The Perceptions and Expectations of the Clinical Learning Environment in Saudi Arabia: a Multidisciplinary Study.

Background: The clinical learning environment is a fundamental component of healthcare education. In this setting, students can develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become competent and efficient healthcare practitioners. Due to the importance of clinically based education, it is crucial to have a valid and reliable tool to enable its evaluation. Objective: The aim of this study was to use the Clinical Learning Environment Inventory (CLEI) to examine the perceptions of Saudi undergraduate healthcare students regarding their actual and preferred clinical learning environment and explore the differences between the two viewpoints. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was utilised with a cohort of Saudi undergraduate healthcare students. Data regarding perceptions of the 'actual' and 'preferred' clinical learning environments were gathered with the Clinical Learning Environment Inventory tool. Results: A total of 194 students participated and nine healthcare disciplines were represented. The highest mean score for both 'actual' and 'preferred' clinical learning environment was for the subscale Task Orientation. Significant differences between 'actual' and 'preferred' environments were demonstrated for Innovation and Individualization, with both subscales scoring higher for the 'preferred' environment. All five subscales-Individualization, Innovation, Involvement, Personalization, and Task Orientation-appear to be important aspects contributing to student satisfaction with their clinical learning environment. Conclusion: Saudi healthcare students demonstrate a preference for a clinical learning environment with the utilization of new and interesting experiences, as well as recognition and accommodation of student individuality. Additionally, student satisfaction appears to be multifactorial in origin. Therefore, there may be many avenues available to enhance the clinical experiences of healthcare students, which is vitally important for the optimization of clinical learning opportunities.

Paramedic interactions with significant others during and after resuscitation and death of a patient.

BACKGROUND: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest often occurs at home, requiring paramedics to interact with family members and bystanders during resuscitation and inform them should the patient die. This study explores how paramedics navigate interactions and the changing needs of the patient and the bereaved. METHODS: Phenomenological methodology inspired individual, semi-structured interviews. Data was then coded using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Ten individual interviews with working paramedics with an average of 7.2 years of experience were analysed and resulted in four overarching themes. These themes encompassed communication goals and factors affecting their implementation. Four themes emerged: maximising patient outcome, minimising psychological trauma for significant others, paramedic engagement and communicating across cultures. Communication goals shift from maximising patient outcome to minimising psychological trauma for significant others during the resuscitation. Implementation of those goals is affected by paramedic engagement and communicating across cultures. CONCLUSIONS: Paramedics used communication techniques based on personal and professional experiences, attempting to navigate limited resources, factors affecting paramedic engagement and a perceived lack of education and support in matters of grief and death.

Pre-hospital guidelines for CPR-Induced Consciousness (CPRIC): A scoping review.

Background: CPR-Induced Consciousness is an emerging phenomenon with a paucity of consensus guidelines from peak resuscitative bodies. Local prehospital services have had to implement their own CPR-Induced Consciousness guidelines. This scoping review aims to identify prehospital CPR-Induced Consciousness guidelines and compare or contrast their management options. Objective: The purpose of this scoping review is to identify and compare as many prehospital CPR-Induced Consciousness guidelines as feasible, highlight common management trends, and discuss the factors that might impact CPR-Induced Consciousness guidelines and the management trends identified. Design: To search for prehospital CPR-Induced Consciousness guidelines, a bibliographical search of five databases was undertaken (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, Scopus, and CINAHL plus). Also included was a grey literature search arm, comprised of four search strategies: 1. Customised Google search, 2. Hand searching of targeted websites, 3. Grey literature databases, 4. Consultation with subject experts. Results: Our search extracted 23 prehospital CPR-Induced Consciousness guidelines and one good practise statement from the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation. Of the 23 prehospital guidelines available, we identified 20 different ways of treating CPR-Induced Consciousness. Midazolam was the most frequently used drug to treat CPR-Induced Consciousness (14/23, 61%), followed by Ketamine (11/23, 48%) and Fentanyl (9/23, 39%). Conclusion: Prehospital CPR-Induced Consciousness guidelines are both exceptionally uncommon and vary substantially from each other. This has a flow-on effect towards data collection and only serves to continue CPR-Induced Consciousness's relatively unknown status surrounding both knowledge of, and the effect CPR-Induced Consciousness treatment has on cardiac arrest outcomes.

A psychometric study of the Compassionate Love Scale for Humanity Short version (CLS-H-SF) within a paramedicine student cohort.

