In pursuit of a better transition to selected residencies: a quasi-experimental evaluation of a final year of medical school dedicated to the acute care domain.

BACKGROUND: Medical schools seek the best curricular designs for the transition to postgraduate education, such as the Dutch elective-based final, 'transitional' year. Most Dutch graduates work a mean of three years as a physician-not-in-training (PNIT) before entering residency training. To ease the transition to selected specialties and to decrease the duration of the PNIT period, UMC Utrecht introduced an optional, thematic variant of the usual transitional year, that enables the development of theme-specific competencies, in addition to physicians' general competencies. METHODS: We introduced an optional transitional year for interested students around the theme of acute care, called the Acute Care Transitional Year (ACTY). This study aimed to evaluate the ACTY by judging whether graduates meet postgraduate acute care expectations, indicating enhanced learning and preparation for practice. In a comprehensive assessment of acute care knowledge, clinical reasoning, skills, and performance in simulations, we collected data from ACTY students, non-ACTY students interested in acute care, and PNITs with approximately six months of acute care experience. RESULTS: ACTY graduates outperformed non-ACTY graduates on skills and simulations, and had higher odds of coming up to the expectations faculty have of a PNIT, as determined by global ratings. PNITs did better on simulations than ACTY graduates. DISCUSSION: ACTY graduates show better resemblance to PNITs than non-ACTY graduates, suggesting better preparation for postgraduate acute care challenges. CONCLUSION: Transitional years, offering multidisciplinary perspectives on a certain theme, can enhance learning and preparedness for entering residency.

Transforming the learning outcomes of anaesthesiology training into entrustable professional activities: A Delphi study.

BACKGROUND: True competency-based medical education should produce graduates meeting fixed standards of competence. Current postgraduate programmes are usually based on a pre-determined length of time in training making them poorly suited for an individual approach. The concept of entrustable professional activities (EPAs) enables a more flexible, personalised and less time-dependent approach to training programmes. An EPA is a unit of professional practice, to be entrusted to a trainee to execute without supervision once they demonstrate sufficient competence. As EPAs relate competencies to clinical practice, they structure training and assessment more logically according to the way clinicians actually work. A first step in building an EPA-based curriculum is to identify the core EPAs of the profession. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify EPAs for postgraduate training in anaesthesiology and to provide an example of how an existing curriculum can be transformed into an EPA-based curriculum. DESIGN: A modified Delphi method was used as a consensus approach applying three Delphi rounds. SETTING: Postgraduate specialty training in anaesthesiology in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: All programme directors in anaesthesiology in the Netherlands except for a single programme director who was involved as a researcher in this study and could not participate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Agreement among participants on a list of EPAs. Agreement was specified as a consensus rate of more than 80%. RESULTS: In this study, 27 programme directors (69% overall response rate) reached consensus on a set of 45 EPAs that describe a curriculum in anaesthesiology for the Netherlands. CONCLUSION: This study is a first step toward a more contemporary curriculum in competency-based postgraduate anaesthesiology training.

A case for competency-based anaesthesiology training with entrustable professional activities: an agenda for development and research.

Competency frameworks are based on what are considered to be the general essential qualities of a doctor. Competencies, being behavioural descriptors, need a strong link to clinical practice to allow trainers to observe and then use them in assessing trainees' performance. The emerging concept of entrustable professional activities (EPAs) may serve as such a link. An EPA is a description of an essential clinical task that frames competencies in the context of clinical practice. A full set of EPAs defines a specialty and constitutes the curriculum of specialty training. After observation of satisfactory performance on an EPA, the resident should be permitted to perform that activity without direct supervision. The terms of this should allow a trainer to provide justification for this decision. This makes graded assumption of responsibilities possible. We describe the potential benefits of working with EPAs in anaesthesiology training and set an agenda for curriculum development and research in this area.

Curriculum development for the workplace using Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs): AMEE Guide No. 99.

