Teaching the tutors: use of an OSTE to train medical students to be peer tutors.

First-year medical students are often challenged by the rapid pace and large volume of content that must be learned. Peer teaching has emerged as a supportive educational strategy. However, the most effective strategies for training peer tutors (PTs) for their role are not known. This paper examines the use of an Objective Structured Teaching Exercise (OSTE) to augment PT training sessions. Applying deliberate practice as a conceptual framework, an OSTE was used to provide tutors with an opportunity to practice their skills and receive feedback about their performance when meeting with a student presenting with a challenge. The newly trained PTs were required to assess a standardized student, determine challenge(s) being experienced, and present options to address the challenge(s). Standardized students evaluated the tutors' performance and a pre- and post-OSTE questionnaire was used to determine whether the OSTE was effective in increasing the confidence level of PTs to effectively assess and support students seeking help. Participants reported an increase in confidence in their ability to assess areas requiring improvement, understand the active learning strategies, and suggest appropriate active learning study strategies. Evaluations completed by standardized students documented that newly trained PTs accurately diagnosed the challenge presented in the OSTE and in most cases PTs asked all relevant questions to assess. Increased self-efficacy promotes PT's capacity to perform their work and feedback during an OSTE can further advance required skills. Aggregate OSTE results can also inform efforts to enhance the PT training program.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This novel application of the Objective Structured Teaching Exercise (OSTE) was done to enhance tutors' skills as valued members of our integrated academic support program. The OSTE provided feedback to the tutors and enabled us to identify a need for enhanced tutor training in active learning strategies. The OSTE can be adapted for use in other health science educational programs to enhance their training programs and to assess tutor's skills in preparation for their role.

Exploring the Effectiveness of Problem-Based Learning in an International Undergraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences: Students' Satisfaction, Experience and Learning.

The systematic evaluation of the integration of problem-based learning (PBL) into educational programs in Italy is scarce and there are no published reports of its use in an Italian Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree program. This paper aims to assess the satisfaction of second-year students on an international Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree program after implementing two weeks of PBL with a multidisciplinary approach. Moreover, the impact of this methodological approach on the students' performance and their perceptions concerning their learning experience was investigated. The results showed that students expressed a high level of satisfaction and a positive attitude towards learning through PBL. A significant increase in the perception of students' soft skills was also found, based on self-evaluation. Moreover, a significant improvement was seen in the students' perception of their learning and teaching experiences and general life competencies, assessed using the validated questionnaire HowULearn. Negative effects were also identified, requiring further design modification of the tutors' feedback and pedagogical orchestration. Based on our findings, when planning bachelor's degree programs in veterinary science, PBL modules or activities should be considered to promote active learning, engagement among students, and the improvement of problem-solving and team-working skills.

Improving student success and retention in first-year nursing through embedded tutor support.

BACKGROUND: Nursing students from diverse or equity backgrounds are less likely to possess the required skills to ensure success in their studies. This research explores the impact of embedded support on student learning in a first-year foundational subject, Contexts of Nursing, in an undergraduate nursing degree.t. METHODS: The Embedded Tutor Program offers specialised tutoring support for first-year undergraduate students. Embedded tutors, with backgrounds as registered nurses and academics, provided online one-on-one feedback to students on draft assessment tasks. Outreach contact was provided to students at risk of failing. A Pearson's Chi-squared test was used to assess the impact of tutor support on grade distribution and a paired student t-test was used to assess the difference in cumulative marks for students from equity backgrounds. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Feedback provided by students, tutors and staff in an online anonymous survey was thematically analysed. RESULTS: There was a significant grade shift for the 267 students who met with an embedded tutor (p < 0.05). Students who were a member of an Australian Government identified equity group had a significant increase in their cumulative mark if they met with a tutor of 9-17 % (p < 0.05). This improvement in cumulative mark was maintained for students with cumulative equity factors. The overwhelming majority of students who were identified as at risk of failing and met with a tutor following outreach support received a passing grade. Students reported growing skills and confidence in academic literacy was a key benefit of the program. CONCLUSION: A shared approach to delivering education has a positive effect on the experience of learning. The combined efforts of the subject convenor, embedded tutors, and extended student service roles within the University resulted in outcomes that were positive for student learning. Determining student capacity for learning extended beyond a student's consideration of grades or their progression in the program to include the development of self-efficacy.

