Massive open online courses (MOOCs) for long-distance education in geriatric medicine across Europe : A pilot project launched by the consortium of the project "Screening for Chronic Kidney Disease among Older People": SCOPE project.

PURPOSE: To cover the increasing need for professional knowledge, skills and competences in the care of older people, new learning techniques have been developed. Using the Internet to provide educational material has come into focus of many academic institutions as the learning content can easily be transferred to a larger audience. Since the first launch of a "massive open online course" (MOOC) in 2008, this educational format has raised increasing interest among education experts. The current publication provides insight into the new format of MOOCs in general and specifically describes a MOOC developed by a Pan-European Consortium "Screening for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) among Older People across Europe" (SCOPE), a project funded by the European Commission under the umbrella of the Horizon 2020 program. METHODS: Technical background, learning theories and content of the MOOC of the SCOPE project are presented in this overview. RESULTS: The MOOC of the SCOPE project is provided on the MOOC ICT platform iMoox. The courses are built up of video clips, textual descriptions, graphics, animations and audio designed with a clear structure and learning goals. The concise video clips with a maximum length of 15-20 min are equipped with additional learning material such as documents, links and asynchronous communication opportunities. CONCLUSION: MOOCs are recognized as a contemporary approach to transfer required knowledge and skills not only in general but also in geriatric medicine, as the health and social care environment is ever-changing and becoming more complex.

Estimated glomerular filtration rate and functional status among older people: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and functional status may change as a function of the equation used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We reviewed the predictive value of different eGFR equations in regard to frailty and disability outcomes. METHODS: We searched Pubmed from inception to March 2018 for studies investigating the association between eGFR and self-reported and/or objective measures of frailty or disability. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies were separately analysed. RESULTS: We included 16 studies, one of which reporting both cross-sectional and longitudinal data. Three out of 7 cross-sectional studies compared different eGFR equations in regard to their association with functional status: two studies showed that cystatin C-based, but not creatinine-based eGFR may be associated with hand-grip strength or frailty; another study showed that two different creatinine-based eGFR equations may be similarly associated with disability. Four out of 10 longitudinal studies provided comparative data: two studies reported similar association with disability for different creatinine-based eGFR equations; one study showed that creatinine-based eGFR was not associated with frailty, but a not significant trend for association was observed with cystatin C-based eGFR; one study showed that cystatin C-based but not creatinine-based eGFR may predict incident mobility disability, while both methods may predict gait speed decline. High heterogeneity was observed in regard to confounders included in reviewed studies. None of them included the most recently published equations. CONCLUSION: Available data do not support the superiority of one of the eGFR equations in terms of measuring or predicting functional decline.

Formación especializada en geriatría: normativa actual y opinión de los residentes / Geriatric post-graduate training: Current recommendations and opinion of the trainees

Objetivo: Evaluar el grado de cumplimiento de las recomendaciones del plan formativo para especialistas en geriatría y analizar el grado de satisfacción de los residentes de geriatría. Material y métodos: Se elaboró una encuesta incluyendo los siguientes apartados: filiación del residente, formación clínica, formación docente, formación en investigación, satisfacción y otros comentarios. La encuesta fue realizada en Survey Monkey y enviada a un residente de geriatría por hospital en marzo de 2014. La recogida de datos se realizó en marzo y abril de 2014. Resultados: Respondieron el 41% de los residentes de 23 unidades docentes en geriatría. En relación con el cumplimiento de las rotaciones recomendadas durante el período formativo básico se observaron tasas superiores al 95%, mientras que en aquellas referidas al período específico dicho porcentaje varía entre el 34% y el 69%, probablemente porque algunos residentes no han alcanzado aún el período en el que estas rotaciones están programadas. El 83% de los residentes puede realizar alguna rotación externa y el 90% cumple el número de guardias recomendadas. El número medio de sesiones a las que asistieron los residentes fue de 2,3 por semana y el de encuentros con el tutor de 2,5 por año. Durante todo el proceso formativo la media de comunicaciones a congresos fue de 3,7 por residente y la de publicaciones de 0,2. Así mismo, cada residente había acudido a 1,2 congresos nacionales, 0,3 europeos y 0,1 americanos. El 85% de los residentes se encontraba satisfecho o muy satisfecho con su formación. Conclusiones: Los planes formativos de los residentes en geriatría se cumplen en sus aspectos básicos y, aparentemente, no tanto en los específicos. El grado de satisfacción por parte del residente con la formación que reciben es muy alto. Las recomendaciones de actividades formativas dentro del propio servicio (sesiones, etc) se cumplen de forma muy limitada. La actividad investigadora medida a través de publicaciones y comunicaciones a congresos es escasa. A partir de estos resultados cabe reflexionar y establecer mejoras de cara al futuro (AU)