This Guide was written to support educators interested in building a competency-based workplace curriculum. It aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the literature on Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs), supplemented with suggestions for practical application to curriculum construction, assessment and educational technology. The Guide first introduces concepts and definitions related to EPAs and then guidance for their identification, elaboration and validation, while clarifying common misunderstandings about EPAs. A matrix-mapping approach of combining EPAs with competencies is discussed, and related to existing concepts such as competency milestones. A specific section is devoted to entrustment decision-making as an inextricable part of working with EPAs. In using EPAs, assessment in the workplace is translated to entrustment decision-making for designated levels of permitted autonomy, ranging from acting under full supervision to providing supervision to a junior learner. A final section is devoted to the use of technology, including mobile devices and electronic portfolios to support feedback to trainees about their progress and to support entrustment decision-making by programme directors or clinical teams.

An Interprofessional Faculty Development Program for Workplace-Based Learning.

Background: Most faculty development programs in health professions education, pivotal in cultivating competent and effective teachers, focus on systematic, planned and formal learning opportunities. A large part of clinical teaching however, encompasses ad-hoc, informal and interprofessional workplace-based learning whereby individuals learn as part of everyday work activities. To fully harness the educational potential embedded in daily healthcare practices, prioritizing interprofessional faculty development for workplace-based learning is crucial. Approach: Utilizing the 'ADDIE' instructional design framework we developed, implemented and evaluated an interprofessional faculty development program for workplace-based learning. This program, encompassing seven formal training sessions each with a different theme and five individual workplace-based assignments, aimed to support clinical teachers in recognizing and optimizing informal learning. Outcomes: The pilot program (n = 10) and first two regular courses (n = 13 each) were evaluated using questionnaires containing Likert scale items and open textboxes for narrative comments. The quality and relevance of the program to the clinical work-place were highly appreciated. Additional valued elements included practical knowledge provided and tools for informal workplace-based teaching, the interprofessional aspect of the program and the workplace-based assignments. Since its development, the program has undergone minor revisions twice and has now become a successful interprofessional workplace-based alternative to existing faculty development programs. Reflection: This faculty development program addresses the specific needs of healthcare professionals teaching in clinical settings. It stands out by prioritizing informal learning, fostering collaboration, and supporting integration of formal training into daily practice, ensuring practical application of learned knowledge and skills. Furthermore, it emphasizes interprofessional teaching and learning, enhancing workplace environments.

Team- and task-related knowledge in shared mental models in operating room teams: A survey study.

Objective: The operating room is a highly complex environment, where patient care is delivered by interprofessional teams. Unfortunately, issues with communication and teamwork occur, potentially leading to patient harm. A shared mental model is one prerequisite to function effectively as a team, and consists of task- and team-related knowledge. We aimed to explore potential differences in task- and team-related knowledge between the different professions working in the operating room. The assessed team-related knowledge consisted of knowledge regarding other professions' training and work activities, and of perceived traits of a high-performing and underperforming colleague. Task-related knowledge was assessed by mapping the perceived allocation of responsibilities for certain tasks, using a Likert-type scale. Design: A single sample cross-sectional study. Setting: The study was performed in three hospitals in the Netherlands, one academic center and two regional teaching hospitals. Participants: 106 health care professionals participated, of four professions. Most respondents (77%) were certified professionals, the others were still in training. Results: Participants generally were well informed about each other's training and work activities and nearly everyone mentioned the importance of adequate communication and teamwork. Discrepancies were also observed. The other professions knew on average the least about the profession of anesthesiologists and most about the profession of surgeons. When assessing the responsibilities regarding tasks we found consensus in well-defined and/or protocolized tasks, but variation in less clearly defined tasks. Conclusions: Team- and task-related knowledge in the operating room team is reasonably well developed, but irregularly, with potentially crucial differences in knowledge related to patient care. Awareness of these discrepancies is the first step in further optimization of team performance.

Clinical supervision under pressure: a qualitative study amongst health care professionals working on the ICU during COVID-19.

