performance across any team was 6.64/10 ± 2.11. The first rotating team's global performance for each cycle was 6.44/10 ± 2.01, for the second 7.89/10 ± 2.09 and for the third 6.78/10 ± 1.64 (p = 0.099 between groups). Conclusion: This is one of the first reported, high-fidelity, globally reproducible SBL settings to assess the capacity of students to work as part of a multinational team, highlighting several aspects that need to be addressed during undergraduate studies. Medical schools should consider similar efforts with the aim to incorporate assessment frameworks for individual performances of students as part of a team, which can be a stepping-stone for enhancing safety in clinical practice.

Advancing Medical Students' Non-technical Skills in a Group-Based Setting.

Aim of the study: Introduction of non-technical skill (NTS) modules in undergraduate medical curricula is essential to prevent errors that occur due to inadequate communication and malfunctioning teams. We primarily aimed to observe medical students' NTS performance improvement in a group-based setting and compare it across participants of different countries of study. Secondarily, we aimed to assess students' views on such initiatives. Material and Methods: We designed a pilot module for assessing and improving a group's NTS performance. This was based on three main pillars: simulation-based learning, constructive feedback and objective assessment. Senior medical students from EU universities were invited to apply online. Delegates were divided according to their country of study and participated in two surgical scenarios. Groups had two attempts at each scenario and feedback was given in between. Performance was assessed using a modified version of the Individual Teamwork Observation and Feedback Tool (iTOFT). Participant feedback was collected at the end of the module. Results: Eighty delegates were recruited and finished the study. A mean increase performance of 0.81 out of 3 was noted between attempts in trauma-case scenarios and 0.88 out of 3 in ward round scenarios. Overall performance improvement was similar across all groups (p > 0.05). Feedback of delegates was encouragingly positive. Conclusions: The reported improvement and positive feedback received highlight that such an intervention can be implemented in medical school curricula of all countries. Our module design, along with the use of iTOFT, should act as the basis for future development of group-based learning and assessment in undergraduate medical education.

ABC of Surgical Teaching: Time to Consider a Global Blueprint for Holistic Education.

BACKGROUND: Educating and equipping students and trainees into clinicians capable of meeting healthcare demands and service provision needs is essential. Unprecedented events like COVID-19 pandemic, highlight urgent need for reformation of training to ensure high quality education is maintained. To this end, we describe an innovative and globally adaptable blueprint for establishing a surgical curriculum, aiming to optimize preparation of future surgeons. METHODS: We used a structured protocol to synthesize evidence from previous systematic reviews focused on surgical education alongside a series of focused original educational studies. This approach allowed incorporation of prospectively applied novel ideas into the existing landscape of published evidence. All material used for this proof of concept derives from the outputs of a dedicated research network for surgical education (eMERG). RESULTS: We propose the foundation blueprint framework called "Omnigon iG4" as a globally applicable model. It allows adaptation to individual local educational environments for designing, appraising and/or refining surgical curricula. We also describe the "Omnigon iG4 Hexagon Pragmatic Model," a novel perspective model which assesses the performance of our blueprint in a multi-layer fashion. This "Hexagon" model is the first to introduce pragmatic outcomes in curricula performance assessment. CONCLUSIONS: This proof of concept, "Omnigon iG4," proposes an adaptable version of a curriculum blueprint. The framework allows educators to establish a surgical curriculum with the ability to map out competencies, permitting full control over their intended learning outcomes. This can form the basis for developing globally adaptable multifaceted Simulation-Based learning (SBL) courses or even surgical curricula for undergraduates.

