Achieving 'something that everybody has invested in': perspectives of diverse stakeholders during co-creation of a transition to residency curriculum.

Co-creation of education within the context of student inclusion alongside diverse stakeholders merits exploration. We studied the perspectives of students and teachers from different institutions who participated in co-creating a transition to residency curriculum. We conducted post-hoc in-depth interviews with 16 participants: final-year medical students, undergraduate, and postgraduate medical education stakeholders who were involved in the co-creation sessions. Findings build on the Framework of Stakeholders' Involvement in Co-creation and identify the four key components of co-creation with diverse faculty: immersion in positive feelings of inclusivity and appreciation, exchange of knowledge, engagement in a state of reflection and analysis, and translation of co-creation dialogues into intended outcomes. Despite power dynamics, participants valued open communication, constructive feedback, mutual respect, and effective moderation. The study broadened our understanding of the co-creation process in diverse stakeholder settings. Incorporating key elements in the presence of power relations can enrich co-creation by leveraging wider expertise.

What Matters Most: Determinants Associated with the Selection of Medical Residencies in Qatar.

Purpose: There have been several studies into medical student career decision making in occidental countries (eg US, UK), but medical career selection in a Middle Eastern context has not been as well studied. This study aims to explore determinants underpinning medical students' residency choice in Qatar. Patients and methods: During the Fall semester of the 2022-2023 academic year, all (n=358) medical students from the College of Medicine at Qatar University were invited to participate in an online explorative questionnaire about students' career choices and the factors determining their selection. Results: Of the 358 students, 184 responded (51%). Respondents had a mean age of 20 years; the majority were female (73.9%), Qatari (54.3%), unmarried (97.3%), and enrolled in a pre-clerkship year (55.0%). The most important career determinant was specialty-specific factors. The relative importance of other determinants differed by gender and stage of training. Among our respondents, male students were more likely to rate role models and influencers as being important to their choice, while female students and Qatari students overall were more likely to cite societal obligation. Medical students in Qatar seemed to have career preferences in mind upon entry into medical education. Later-year students were more likely to identify the importance of work-life balance and place of practice, but were less likely to rank prestige and income as an important determinant. Conclusion: The results of this baseline study suggest that socioeconomic and cultural context influence medical student career decisions.

Twelve tips to virtually operationalize co-creation of educational design.

Co-creation is the active involvement of all stakeholders, including students, in educational design processes to improve the quality of education by embodying inclusivity, transparency and empowerment. Virtual co-creation has the potential to expand the utility of co-creation as an inclusive approach by overcoming challenges regarding the practicality and availability of stakeholders, typically experienced in face-to-face co-creation. Drawing from the literature and our experiences of virtual co-creation activities in different educational contexts, this twelve tips paper provides guidelines on how to effectively operationalize co-creation in a virtual setting. Our proposed three-phased approach (preparation, conduction, follow-up) might help those aiming to virtually co-create courses and programs by involving stakeholders beyond institutes and across borders.

Is medical training solely to blame? Generational influences on the mental health of our medical trainees.

INTRODUCTION: The negative impact of medical training on trainee mental health continues to be a concern. Situated within a sociocultural milieu, Generation Z and Generation Y, defined by their highly involved parents and the widespread use of technology, currently dominate undergraduate and graduate medical education respectively. It is necessary to explore medical trainees' generational characteristics and job-related factors related to stress, burnout, depression, and resilience. This might provide different perspectives and potential solutions to medical trainees' mental health. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical trainees (students and residents) from two institutions in Qatar. A self-administered online survey included measures for trainees' social media overuse, their parent's parenting style, the educational support by the clinical teacher, job (demands, control, and support), and work-life balance and their relation with their stress, burnout, depression, and resilience. Relationships were tested with multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Of the 326 medical trainees who responded, 142 (44%) trainees - 93 students and 49 residents - completed all items and were included in the analysis. Social media overuse and inability to maintain a work-life balance were associated with higher levels of stress, depression, and student burnout. Higher levels of job support were associated with lower levels of stress, depression, and resident burnout, and a higher level of resilience. Job control was associated with lower burnout levels. Parenting style was unrelated to trainees' mental health. DISCUSSION: The two generations 'Y' and 'Z' dominating current medical training showed more stress-related complaints when there is evidence of social media overuse and failure to maintain a work-life balance, while job support counterbalances this, whereas parenting style showed no effect. Measures to enhance medical trainees' mental health may include education about the wise use of social media, encouraging spending more quality social time, and enhancing job support and job control.