PURPOSE: The unprecedented influx of patients in 2020 with COVID-19 to intensive care units (ICU) required redeployment of healthcare professionals without adequate previous ICU-training. In these extraordinary circumstances, pivotal elements of effective clinical supervision emerged. This study sets out to explore the nature, aspects and key features of supervision under highly demanding circumstances among certified and redeployed health-care professionals on COVID-19 ICUs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective qualitative, single center, semi-structured interview study among healthcare professionals at COVID-19 ICUs at University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands between July and December 2020. Interview data were analyzed using an inductive coding style. RESULTS: A total of 13 certified and 13 redeployed health'hcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, and operation room technicians participated. Seven themes were identified as essential for both certified (supervisors) and redeployed (trainees) personnel: an open attitude, observing boundaries, gauging coworkers' capacities, being available, providing feedback, continuity in care and teams, and combining supervision with workload. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides seven recommendations for both supervisors and trainees to help optimize clinical supervision. They align with the known five factors determining entrustment and supervision (trainee, supervisor, task, context, and relationship). To ensure good clinical supervision, be it either during normal circumstances or under pressure, efforts should primarily focus on factors that are within a supervisor or trainee's span of control. MESH: Clinical supervision, interprofessional, COVID-19, Intensive Care.

Occurrence, Risk Factors, and Consequences of Postoperative Ischemia After Glioma Resection: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative ischemia can lead to neurological deficits and is a known complication of glioma resection. There is inconsistency in documented incidence of ischemia after glioma resection, and the precise cause of ischemia is often unknown. OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of postoperative ischemia and neurological deficits after glioma resection and to evaluate their association with potential risk factors. METHODS: One hundred thirty-nine patients with 144 surgeries between January 2012 and September 2014 for World Health Organization (WHO) 2016 grade II-IV diffuse supratentorial gliomas with postoperative MRI within 72 hours were retrospectively included. Patient, tumor, and perioperative data were extracted from the electronic patient records. Occurrence of postoperative confluent ischemia, defined as new confluent areas of diffusion restriction, and new or worsened neurological deficits were analyzed univariably and multivariably using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Postoperative confluent ischemia was found in 64.6% of the cases. Occurrence of confluent ischemia was associated with an insular location ( P = .042) and intraoperative administration of vasopressors ( P = .024) in multivariable analysis. Glioma location in the temporal lobe was related to an absence of confluent ischemia ( P = .01). Any new or worsened neurological deficits occurred in 30.6% and 20.9% at discharge from the hospital and at first follow-up, respectively. Occurrence of ischemia was significantly associated with the presence of novel neurological deficits at discharge ( P = .013) and after 3 months ( P = .024). CONCLUSION: Postoperative ischemia and neurological deficit were significantly correlated. Intraoperative administration of vasopressors, insular glioma involvement, and absence of temporal lobe involvement were significantly associated with postoperative ischemia.

Early Surgery Prolongs Professional Activity in IDH Mutant Low-Grade Glioma Patients: A Policy Change Analysis.

Background: Until 2015, Dutch guidelines recommended follow-up and biopsy rather than surgery as initial care for suspected low-grade gliomas (LGG). Given evidence that surgery could extend patient survival, our center stopped following this guideline on January 1, 2010 and opted for early maximal safe resection of LGG. The effects of early surgery on the ability of patients to work remains little documented. Methods: A total of 104 patients operated on at our center between January 2000 and April 2013 and diagnosed with the WHO 2016 grade 2 astrocytoma, IDH mutant or oligodendroglioma, IDH mutant and deleted 1p19q were included. The clinical characteristics, survival, and work history of patients operated on before or after January 2010 were obtained from the patients' records and compared. The minimal follow-up was 8 years. Results: As per policy change, the interval between radiological diagnosis and first surgery decreased significantly after 2010. Likewise, before 2010, 25.8% of tumors were initially biopsied, 51.6% were resected under anesthesia, and 22.5% under awake conditions versus 14.3%, 23.8%, and 61.9% after this date (p < 0.001). The severity of permanent postoperative neurological deficits decreased after 2010. In total, 82.5% of the patients returned to work postoperatively before 2010 versus 100% after 2010. The postoperative control of epilepsy increased significantly after 2010 (74.4% vs. 47.9%). The median time from diagnosis to a definitive incapacity to work increased by more than 2 years after 2010 (88.7 vs. 62.2 months). Conclusion: A policy shift towards early aggressive surgical treatment of IDH mutant LGG is safe and prolongs the patients' ability to work.