Team performance training for medical students: Low vs high fidelity simulation.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate a simulation-based team performance course for medical students and compare its low- and high-fidelity components. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective crossover observational study. Groups participated in one low- and one high-fidelity session twice. Low-fidelity scenarios included management of an emergency case on a simulated-patient, whereas high-fidelity scenarios constituted of multiple-trauma cases where simulated-patients wore a hyper-realistic suit. Team performance was assessed objectively, using the TEAM™ tool, and subjectively using questionnaires. Questionnaires were also used to assess presence levels, stress levels and evaluate the course. RESULTS: Participants' team performance was higher in the low-fidelity intervention as assessed by the TEAM™ tool. An overall mean increase in self-assessed confidence towards non-technical skills attitudes was noted after the course, however there was no difference in self-assessed performance between the two interventions. Both reported mean stress and presence levels were higher for the high-fidelity module. Evaluation scores for all individual items of the questionnaire were ≥4.60 in both NTS modules. Students have assessed the high-fidelity module higher (4.88 out of 5, SD = 0.29) compared to low-fidelity module (4.74 out of 5, SD = 0.67). CONCLUSIONS: Both the low- and high-fidelity interventions demonstrated an improvement in team performance of the attending medical students. The high-fidelity intervention was more realistic, yet more stressful. Furthermore, it proved to be superior in harvesting leadership, teamwork and task management skills. Both modules were evaluated highly by the students, however, future research should address retention of the taught skills and adaptability of such interventions.

Student Views on a Novel Holistic Surgical Education Curriculum (iG4): A Multi-national Survey in a Changing Landscape.

AIM: Essential Skills in the Management of Surgical Cases (ESMSC Marathon Course™) Integrated Generation 4 (iG4) is the first reported multifaceted undergraduate surgical course aiming to provide holistic surgical teaching. In this prospective observational study, we explored students' views on the iG4 curriculum, and identified how it can potentially address modern challenges in surgical training. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medical students were invited to apply to the course online and were screened against pre-defined criteria. A multi-national structured questionnaire incorporating five domains related to the course curriculum and our dedicated research network, was designed and distributed to participants after successful completion of the course. RESULTS: Forty-one students from European and Asian medical schools completed the course and filled in the survey. The median overall evaluation score of the course was 4.73 out of 5 (interquartile range=4.21-4.72) and all students found that iG4 served the vision of holistic surgical education. ESMSC had a positive motivational effect towards following a career in surgery (p=0.012) and 92.7% of students declared that it should be an essential part of a future medical school curriculum. There was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in results between participants of different countries of study, year of studies or age group. CONCLUSION: The ESMSC Marathon Course™ is perceived as a unique course model, with an established educational value and a positive motivational effect towards surgery. It might potentially be implemented in future medical school curricula as an essential element of undergraduate surgical education. The iG4 curriculum has opened a new exciting horizon of opportunities for advancing undergraduate holistic surgical education.

Retrospective qualitative study evaluating the application of IG4 curriculum: an adaptable concept for holistic surgical education.

OBJECTIVES: Faced with a costly and demanding learning curve of surgical skills acquisition, the growing necessity for improved surgical curricula has now become irrefutable. We took this opportunity to formulate a teaching framework with the capacity to provide holistic surgical education at the undergraduate level. SETTING: Data collection was conducted in all the relevant healthcare centres the participants worked in. Where this was not possible, interviews were held in quiet public places. PARTICIPANTS: We performed an in-depth retrospective evaluation of a proposed curriculum, through semi-structured interviews with 10 participants. A targeted sampling technique was employed in order to identify senior academics with specialist knowledge in surgical education. Recruitment was ceased on reaching data saturation after which thematic data analysis was performed using NVivo 11. RESULTS: Thematic analysis yielded a total of 4 main themes and 29 daughter nodes. Majority of study participants agreed that the current landscape of basic surgical education is deficient at multiple levels. While simulation cannot replace surgical skills acquisition taking place in operating rooms, it can be catalytic in the transition of students to postgraduate training. Our study concluded that a standardised format of surgical teaching is essential, and that the Integrated Generation 4 (IG4) framework provides an excellent starting point. CONCLUSIONS: Through expert opinion, IG4 has been validated for its capacity to effectively accommodate learning in a safer and more efficacious environment. Moreover, we support that through dissemination of IG4, we can instil a sense of motivation to students as well as develop robust data sets, which will be amenable to data analysis through the application of more sophisticated methodologies.