It is not about the destination but the journey: A dive into student-staff partnership processes.

Student-staff partnership advocates the active involvement of students' voices in the design of education. Although the concept of student-staff partnership is rapidly gaining momentum in health professions education, the current practices are more outcome-focused and pay less attention to the partnership process itself. Students' involvement in most of the claimed partnerships has been viewed as input information to the educational design process rather than inviting them to the more pronounced role as partners. In this commentary, we elaborate on different levels of students' involvement in educational design, before highlighting the possible dynamics between students and staff in partnership. We propose five key features of dynamics involved in the process of real student-staff partnerships and a Process-Outcome Model for Student-staff Partnership. We advocate that moving beyond outcomes and diving deeper into the partnership processes is the way forward to establishing true student-staff partnerships.

The Pros and Cons of Use of Handheld Electronic Devices During Ward Rounds and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose: The exponential use of handheld electronic devices (HEDs) among healthcare providers has shown the potential to enhance clinical workflows and improve patient care. However, the challenges and risks of carrying these devices during ward rounds and their impact on postgraduate trainees' (PGTs') training in general and more specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic need to be explored. Methods: A cross-sectional mixed-methods online survey was conducted to evaluate the perceptions of trainees and faculty at Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International accredited residency and fellowships programs in Qatar on the use of HEDs on clinical workflow, trainees' education, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. One hundred and fifty-eight participants were enrolled in the study (87 postgraduate trainees and 71 faculty). Exploratory data analysis and descriptive statistics were performed using STATA version 12 and thematic analysis of 301 qualitative responses to the survey open-ended questions using Atlas. ti qualitative software, version 9.4.0. Results: Almost all PGTs, 83 (95.4%), and faculty 43 (62.3%) use HEDs during ward rounds. Accessibility of patient information by PGTs 73 (94.8%) and faculty 46 (84.4%) and work efficiency were the main perceived benefits. Hindering communication between team members, disruption of interaction with patients, increased risk of infection and breach of patient confidentiality were among the challenges associated with their use. Carrying devices reduced the frequency of hand hygiene practices and physical examinations of patients by trainees. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a decrease in the use of HEDs by both faculty [38(64%)] and PGTs [42(60%)]. Conclusion: HEDs' use is valued by both faculty and PGTs in enhancing workflow, trainees' education, patient experience, and patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Graduate medical education leaders should adopt measures to monitor their use during ward rounds as they can negatively impact trainees' education, reduce interaction with patients, increase the risk of infection, and breach patient confidentiality.

Sailing the boat together: Co-creation of a model for learning during transition.

PURPOSE: Medical students' transition to postgraduate training, given the complexity of new roles and responsibilities, requires the engagement of all involved stakeholders. This study aims to co-create a transition curriculum and determine the value of involving the key stakeholders throughout such transition in its design process. METHODS: We conducted a mixed-methods study involving faculty/leaders (undergraduate/postgraduate), final-year medical students, and chief residents. It commenced with eight co-creation sessions (CCS), qualitative results of which were used to draft a quantitative survey sent to non-participants, followed by two consensus-building CCS with the original participants. We applied thematic analysis for transcripts of all CCS, and mean scores with standard deviations for survey analysis. RESULTS: We identified five themes: adaptation, authenticity, autonomy, connectedness, and continuity, embedded in the foundation of a supportive environment, to constitute a Model of Learning during Transition (MOLT). Inclusion of various stakeholders and optimizing their representation brought rich perspectives to the design process. This was reinforced through active students' participation enabling a final consensus. CONCLUSIONS: Bringing perspectives of key stakeholders in the transition spectrum enriches transition curricula. The proposed MOLT can provide a guide for curriculum designers to optimize the final year of undergraduate medical training in preparing students for postgraduate training with essential competencies to be trained.