Brain natriuretic peptide concentrations after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: relationship with hypovolemia and hyponatremia.

BACKGROUND: Hyponatremia and hypovolemia occur often after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and are associated with poor outcome. The authors investigated whether brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is related to hypovolemia and hyponatremia after SAH and whether it can differentiate between hypovolemic and non-hypovolemic hyponatremia. METHODS: In 58 SAH patients, the authors daily measured serum BNP and sodium concentrations, and circulating blood volume by means of pulse dye densitometry, during the initial 10 days. For each patient, mean BNP concentrations were calculated until occurrence of the following events: hyponatremia (Na <130 mmol/l), hypovolemia (blood volume <60 ml/kg), and severe hypovolemia (blood volume <50 ml/kg). The median day of onset of each event was calculated. In patients without an event, the authors calculated and used for comparison the mean BNP concentration until the median day of onset of the particular event. Odds Ratio's (OR) for high versus low mean BNP concentrations (dichotomized on median values per event) were calculated for the occurrence of each event and adjusted for relevant baseline characteristics. RESULTS: Patients with BNP above median more often had severe hypovolemia (adjusted OR 4.2, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.2-15.0) and showed a trend toward hyponatremia (adjusted OR 3.3, 95% CI 0.7-9.2). In the 12 hyponatremic patients, BNP could not differentiate between hypovolemic and non-hypovolemic hyponatremia. CONCLUSIONS: High BNP concentrations are related to the occurrence of severe hypovolemia and possibly hyponatremia. These data do not support a role for BNP measurements to differentiate between hypovolemic and non-hypovolemic hyponatremia in SAH patients.

The Implementation of Entrustable Professional Activities in Postgraduate Medical Education in the Netherlands: Rationale, Process, and Current Status.

Postgraduate medical education in the Netherlands has adopted competency-based education since the turn of the century. In 2006, the CanMEDS competency framework was introduced. A 2013 government plan to reduce the length and budgets of training programs led the Dutch Association of Medical Specialists (DAMS) to respond with a proposal to create more flexibility and individualization rather than a blunt cut in the length across all training programs. DAMS launched a government-funded, nation-wide, 4-year project (2014-2018) to blueprint the reform of postgraduate medical education in this direction. To achieve competency-based individualization, the fixed duration of postgraduate programs was abandoned, and entrustable professional activities (EPAs) were introduced in all specialty programs. Implementation of this new generation of programs took place in 2017-2019 in all disciplines. The project focused on EPA-based individualization of all programs, while addressing issues of the continuity of patient care in time-variable programs and the legal and regulatory consequences of individualization. About 30 specialty programs were revised at national, regional, local, and individual levels to incorporate EPAs; portfolio systems were adapted, clinical competency committees were installed for all programs, and procedures for summative entrustment decision making were elaborated. This paper reports on the rationale and the process that led to a more time-variable postgraduate education landscape, and, on average, a shortening of training length by 3 months.