Objective: To evaluate the level of compliance with the official curriculum residence programme by geriatrics trainees, and to analyse their level of satisfaction. Material and methods: A questionnaire was developed including these sections: trainee filiation, and questions related to their clinical training, academic formation, research training, satisfaction, and other comments. The survey was performed in Survey Monkey and sent to a geriatric trainee per hospital in March 2014. The results were collected between March and April of 2014. Results: Responses were received from 41% of the trainees of 23 Geriatric Teaching Units. Rates of over 95% were observed as regards clinical rotations in the basic period, while in the specific period these percentages varied between 34% and 69%, probably because some of the trainees had not yet arrived at the period in which these rotations are programmed. An external rotation could be performed by 83% of the trainees, and 90% do the recommended number of shifts. The mean number of instruction sessions per week was 2.3, and the number of meetings with the tutor was 2.5 times per year. The median number of presentations in congresses was 3.7 per trainee, with 0.2 publications during training. Each trainee attended 1.2 national meetings, 0.3 European meetings, and 0.1 American. Most of the trainees (85%) were satisfied or very satisfied with their training. Conclusions: Geriatrics curricula for trainees are followed in the basic aspects, but not so much in the specific ones. The average level satisfaction of the trainees is very high. The recommended training activities within the specific department (sessions, etc.) are not always fulfilled. The research activity, evaluated by publications and presentations at meetings, is low. Following these data, reflection and the establishment of improvements are required in Geriatrics training at post-graduate level (AU)

[Geriatric post-graduate training: Current recommendations and opinion of the trainees]. / Formación especializada en geriatría: normativa actual y opinión de los residentes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of compliance with the official curriculum residence programme by geriatrics trainees, and to analyse their level of satisfaction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire was developed including these sections: trainee filiation, and questions related to their clinical training, academic formation, research training, satisfaction, and other comments. The survey was performed in Survey Monkey and sent to a geriatric trainee per hospital in March 2014. The results were collected between March and April of 2014. RESULTS: Responses were received from 41% of the trainees of 23 Geriatric Teaching Units. Rates of over 95% were observed as regards clinical rotations in the basic period, while in the specific period these percentages varied between 34% and 69%, probably because some of the trainees had not yet arrived at the period in which these rotations are programmed. An external rotation could be performed by 83% of the trainees, and 90% do the recommended number of shifts. The mean number of instruction sessions per week was 2.3, and the number of meetings with the tutor was 2.5 times per year. The median number of presentations in congresses was 3.7 per trainee, with 0.2 publications during training. Each trainee attended 1.2 national meetings, 0.3 European meetings, and 0.1 American. Most of the trainees (85%) were satisfied or very satisfied with their training. CONCLUSIONS: Geriatrics curricula for trainees are followed in the basic aspects, but not so much in the specific ones. The average level satisfaction of the trainees is very high. The recommended training activities within the specific department (sessions, etc.) are not always fulfilled. The research activity, evaluated by publications and presentations at meetings, is low. Following these data, reflection and the establishment of improvements are required in Geriatrics training at post-graduate level.