Do the selection criteria of internal medicine residency program predict resident performance?

BACKGROUND: Well-performing physician reflects the success of the residency program in selecting the best candidates for training. This study aimed to evaluate the selection criteria, mainly the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) results and applicants' status as international or locally trained applicants, used by the medical education department and the internal medicine residency program in Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar to predict the residents' performance during their training. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed for three batches of graduates who started residency training in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Each group completed 4 years of training. The USMLE Step 2 CK status of the applicant, in-training exam (ITE) scores, formative evaluation scores, Arab Board written and clinical exams pass rate, and other indicators were analyzed. Statistical analysis included chi squares and independent t-test to identify associations. Multivariable analyses were conducted using logistic and linear regressions to test for adjusted associations. RESULTS: The study included 118 (81 international/37 locally trained applicants) internal medicine residents. The ITE score correlated positively with the USMLE Step 2 CK score (r = 0.621, r = 0.587, r = 0.576, r = 0.571, p < 0.001) over the 4 years of training and among the international compared with locally trained applicants (p < 0.001). The rate of passing part 1 and 2 written exam of the Arab Board was higher in international than in local applicants, whereas clinical Arab Board exam and formative evaluation were not associated with any criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Higher USMLE Step 2 CK score correlated with better performance on ITE but not with other performance indicators, whereas international applicants did better in both ITE and Arab Board written exam than local applicants. These variables may provide reasonable predictors of well-performing physicians.

Evaluation of Progress of an ACGME-International Accredited Residency Program in Qatar.

Background: The American College of Physicians' (ACP) Internal Medicine In-Training Examination (IM-ITE) is designed to evaluate the cognitive knowledge of residents to aid them and program directors in evaluating the training experience. Objective: To determine the impact of the curriculum reform accompanied by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-I alignment and accreditation on the internal medicine residency program (IMRP) using residents' performance in the ACP's ITE from 2008 to 2016, and where the IMRP stands in comparison to all ACGME and ACGME-I accredited programs. Methods: This is a descriptive study conducted at a hospital-based IMRP in Doha, Qatar from 2008 to 2016. The study population is 1052 residents at all levels of training in IMRP. The ACP-generated ITE results of all the United States and ACGME-I accredited programs were compared with IM-ITE results in Qatar. These results were expressed in the total program average and the ranking percentile. Results: There is a progressive improvement in resident performance in Qatar as shown by the rise in total average program score from 52% in 2008 to 72% in 2016 and the sharp rise in percentile rank from 3rd percentile in 2008 to 93rd percentile in 2016 with a dramatic increase during the period 2013 to 2014 (from 32nd percentile to 73rd percentile), which represents the period of ACGME-I accreditation. None of the factors (ethnicity, USMLE or year of residency) were statistically significant with a p value >0.05 and standard coefficient ( - 0.017-0.495). There was negligible correlation between the USMLE test scores with the residents' ITE scores with a p value = 0.023 and a Pearson correlation r = 0.097. Conclusion: The initial ACGME-I alignment followed by the accreditation, together with whole curriculum redesign to a structured, competency-based program starting from 2008, has led to an improvement in the ITE scores in the IMRP. This was further evidenced by the lack of change in the residency entry selection criteria.

It is all about patients' stories: Case-based learning in residents' education.

Background: Problem-based learning (PBL) is an inquiry-based learning strategy which is learner centered and facilitates group discussion and critical thinking. Case-based learning (CBL), which is a more guided approach of PBL, enables students to learn within the context of patients and formulate their knowledge around patients' scenarios. Midweek (MW) activity is an important educational activity in the internal medicine residency program (IMRP). CBL has shown many benefits in postgraduate education. The aim of our study was to describe the implementation of a teaching resident's management of acute medical conditions encountered during their call utilizing the CBL format and to evaluate resident satisfaction with the new teaching style. Methods: This study describes the implementation of CBL in residents' education at the IMRP. CBL was introduced in five of the 10 acute medical sessions taught in the noon activity. A mixed-method study was employed using both a structured questionnaire and a focus group to compare the two methods to evaluate the residents' satisfaction and perception of knowledge acquisition. Results: The focus group discussion showed that sessions conducted in CBL format were more engaging, interactive, and resulted in better knowledge acquisition through sharing and peer-to-peer teaching than the traditional lecture format. Thirty-nine out of 83 (47%) residents ranging from PGY2 to PGY4 responded to the survey. Overall satisfaction with CBL was good. Sixty-four percent preferred it over the lecture format; 87% found that they did improve their knowledge; 84% agreed that they were excellent and more interactive. Seventy-nine percent stated that they would like to have this type of teaching in the MW activity sessions. Conclusion: Based on the present study, we conclude that incorporation of CBL resulted in more engagement, interaction, peer-to-peer education, and overall residents' satisfaction. The key elements for a successful implementation of this format are both instructors' and residents' orientation and careful selection of the case scenarios (problems) that trigger the learning process. Incorporation of various teaching strategies in residents' education is mandatory to enhance learning and create excellent educational experiences.