Supervision, Interprofessional Collaboration, and Patient Safety in Intensive Care Units during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: To meet coronavirus disease (COVID-19) demands in the spring of 2020, many intensive care (IC) units (ICUs) required help of redeployed personnel working outside their regular scope of practice, causing an expansion and change of staffing ratios. Objective: How did this composite alternative ICU workforce experience supervision, interprofessional collaboration, and quality and safety of care under the unprecedented clinical circumstances at the height of the first pandemic wave as lived experiences uniquely captured during the first peak of the pandemic? Methods: An international, cross-sectional survey was conducted among physicians, nurses, and allied personnel deployed or redeployed to ICUs in Utrecht, New York, and Dublin from April to May of 2020. Data were analyzed separately for the three sites. Quantitative data were treated for descriptive statistics; qualitative data were analyzed thematically and combined for general interpretations. Results: On the basis of 234, 83, and 34 responses (response rates of 68%, 48%, and 41% in Utrecht, New York, and Dublin, respectively), we found that the amount of supervision and the quality and safety of care were perceived as being lower than usual but still acceptable. The working atmosphere was overwhelmingly felt to be collaborative and supportive. Where IC-certified nurse-to-patient ratios had decreased most (Utrecht), nurses voiced criticism about supervision and quality of care. Continuity within the work environment, team composition, and informal ("curbside") consultations were critical mediators of success. Conclusion: In the exceptional circumstances encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic, many ICUs were managed by a composite workforce of IC-certified and redeployed personnel. Although supervision is critical for safe care, supervisory roles were not clearly related to the amount of prior ICU experience. Vital for satisfaction with the quality of care was the span of control for those who assumed supervisory roles (i.e., the ratio of certified to noncertified personnel). Stable teams that matched less experienced personnel with more experienced personnel; a strong, interprofessional, collaborative atmosphere; a robust culture of informal consultation; and judicious, more flexible use of rules and regulations proved to be essential.

Pulmonary edema and blood volume after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a prospective observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary edema (PED) is a severe complication after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). PED is often treated with diuretics and a reduction in fluid intake, but this may cause intravascular volume depletion, which is associated with secondary ischemia after SAH. We prospectively studied intravascular volume in SAH patients with and without PED. METHODS: Circulating blood volume (CBV) was determined daily during the first 10 days after SAH by means of pulse dye densitometry. CBV of 60-80 ml/kg was considered normal. PED was diagnosed from clinical signs and characteristic bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on the chest radiograph. We compared CBV, cardiac index, and fluid balance between patients with and without PED with weighted linear regression, taking into account only measurements from the first day after SAH through to the day on which PED was diagnosed. Differences were adjusted for age, bodyweight, and clinical condition. RESULTS: In total, 102 patients were included, 17 of whom developed PED after a mean of 4 days after SAH. Patients developing PED had lower mean CBV (56.6 ml/kg) than did those without PED (66.8 ml/kg). The mean difference in CBV was -11.3 ml/kg (95% CI, -16.5 to -6.1); adjusted mean difference, -8.0 ml/kg (95% CI, -14.0 to -2.0). After adjusting, no differences were found in cardiac index or fluid balance between patients with and without PED. CONCLUSIONS: SAH patients developing pulmonary edema have a lower blood volume than do those without PED and are hypovolemic. Measures taken to counteract pulmonary edema must be balanced against the risk of worsening hypovolemia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NTR1255.

Simulation at the Frontier of the Zone of Proximal Development: A Test in Acute Care for Inexperienced Learners.

PURPOSE: Vygotsky's zone of proximal development (ZPD) refers to the space between what learners have mastered and what they should master in the next developmental stage. Physicians' tasks are ZPD activities for medical students, with high-acuity tasks such as resuscitation representing activities at the ZPD's frontier. This type of task can be taught and assessed with simulation but may be demanding and stressful for students. Highly challenging simulation may lead to a negative simulated patient outcome and can affect the participant's emotional state, learning, and motivation. This study aimed to increase understanding of the psychosocial and educational impact of simulation at the frontier of the ZPD. METHOD: The authors conducted 11 phenomenological interviews between September 2016 and May 2017, to describe medical students' experiences with a challenging residency-level simulation test of acute care competence at the start of the final undergraduate year at University Medical Center Utrecht. Interviews took place within 2 weeks after the participants' simulation experience. The authors analyzed transcripts using a modified Van Kaam method. RESULTS: Students experienced a significant amount of stress fueled by uncertainty about medical management, deterioration of critically ill simulated patients, and disappointment about their performance. Stress manifested mainly mentally, impeding cognitive function. Students reported that awareness of the practice setting, anticipation of poor performance, the debriefing, a safe environment, and the prospect of training opportunities regulated their emotional responses to stress. These stress-regulating factors turned stressful simulation into a motivating educational experience. CONCLUSIONS: Simulation at the ZPD's frontier evoked stress and generated negative emotions. However, stress-regulating factors transformed this activity into a positive and motivating experience.