INTRODUCTION: There is a lack of research on compassion within paramedicine practice despite it being a fundamental component of healthcare. Existing studies have focussed primarily on the related concept of empathy. Additionally, the concept of common humanity has been suggested as a core component of compassion, and it informs the assessment scale utilised in the present study. METHODS: An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed on the 9-item Compassionate Love Scale for Humanity (CLS-H-SF), using a convenience sample of paramedicine students from an Australian university. RESULTS: A total of 225 students completed the study (55% response rate). EFA of the CLS-H-SF supported a one-factor solution with all items being retained and accounted for 53.26% of the total explained variance. The Cronbach alpha coefficient for the 9-items was α .909 indicating excellent internal consistency. DISCUSSION: Factor analysis supported results from a previous psychometric examination of the CLS-H-SF, indicating that the scale shows strong psychometric properties. The literature has also reported other abridged versions of the original 21-item scale; however, these have not been tested within a paramedicine cohort. CONCLUSION: This evaluation suggests that the CLS-H-SF demonstrates robust psychometric characteristics when used in an Australian paramedic student cohort. Although further examination is warranted, it appears that the CLS-H-SF may be a valuable tool to examine compassion within paramedicine students.

Saudi Healthcare Students' Perceptions and Beliefs About Immunizations: a Descriptive, Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Immunization has been one of the most successful public health measures ever undertaken. However, a degree of hesitancy about vaccine use still exists. Healthcare professionals are in a unique position to provide advice and education to the public and may influence the decision to undergo immunization. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore perceptions and beliefs regarding immunizations and immunization-preventable diseases. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken at the Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a survey of 564 Saudi undergraduate healthcare students was conducted. 77.8% of participants replied (439). Information was collected regarding perceptions of; severity of immunization-preventable diseases, contracting these diseases, immunization safety, and immunization beliefs. The statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS v25). Non-parametric analyses were utilized. Descriptive data were generated as appropriate, including frequencies, median, and inter-quartile range. Statistical relationships of demographic variables were explored using Kruskal Wallis H-Test and Spearman's Rank-Order Correlation. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Meningitis was perceived as the most severe disease and COVID-19 as having the highest likelihood of infection. Concern regarding vaccine side effects was most evident for the COVID-19 vaccine. Student year level and profession resulted in statistically significant differences for all three assessed perceptions. Substantial differences were also identified regarding views on immunization belief statements. Conclusion: This study identified considerable heterogeneity in Saudi healthcare students' perceptions and beliefs regarding immunization-preventable diseases and vaccination. Further education is required to produce well-informed and confident healthcare professionals around these issues.

Psychometric appraisal of the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) Arabic-version.

Interprofessional education within healthcare has been shown to have many benefits, however, it is a relatively new educational concept within the Arabic setting. Although the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale is a commonly utilised tool to examine student attitudes, there is a lack of evidence for use of an Arabic translated version. The aim of this study was to develop and psychometrically evaluate an Arabic language version of the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale with Saudi nurses. Two independent translators, proficient in both English and Arabic languages, completed a forward-backward translation of the original English version of the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale. Subsequently, this Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale-Arabic version was used to collect data from undergraduate nursing students enrolled at a number of Saudi Arabian universities. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses were then performed on the scale. Six hundred and fifty-two participants were recruited. Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale-Arabic version resulted in a 15-item, three-factor model. Subsequent analysis with Confirmatory Factor Analysis and the resultant final 13-item model demonstrated a poor fit between the hypothesized model and the data. Although our three-factor model is supported by previous studies, the proposed model did not perform well on Confirmatory Factor Analysis assessment. This suggests that there may be issues of applicability of the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale-Arabic version within the current cohort. The present study of the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale-Arabic version has demonstrated some psychometric inadequacies and thus it is possible that this scale may not be appropriate for use with Saudi nurses. However further research with different professional groups is suggested to fully explore its utility within the Saudi setting.

A bibliometric analysis of paramedicine publications using the Scopus database: 2010-2019.

