Comparison of conventional and wide field direct ophthalmoscopy on medical students' self-confidence for fundus examination: a 1-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Fundus examination is an easy, quick and effective way to diagnose sight- and life-threatening diseases. However, medical students and physicians report lack of proficiency and self-confidence in perform fundoscopy. The aim of this study was to compare students' self-confidence in fundus examination, using two different direct ophthalmoscopes, 1 month and 1 year after practical training. METHODS: In this prospective cohort, medical students (MS) of the same class were divided in small groups for PanOptic (PO) or conventional (CO) direct ophthalmoscope training. The intervention group encompassed MS of the 4th -year (class of 2019), and the control group encompassed MS of year behind (class of 2020). A questionnaire to measure self-confidence in fundoscopy technique assessing optic nerve, cup-to-disc ratio and macula was translated and validated to Portuguese, and applied 1-month and 1-year after practical training. RESULTS: One-hundred and sixty-seven MS were enrolled (35 PO group, 38 CO group, and 94 control group). PO group had a significantly higher overall self-confidence comparing either control or CO groups, respectively (3.57 ± 0.65 vs. 2.97 ± 1.03 vs. 2.46 ± 0.87, p < 0.01) as well as in evaluate cup-to-disc ratio (3.09 ± 0.75 vs. 2.32 ± 0.87 vs. 1.46 ± 0.81, p < 0.01), optic disc margins (3.26 ± 0.85 vs. 2.71 ± 0.96 vs. 2.01 ± 0.97, p < 0.01) and macula (3.43 ± 1.12 vs. 2.89 ± 1.08 vs. 2.02 ± 0.89, p < 0.01) 1-month after practical training. One-year after intervention, CO group showed a significantly higher score compared to PO group in overall self-confidence (3.31 ± 0.69 vs. 3.18 ± 0.73, p = 0.03) and in optic disc margins assessing (3.16 ± 0.85 vs. 2.95 ± 0.78, p = 0.03), but not significant in the evaluation of cup-to-disc ratio (2.78 ± 0.97 vs. 2.68 ± 0.94, p = 0.08), and macula (3.34 ± 0.79 vs. 3.27 ± 0.98, p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Students were more confident in use PO as an instrument to perform direct ophthalmoscopy immediately after practical training, but confidence level of CO was higher compared to PO one year after practical training. These findings would help medical schools decide which ophthalmoscope to choose to teach fundus examination.

Basic suture techniques for medicine students: comparative results according to training by surgeons versus peers.

OBJETIVO: Comparar la adquisición de habilidades básicas de sutura en estudiantes de medicina según la enseñanza práctica por cirujanos o por pares. MÉTODO: Estudio preexperimental antes y después. Se realizó un taller práctico de suturas para 46 estudiantes de medicina de octavo semestre de la Universidad de Concepción, entre noviembre y diciembre de 2017. Se distribuyó aleatoriamente a los participantes. La mitad de ellos fueron entrenados por cirujanos subespecialistas y la otra mitad por estudiantes de medicina (monitores de sutura). Se evaluaron la sutura continua y discontinua sobre un modelo biológico mediante la escala "The Objective Structured Assessment Of Technical Skills" (OSATS). Se aplicó una encuesta de satisfacción al finalizar el taller. Se comparan los resultados de la escala OSATS antes y después del taller. Se utilizó SPSS24â para el análisis estadístico mediante la prueba t de Student para muestras independientes, y se consideró significativo un valor de p < 0.05. RESULTADOS: Ambos grupos progresaron significativamente en la escala OSATS al comparar los resultados antes y después del taller: 13.0 vs. 26.0 (p < 0.001) para cirujanos y 16.8 vs. 28.0 (p < 0.001) para monitores de sutura. Los resultados después del taller no presentan diferencias significativas. CONCLUSIÓN: Los participantes adquieren habilidades básicas de sutura evidenciando una progresión significativa y similar grado de satisfacción independientemente de si son entrenados por cirujanos subespecialistas o por pares entrenados.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the acquisition of basic procedural suture skills in medical students according to practical teaching by surgeons versus peers. METHODS: Pre-experimental study before and after, a practical suture workshop was held for 46 eighth-semester medical students of the University of Concepción between November and December 2017. Participants were randomly distributed in such a way that half of them were trained by sub-specialists surgeons and the other by medical students (suture instructor). The continuous and discontinuous suture was evaluated on the biological model using the "the objective structured assessment of technical skills" (OSATS) scale. A satisfaction survey was applied at the end of the workshop. Results of the OSATS scale are compared before and after the workshop, SPSS24® was used for statistical analysis by Student's t-test for independent samples, considering significant p < 0.05. RESULTS: Both groups progressed significantly on the OSATS scale (13.0 vs. 26.0, p < 0.001 for surgeons and 16.8 vs. 27.9, p < 0.001 for suture instructors) when comparing pre- versus post-workshop results, respectively. The post-workshop results do not show significant differences. CONCLUSION: Participants acquire basic surgical suture skills evidencing significant progression and similar degree of satisfaction regardless of whether they are trained by subspecialist surgeons or trained peers.

International surgical clerkship rotation: perceptions and academic performance.

BACKGROUND: Concerns about international training experiences in medical school curricula include the effect on student learning. We studied the educational effect of an international elective integrated into a traditional third-year (M3) surgical clerkship. METHODS: A 1-week surgical elective in Haiti was available to M3 students during the conventional 8-week surgical clerkship each year for the 4 academic years 2008 to 2011. The authors collected student and surgeon perceptions of the elective using a mixed-methods web-based survey. Statistical analysis compared the academic performance of participating M3s relative to nonparticipating peers. RESULTS: Twenty-eight (100%) students (41 trip weeks) and 3 (75%) surgeons responded. Twenty-five (89%) students believed the elective provided appropriate clinical training. Surgeon responses were consistent with students' reported perceptions. Strengths included unique clinical experiences and close interactions with faculty. Criticisms included recurring overwhelming clinical responsibilities and lack of local provider involvement. Academic performance of participants versus nonparticipants in the same clerkship term were statistically insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the feasibility of integrating global health experiences into traditional medical student clinical curricula. The effects on less tangible attributes such as leadership skills, fostering teamwork, and cultural competency require future investigation.