Nurses' prediction of volume status after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: a prospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Patients who have suffered aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) often have derangements in blood volume, contributing to poor outcome. To guide fluid management, regular assessments of volume status must be conducted. We studied the ability of nursing staff to predict hypovolaemia or hypervolaemia, based on their interpretation of available haemodynamic data. METHODS: In a prospective cohort study, intensive care unit and medium care unit nurses, currently treating patients with recent SAH, were asked to predict present volume status. For their assessment they could use all available haemodynamic parameters (for example, heart rate, blood pressure, fluid balance). The nurses' assessments were compared with the actual circulating blood volume (CBV), as measured daily with pulse dye densitometry during the first 10 days after SAH. Normovolaemia was defined as a CBV of 60 to 80 ml/kg body weight; hypovolaemia as CBV under 60 ml/kg; severe hypovolaemia as CBV under 50 ml/kg and hypervolaemia as CBV above 80 ml/kg. RESULTS: A total of 350 combinations of volume predictions and CBV measurements were obtained in 43 patients. Prediction of hypovolaemia had a sensitivity of 0.10 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.06 to 0.16) and a positive predictive value of 0.37 (95% CI = 0.23 to 0.53) for actual hypovolaemia. The prediction of hypervolaemia had a sensitivity of 0.06 (95% CI = 0.01 to 0.16) and a positive predictive value of 0.06 (95% CI = 0.02 to 0.19) for actual hypervolaemia. Mean CBV was significantly lower in instances considered hypervolaemic than in instances considered normovolaemic. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of haemodynamic condition in patients with SAH by intensive care unit or medium care unit nurses does not adequately predict hypovolaemia or hypervolaemia, as measured using pulse dye densitometry. Fluid therapy after SAH may require guidance with more advanced techniques than interpretation of usual haemodynamic parameters.

Flexibility in Postgraduate Medical Training in the Netherlands.

Postgraduate medical training in the Netherlands has become increasingly individualized. In this article, the authors describe current practices for three residency programs at the University Medical Center Utrecht: anesthesiology, pediatrics, and ophthalmology. These programs are diverse yet share characteristics allowing for individualized residency training. New residents enter each program throughout the year, avoiding a large simultaneous influx of inexperienced doctors. The usual duration of each is five years. However, the actual duration of rotations or of the program as a whole can be reduced because of residents' previous medical experience or demonstration of early mastery of relevant competencies. If necessary, the duration of training can also increase.Although working hours are already restricted by the European Working Time Directive, most residents choose to train on a part-time basis. The length of their program then is extended proportionally. The extension period added for those residents training part-time can be used to develop specific competencies, complete an elective rotation or research, or explore a focus area. If the resident meets all training objectives before the extension period is completed, the program director can choose to shorten the program length. Recently, entrustable professional activities have been introduced to strengthen workplace-based assessment. The effects on program duration have yet to be demonstrated.Flexible postgraduate training is feasible. Although improving work-life balance for residents is a necessity, attention must be paid to ensuring that they gain the necessary experience and competencies and maintain continuity of care to ensure that high-quality patient care is provided.

An elective entrustable professional activity-based thematic final medical school year: an appreciative inquiry study among students, graduates, and supervisors.