BACKGROUND: Paramedicine is an evolving profession undergoing increases in scholarly activity and peer-reviewed publications. This study aims to complete the first extensive bibliometric examination of the worldwide paramedicine literature. METHOD: Scopus was utilised to search for paramedicine-based articles published in peer-reviewed journals between 2010 and 2019 inclusive. The included articles were examined for citation count, journal, journal quartile, country of origin, university affiliation, collaboration, and topic. RESULTS: Paramedicine-based publications have steadily increased and are predominantly published in prehospital or emergency healthcare journals. The majority of highly cited authors were located in Australia; however, only one of these authors was identified as a paramedic. Monash University (Australia) was the most productive institution (11.7% of total articles) and collaboration was mostly within national boundaries (53.2%). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the progressive increase in paramedic scholarly activity over the past decade. Although a large number of articles originate from two countries (Australia and the USA) and one university, numerous nations and institutions are contributing to this body of knowledge. The growing literature base is indicative of the evolution of paramedicine; however, the high level of non-paramedic authors suggests the opportunity for further scholarly development within the paramedic discipline.

Perceptions of Australian paramedicine students on a novel multi-modal, skills-based intimate partner violence training: A qualitative, exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence is a global problem with significant adverse sequelae. Healthcare education in this area is limited, and healthcare students and professionals generally lack the confidence to communicate with, and clinically manage patients experiencing intimate partner violence. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the perceptions of undergraduate paramedicine students about intimate partner violence and its management, and intimate partner violence education. DESIGN: A qualitative, exploratory study. SETTING: An Australian undergraduate paramedicine program. PARTICIPANTS: Second- and third-year paramedicine students. METHODS: Second-year paramedicine students were provided with intimate partner violence information in the form of relevant literature, a lecture and an online educational package, and a group clinical scenario session. Third-year students were not offered this information or experience. Both 2nd and 3rd year students then participated in a one-on-one clinical scenario with a standardised patient. The students interviewed the patient regarding health concerns, with appropriate questioning eliciting intimate partner violence disclosure. Subsequently, focus groups examined students' views regarding intimate partner violence management and education. Focus group transcripts were thematically analysed. RESULTS: Twelve students participated in a standardised patient one-on-one clinical scenario and nine of these students took part in focus groups. Four major themes were identified from the focus groups: i) confidence, ii) uncertainty-what to do now? iii) value of intimate partner violence education, and iv) future of intimate partner violence education. The discourse around lack of confidence appeared to be more pronounced in the students who had not received the intimate partner violence educational package. CONCLUSION: The inclusion of a multi-modal intimate partner violence education package, including the utilisation of a standardised patient can be useful in improving paramedicine student confidence to interact with and manage patients impacted by intimate partner violence. Students value this education and are supportive of its incorporation in undergraduate paramedicine programs.

Top 100 cited paramedicine papers: A bibliometric study.

OBJECTIVE: Understanding the impact different journal articles have in any academic field is important - particularly in emerging professions. A bibliometric analysis like this does not yet exist for paramedicine, despite the rapid increase in its primary literature. The objective of the present study was to identify and analyse the 100 top-cited articles about paramedicine. METHODS: We searched the Scopus database in August 2020 for studies relating to paramedicine. After screening titles and abstracts, we extracted the citation count, journal name, publication year, and country of origin. We manually assessed whether the study was clinical or not, noted the sex of the authors, the profession of first and last authors and the study design used. RESULTS: The median citation count for the top 100 papers in paramedicine was 58 (interquartile range 46-84 citations). The articles were published across 48 different journals, with Resuscitation and Prehospital Emergency Care being the two most frequent. The top-cited paramedic papers originated from 16 different countries and were written predominantly by medical doctors. Three quarters (73%) of the studies had a clinical focus, and a quarter (26%) were randomised controlled trials. CONCLUSIONS: The evolution of paramedicine towards professionalism is backed up by the growth of its own body of knowledge. This analysis of the 100 most cited studies in paramedicine is the first of its kind and highlights that paramedicine articles have a high citation count and are published across numerous journals, but with a relative lack of contribution from paramedic practitioners and female researchers.

The Definition of Paramedicine: An International Delphi Study.