The current practice of mentoring across Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education - International accredited programs in Qatar from faculty and trainees perspectives.

PURPOSE: Mentoring plays a vital role in academic productivity, personal development, and career guidance for students, residents, fellows, and junior faculty. A culture of mentoring is spreading across residency and fellowship training programs in Hamad Medical Corporation, the main teaching tertiary care facility in Qatar. However, there is insufficient knowledge about the current practice of mentoring in these programs. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study by surveying all faculty and trainees in all residency and fellowship training programs in Qatar. Each completed a web-based questionnaire that asked about the current experience, self-efficacy and measures of improvement of the current practice of mentoring across training programs. RESULTS: A total of 393/650 faculty members (61%), 187/250 fellows (74%), and 405/650 residents (62%) responded to the two surveys. Most (74% of faculty members) reported being current mentors, while 67% of residents and fellows reported that they currently have mentors. Faculty who received training in mentoring and those who had an established formal mentoring program in their departments were more likely to enroll in mentoring than others (86%, P<0.01; 71%, P<0.05%, respectively). Trainees suggested that the two main areas to improve the current mentoring initiative in their departments were to develop a structured mentoring program and to train the mentors. Content analysis revealed participants' confusion differentiating between the terms mentoring and supervision. CONCLUSION: Based on the current study, many existing mentoring relationships have an evident confusion between supervision and mentoring roles. Developing structured mentoring program and training both faculty and trainees in mentoring is recommended to improve the current practice of mentoring within the training programs.

Predicting mortality of patients with cirrhosis admitted to medical intensive care unit: An experience of a single tertiary center.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Prognosis for patients with cirrhosis admitted to a medical intensive care unit (MICU) is poor and no previous studies have been published from Qatar or other countries in the region to investigate this issue. The objective of this study was to assess the predictors for in-hospital mortality and admission of cirrhotic patients to MICU in a single tertiary hospital in Qatar. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All adult cirrhotic MICU patients hospitalized from 2007 through 2012 to Hamad General Hospital-Qatar were included. We compared them to cirrhotic patients admitted to medical wards during same period of time. All data were recorded and analyzed with respect to demographic parameters, clinical features and laboratory as well as radiology characteristics on day one of admission to MICU. Cirrhosis diagnosis was established either with a liver biopsy or the combination of physical, laboratory and radiologic findings. Predictors of mortality were defined by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The cohort comprised 109 cirrhotic MICU patients (86.2% males), and their mean age±SD was 51.6±11.5. MICU-cirrhotic patients had longer hospital stays than medical wards-cirrhotic patients (p=0.01). Admission with severe hepatic encephalopathy, upper gastrointestinal bleeding and SOFA (Sepsis Related Organ Failure Assessment) score were the independent predicting factors for MICU admission. Mortality was higher for the MICU-cirrhotic group than medical wards group (27 (24.8%) deaths vs. 12 (5.3%) deaths, respectively, p=0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, older age>60years (p=0.04), APACH-II score (p=0.001) and MELD score (p=0.02) were independent predicting factors for overall mortality. CONCLUSION: Severe hepatic encephalopathy, upper gastrointestinal bleeding and SOFA score predict MICU admission of cirrhotic patients. Among MICU cirrhotic patients, older age, APACH-II score and MELD score predict mortality.