PURPOSE: The transition from undergraduate to postgraduate training can be facilitated by offering electives that focus on increased patient care responsibilities. This transitional year model in the Netherlands has recently been expanded to offer packages of electives geared to specific residencies and was called "dedicated transitional year" (DTY). At University Medical Center Utrecht, an entrustable professional activity (EPA)-based multidisciplinary DTY in acute care (DTY-AC), rooted in self-determination theory (SDT), has been implemented. The current study aimed to understand strengths and challenges regarding the implementation of this specific DTY. METHODS: An explorative qualitative study among students, graduates, and faculty was conducted using an appreciative inquiry methodological approach. We gathered first-hand accounts of experiences with the DTY-AC in focus groups and interviews with students and interviews with graduates, supervisors, and mentors. Transcripts were analyzed with a directed content analysis approach. RESULTS: Participants found the DTY-AC to focus learning, offering coherence by clear learning objectives, aligned assessment, and teaching sessions and offering a congenial learning community. However, EPAs were not the focal point of workplace assessment and evaluation. Providing sufficient hands-on student engagement in actual acute care situations was another challenge. CONCLUSION: The concept of the thematic DTY is embraced, and it seems to help in meeting the SDT needs. Enhancing delivery in the workplace by improving formal implementation with information and faculty development, expanding EPA-focused workplace assessment, and extending hands-on experience of students could further unlock the potential of this final medical school year design. Our lessons learned may help in the development and implementation of similar programs, other models of DTYs, and final-year redesigns.

A Bayesian decision-support system for diagnosing ventilator-associated pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic performance of a Bayesian Decision-Support System (BDSS) for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). DESIGN: A previously developed BDSS, automatically obtaining patient data from patient information systems, provides likelihood predictions of VAP. In a prospectively studied cohort of 872 ICU patients, VAP was diagnosed by two infectious-disease specialists using a decision tree (reference diagnosis). After internal validation daily BDSS predictions were compared with the reference diagnosis. For data analysis two approaches were pursued: using BDSS predictions (a) for all 9422 patient days, and (b) only for the 238 days with presumed respiratory tract infections (RTI) according to the responsible physicians. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: 157 (66%) of 238 days with presumed RTI fulfilled criteria for VAP. In approach (a), median daily BDSS likelihood predictions for days with and without VAP were 77% [Interquartile range (IQR) = 56-91%] and 14% [IQR 5-42%, p < 0.001, Mann-Whitney U-test (MWU)], respectively. In receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis, optimal BDSS cut-off point for VAP was 46%, and with this cut-off point positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 6.1 and 99.6%, respectively [AUC = 0.857 (95% CI 0.827-0.888)]. In approach (b), optimal cut-off for VAP was 78%, and with this cut-off point PPV and NPV were 86 and 66%, respectively [AUC = 0.846 (95% CI 0.794-0.899)]. CONCLUSIONS: As compared with the reference diagnosis, the BDSS had good test characteristics for diagnosing VAP, and might become a useful tool for assisting ICU physicians, both for routinely daily assessment and in patients clinically suspected of having VAP. Empirical validation of its performance is now warranted.

Hypocalcaemia may reduce the beneficial effect of magnesium treatment in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

To assess whether magnesium treatment in patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is associated with hypocalcaemia and whether hypocalcaemia in these patients is associated with an increased risk of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) and poor outcome. All 137 patients randomized in the clinically controlled "Magnesium in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Haemorrhage" trial were included. The relationship between mean serum magnesium and mean serum calcium during treatment was assessed with linear regression. The relationship between hypocalcaemia (serum calcium < 2.0 mmol/L) during treatment and the occurrence of DCI and poor outcome was studied with the Cox proportional hazards method and logistic regression, respectively. There was a statistically significant inverse relation between elevated serum magnesium and hypocalcaemia (B = -0.27; 95% CI, -0.33 to -0.20; p < 0.001). Patients with hypocalcaemia during study treatment had an increased frequency of DCI (HR 2.1; 95% CI, 1.0 to 4.3), and an increased risk for poor outcome (OR 2.9; 95% CI, 1.4 to 6.4), but this effect attenuated in the multivariable analysis (OR 1.9; 95% CI, 0.8 to 4.7). In conclusion, prolonged elevated serum magnesium is associated with hypocalcaemia. Hypocalcaemia is associated with an increased risk of DCI and poor outcome and may therefore reduce the potential beneficial effect of magnesium treatment in SAH.