INTRODUCTION: Although paramedicine is an integral element of healthcare systems, there is a lack of universal consensus on its definition. This study aimed to derive a global consensus definition of paramedicine. METHODS: Key attributes pertaining to paramedicine were identified from existing definitions within the literature. Utilising text analysis, common attribute themes were identified and six initial domains were developed. These domains formed the basis for a four-round Delphi study with a panel of 58 global experts within paramedicine to develop an international consensus definition. RESULTS: Response rates across the study varied from 96.6% (round 1) to 63.8% (round 4). Participant feedback on appropriate attributes to include in the definition reflected the high level of specialized clinical care inherent within paramedicine, and its status as an essential element of healthcare systems. In addition, the results highlighted the extensive range of paramedicine capabilities and roles, and the diverse environments within which paramedics work. CONCLUSION: Delphi methodology was utilized to develop a global consensus definition of paramedicine. This definition is as follows: paramedicine is a domain of practice and health profession that specialises across a range of settings including, but not limited to, emergency and primary care. Paramedics work in a variety of clinical settings such as emergency medical services, ambulance services, hospitals and clinics as well as non-clinical roles, such as education, leadership, public health and research. Paramedics possess complex knowledge and skills, a broad scope of practice and are an essential part of the healthcare system. Depending on location, paramedics may practice under medical direction or independently, often in unscheduled, unpredictable or dynamic settings. We believe that the generation and provision of this consensus definition is essential to enable the further development and maturation of the discipline of paramedicine.

Empathy in Japanese paramedicine students: A cross-sectional study.

Empathy is an important characteristic for healthcare students and professionals that may improve the quality of healthcare interactions. Empathy has predominantly been studied within medicine, but also among various allied health personnel. Within paramedicine, empathy has previously been examined internationally, but not within Japan. This study used a descriptive, cross-sectional methodology which aimed to examine self-reported empathy in Japanese paramedic students using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy, and compare results with similar international cohorts. Empathy levels in the Japanese cohort were higher among females compared to males. In addition, there was a decrease in empathy with each subsequent year of the paramedic program, and a general decrease as age increased. This contrasts with comparable Australian cohorts which demonstrate no significant change in empathy levels during the undergraduate program. Empathy levels measured in the Japanese paramedic cohort were generally lower than for Australian cohorts. The reasons for the differences are unclear at present and thus further research in this area is required to fully determine and describe the contributing factors.

A systematic review of psychometric assessment of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy using the COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist.

INTRODUCTION: Empathic communication in health care may enhance positive patient and health care professional relationships, patient satisfaction and can buffer professional burnout. The Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) was developed based on the need to quantitatively measure levels of empathy, particularly in health care settings. Evaluating the utility of empathy is underpinned by the psychometric rigour of the instruments used to measure it. The aim of this study was to critically evaluate the current evidence on the measurement properties of the JSE. METHODS: Two reviewers independently searched six databases for papers describing psychometric assessment of the JSE from January 2000 to July 2018 inclusive. The studies were independently assessed for methodological quality using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) Risk of Bias checklist. RESULTS: The search strategy resulted in the retrieval of 985 papers, of which 59 were included in this study. The majority of papers reported on measures of structural validity and internal consistency, and it was in these areas which the highest quality of reporting was demonstrated. Additionally, there was a generally very good quality in reporting of convergent validity. Reliability, measurement error, cross-cultural validity were reported with less than optimum quality. CONCLUSION: The JSE demonstrates robust structural validity, internal consistency, and convergent validity. These measurement properties are generally well reported in the literature in studies of good methodological quality, and thus may be interpreted with relative confidence when used in empathy research. However, current evidence is limited for the properties of reliability, measurement error, and cross-cultural validity. Thus, a degree of caution should be considered in drawing conclusions when using the JSE with regard to these properties. It is recommended that future examinations of the JSE refer to the COSMIN guidelines to ensure complete and well-reported psychometric data are included.

Utility of leucocytes, inflammatory markers and pancreatic enzymes as indicators of gangrenous cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND: Acute cholecystitis is an emergency condition. If not promptly diagnosed and properly managed, the complication of gangrenous cholecystitis may develop, which may be a life-threatening complication. OBJECTIVES: The study aims to examine various characteristics and physiological parameters in patients diagnosed with acute cholecystitis to evaluate if significant predictive factors exist for the differential diagnosis of gangrenous cholecystitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study included patients with acute cholecystitis diagnosis, who presented to 'blinded for peer review' from 1 January 2010 to 1 January 2017. Parameters evaluated included liver function tests, complete cell count, C reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), amylase and lipase levels, as well as medical history, and presenting clinical signs. Cases were divided according to whether or not there was a histopathological diagnosis of gangrenous cholecystitis. RESULTS: A total of 186 (54.5%) female and 155 (45.5%) male cases were examined. Patients with gangrenous cholecystitis tended to be male, showed a significantly higher white cell count, higher neutrophil percentage, lower lymphocyte percentage and higher ESR compared with patients without gangrenous cholecystitis. However, serum amylase and lipase demonstrated no differential diagnostic utility CONCLUSION: Male patients with a high ESR level, high total leucocyte count with a relative high proportion of neutrophils and a low proportion of lymphocytes were found to be at increased risk of the presence of gangrenous cholecystitis.