Artificial Intelligence in Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Is This the Way Forward?

An increasing trend in funding towards artificial intelligence (AI) research in medicine has re-animated huge expectations for future applications. Obstetrics and gynaecology remain highly litigious specialities, accounting for a large proportion of indemnity payments due to poor outcomes. Several challenges have to be faced in order to improve current clinical practice in both obstetrics and gynaecology. For instance, a complete understanding of fetal physiology and establishing accurately predictive antepartum and intrapartum monitoring are yet to be achieved. In gynaecology, the complexity of molecular biology results in a lack of understanding of gynaecological cancer, which also contributes to poor outcomes. In this review, we aim to describe some important applications of AI in obstetrics and gynaecology. We also discuss whether AI can lead to a deeper understanding of pathophysiological concepts in obstetrics and gynaecology, allowing delineation of some grey zones, leading to improved healthcare provision. We conclude that AI can be used as a promising tool in obstetrics and gynaecology, as an approach to resolve several longstanding challenges; AI may also be a means to augment knowledge and assist clinicians in decision-making in a variety of areas in obstetrics and gynaecology.

Are interventional radiology and allied specialities neglected in undergraduate medical education? A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Minimally invasive interventional approaches are gaining wider acceptance with several specialities incorporating such principles. Awareness and understanding of interventional principles require efficacious education and training methodologies. We performed a systematic review to identify all available interventional speciality learning modules or training opportunities available for undergraduate medical students. We also propose a standardised framework for relevant modules. METHODS: We searched PubMed and all Ovid databases with no language restriction for studies that report and evaluate interventional speciality educational modules or similar training initiatives. We followed a prospective protocol (PROSPERO registration: CRD42018110006). Internal and external validity of the included studies was assessed. Qualitative synthesis of data was performed to define performance improvement and/or motivation towards a career in an interventional speciality. RESULTS: Out of 6081 records, 17 studies met the inclusion criteria, 15 of which were focused on interventional radiology. More than half of studies (9/17) were surveys where student knowledge and interest were reported as poor. 5 out of 6 studies which assessed the effect of educational interventions concluded to improved knowledge or performance. Most surveys concluded that early exposure can increase interest towards such specialities, improve knowledge and relevant motivation. CONCLUSIONS: Few studies report teaching initiatives in interventional radiology and other interventional specialities, reflecting the poor relevant motivation and knowledge amongst medical students. Simple interventions e.g. introductory lectures and simulation sessions spark interest in students and also improve knowledge as proven in the case of interventional radiology. Standardisation of such efforts via a suggested framework, Strategy Development Framework for Interventional Radiology, can further optimise such outcomes.

The Role of KRAS in Endometrial Cancer: A Mini-Review.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common cancer of the female genital tract, resulting annually in 76,000 related deaths worldwide. EC originates either from oestrogen-related proliferative endometrium (type I, endometrioid), or from atrophic endometrium (type II, non-endometrioid). Each type of EC is characterized by different molecular profile alterations. The Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) gene encodes a signalling protein which moderates response to various extracellular signals via down-regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) or phosphoinositide-3-kinase/v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene (PI3K/AKT) pathways. This article reviews the role of KRAS in predicting transition from hyperplastic endometrium to early-stage well-differentiated EC, as well as further invasive proliferation of the tumour to advanced-stage disease. KRAS seems to be directly associated with type I EC, and most studies support its early involvement in carcinogenesis. Current evidence correlates KRAS mutations with increased cell proliferation and apoptosis, as well as up-regulation of endometrial cell oestrogen receptors. Tumours positive for KRAS mutation can harbour hypermethylation-related changes in genome expression, and this can be the cause of concurrent loss of DNA repair proteins. Despite some evidence that KRAS mutation status affects cancer progression, a consensus is yet to be reached. Based on the available evidence, we suggest that screening for KRAS mutations in patients with hyperplastic endometrium or early-stage type I EC, may provide important information for prognosis stratification, and further provision of personalised treatment options.