Psychometric properties of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy: a COSMIN systematic review protocol.

BACKGROUND: Empathy is an important characteristic to possess for healthcare professionals. It has been found to improve communication between professionals and patients and to improve clinical health outcomes. The Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) was developed to measure this quality and has been used extensively, and psychometrically appraised, with a variety of cohorts and in different cultural environments. However, no study has been undertaken to systematically examine the methodological quality of studies which have assessed psychometric factors of the JSE. This systematic review will examine the quality of published papers that have reported on psychometric factors of the JSE. METHODS: A systematic review of studies which report on the psychometric properties of the JSE will be conducted. We will use a predefined search strategy to identify studies meeting the following eligibility criteria: original data is reported on for at least one of the psychometric measurement properties described in the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) Risk of Bias checklist, examines the JSE in a healthcare cohort (using the student, physician or health profession versions of the JSE), and is published from January 2001 and in the English language. Conference abstracts, editorials and grey literature will be excluded. Six electronic databases (Medline, EMBASE, PsychInfo, PubMed, Web of Science and CINAHL) will be systematically searched for articles meeting these criteria and studies will be assessed for eligibility by two review authors. The methodological quality of included papers will be examined using the COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist. DISCUSSION: A narrative description of the findings will be presented along with summary tables. Recommendations for use of the JSE with various cohorts and circumstances will be offered which may inform future research in this field. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42018111412.

Research utilization barriers for emergency medical technicians in Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: Translation of research findings into clinical practice has potential to improve health care procedures, increase patient safety, and improve patient outcomes. However, low levels of evidence utilization in clinical practice have been widely reported. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this is also the case for emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to examine the barriers to the utilization of research findings within this cohort. METHODS: The BARRIERS scale was used to gather data from a convenience sample of EMTs in Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: The barriers most commonly rated as "great" or "moderate" were "Implications for practice are not made clear", "The relevant literature is not compiled in one place", and "The EMT feels the benefits of changing practice will be minimal". However, when responses were examined at a subscale level, reliability, as measured by Cronbach's α, was suboptimal (range 0.20-0.62). DISCUSSION: No similar study has been conducted within paramedicine to enable direct comparison of our results; however, the top barriers identified in the present study are also highly rated in some previous studies of nurse cohorts. The low reliability measures of the subscales may demonstrate the importance of context specificity when utilizing this scale and that further research is required to develop a reliable and valid tool for use within this cohort. CONCLUSION: The top 2 barriers identified indicate that there may be a need for improvement regarding communication of research evidence to Saudi EMTs. For future studies, translation of the BARRIERS scale may be useful. However, as these EMT courses are taught in English, careful consideration of cultural suitability and more subtle interpretation issues could also be appropriate. Once context-specific barriers are identified and examined, they may inform the development of effective strategies to increase the uptake of research evidence into Saudi EMT practice.

Exploration of difficult conversations among Australian paramedics.

Previous studies indicate that healthcare professionals find it challenging to engage in difficult conversations regarding concerning behavior of colleagues. As a result, these conversations are often avoided. The inability to have these difficult conversations is associated with poorer patient outcomes, staff commitment, discretionary effort, and employee satisfaction. This descriptive study used an online questionnaire to examine responses of paramedics employed by Ambulance Victoria (Australia) regarding difficult conversations between colleagues about concerning behavior of co-workers. The results suggest that, like other healthcare professions, many paramedics find it challenging to raise these concerns. To the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first study of its type to be undertaken within the paramedic profession and provides a platform for further research within this and other health professions.

Self-efficacy perceptions of interprofessional education and practice in undergraduate healthcare students.

Self-efficacy is an individual's perception of their ability to be successful in a given endeavour and it has been shown to have an important role in successful university education and clinical performance of healthcare workers. This article examines the self-efficacy beliefs of undergraduate healthcare students (n = 388) for the skills required for interprofessional education and interprofessional collaboration. The students were enrolled at an Australian university from the disciplines of public health, social work, and paramedic practice. The Self-Efficacy for Interprofessional Experiential Learning (SEIEL) scale, which is a valid and reliable scale, was used to determine the self-reported perceptions of self-efficacy in this cohort. The 16-item scale was developed for use with medicine and other healthcare professional undergraduate students. Student t-tests were used to compare scores between males and females, with one-way ANOVAs used to explore SEIEL scores across disciplines and year level. A significant difference was found between genders for the scores on SEIEL subscale 2 "Interprofessional evaluation and feedback" (p = 0.01) with the male mean being 2.65 units higher (Cohen's d = 0.29). There was also a significant gender difference for the overall SEIEL scale (p = 0.029) with the male mean being 4.1 units higher (Cohen's d = 0.238). No significant gender differences were demonstrated for the subscale "Interprofessional interaction." Neither subscale demonstrated significant differences between healthcare disciplines or course year. Further investigation is required to explore the reasons for the outcomes of this study. With the increasing importance of interprofessional education and practice within healthcare, it would also appear reasonable to consider further research into the development and support of student self-efficacy for the skills required for interprofessional education and interprofessional collaboration within healthcare curricula.

Simulation and mental health outcomes: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: A scoping review was conducted in order to map and determine the gaps in literature on the impact of simulation as an educational approach to improve mental health care outcomes. As it became apparent that no literature existed on this topic, the study aimed to examine the educational impact of simulation on mental health education. METHODS: An established five-stage scoping methodology was used: (1) identification of the research question, (2) identification of relevant studies, (3) study selection, (4) charting the data and (5) collation, summarising and reporting of results. CINAHL, ProQuest, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsychINFO databases were searched. These databases were deemed to represent a majority of the literature while accommodating for the particular search strategy used for this review. Websites that provide grey literature were also searched for articles of relevance. RESULTS: A total of 48 articles were included in this review, with a considerable portion of studies conducted in the USA and UK. Others were conducted in an array of locations including Australia, Canada, Iran and Taiwan. Of the included articles, seven groups of simulation methods (including standardised patients, virtual reality and manikins as patients) were evident, with standardised patients being most prominent. CONCLUSIONS: Literature is lacking to evidence the benefit of simulation on mental health patient outcomes. However, the available literature suggests a variety of simulation-based education, and training methods are currently being used within mental healthcare education. The findings do suggest some methods of simulation, such as the use of standardised patients, are more commonly used in education and have been deemed as effective to assist in mental health education. As no article specifically examining the mental health outcomes of patients treated by health professionals taught by simulation was identified, the educational outcomes outlined in this paper may be used to inform further research, incorporating mental health patient outcomes.

Interprofessional student teams augmenting service provision in residential aged care.

The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of student-led interprofessional consultations within residential aged care in augmenting patient care and enhancing student education. Volunteer fourth and final year health-care students conducted interprofessional consultations. In a mixed methods design, residents' health-care changes and perspectives were collected prospectively, and student and educator perceptions were measured by survey and interview. Sixteen aged care residents were consulted by interprofessional teams. Students identified two new health issues and proposed 17 recommendations for referrals and five changes to medication management. At six-weeks follow-up, two recommendations had been acted upon clinically, and two medication changes had been implemented. Reasons for the low uptake of recommendations were determined. Residents, students and educators reported high levels of satisfaction. Residential care facilities offer a useful interprofessional learning environment. Student consultations are positively regarded by patients, students and educators and may augment existing health services.

Chaperones for intimate examinations in family medicine: findings from a pilot study in Melbourne, Australia.

BACKGROUND: The use of medical chaperones during clinical examinations is important whether one practises as a specialist, nurse, medical student or generalist. Chaperone use in general practice remains largely unknown in most countries across the world and, what is known is limited to a handful of countries. Their use in Australian general practice remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: To explore the attitudes and practices of a cohort of general practitioners in urban Melbourne regarding the use of chaperones in their daily clinical practice. METHODS: Self-administered postal questionnaire to pilot group of general practitioners in urban Melbourne, Australia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of chaperone use; views on chaperone use itself; preferred choice for the role of chaperone; main reasons for using chaperones. RESULTS: The majority (95% respondents) had never or occasionally used a chaperone. The use of chaperones correlated with general practitioner gender - male general practitioners were more likely to use a chaperone. General practitioners preferred choice as chaperone was the practice nurse. There was no association found between chaperone use and the respondents' age, practice size or the availability of a practice nurse. The most highly rated influence by general practitioners for using a chaperone was because of anticipated patient embarrassment and/or distress. CONCLUSION: This is the first step in understanding attitudes and experiences of general practitioners in general practice in Australia. The results of a larger, national study would provide further insight into this important issue taking into account the realities of general practice in Australia and relationship between general practitioners and patients.