How to run successful tutor-training programs for radiographers: A systematic review and considerations for future perspectives.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare professions differ from each other, therefore need different approaches in teaching clinical practices. While teaching and learning designs for medical students are widely present on databases, few information is available for radiographers. The aim of this research is to define tools and knowledge needed to develop successful tutor-training programs that can be cross-cutting and inter-disciplinary for radiography profession, taking inspiration from other healthcare professions' programs since the paucity of evidence for radiographers. METHODS: A systematic review (PubMed/Embase) was performed according to the PRISMA checklist. Original articles on learning environment related to healthcare practitioners were included. Inclusion criteria comprehended articles covering design and frameworks of peer-assisted-learning (PAL) programs and training-the-trainer (TTT) curricula, skills required to become tutors, tips to install successful tutor-training programs along with benefits for tutors involved. From 1618 retrieved articles, after two selection rounds, 15 articles met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Out of the 15 articles, none is addressed to radiographers and only 7 % (1/15) to other healthcare professions, opposed to the 93 % (14/15) addressed to medical students. All articles discuss feedback providing, 66 % (10/15) debates which the best behaviour to maintain towards students is to maximize learning, and 46 % (7/15) inform about the importance of briefing and de-briefing activities. An identical percentage (46 %, 7/15) underlines the advantages of tutoring experiences. 11 articles (73 %) enhance that tutors aren't adequately trained to carry out tutoring activities. DISCUSSION: Through curricula designed on TTT and PAL programs, radiographers are provided with necessary teachings and frameworks to set up effective training paths. Few institutes promote educational tutor-training courses, even though these are beneficial both for tutors and students, consolidating professionals' knowledge and maximizing students' practical skills. CONCLUSION: Offering tutor-training curricula contributes to the development of radiographers as teachers, providing them with guiding principles to improve their formative skills towards future colleagues, therefore optimizing efficacy and effectiveness of programs.

Flow with an intelligent tutor: A latent variable modeling approach to tracking flow during artificial tutoring.

Increasing use of intelligent tutoring systems in education calls for analytic methods that can unravel students' learning behaviors. In this study, we explore a latent variable modeling approach for tracking learning flow during computer-interactive artificial tutoring. The study considers three models that give discrete profiles of a latent process: the (i) latent class model, (ii) latent transition model, and (iii) hidden Markov model. We illustrate application of each model using example log data from Cognitive Tutor Algebra I and suggest analytic procedures of drawing learning flow. Through experimental application, we show that the models can reveal substantive information about students' learning behaviors and have potential utility for describing the learning flow. The models differed in the assumptions and data constraints but yielded consistent findings on the flow states and interaction modalities. Based on our experiential analyses, we discuss strengths and limitations of the models and illuminate areas of future development.

Personal academic tutors (PATs): A student perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Personal academic tutors (PATs) have an important role in providing academic and non-academic support for university students. This study sought to assess the effectiveness of a PAT system developed for pharmacy students. METHODS: A student-led survey was developed using a mix of single answer, Likert-style scale, and free text responses. The questionnaire was peer reviewed by students and other researchers and was piloted before being made available online to pharmacy students. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-nine responses were received from students across all stages of the programme. In general, students expressed high levels of satisfaction with their PATs. Despite high levels of recognition of positive attributes of the PAT system, students had low levels of willingness to discuss personal issues with their PAT. Male students were more comfortable than female students in discussing personal issues. The level of comfort expressed by female participants was not significantly different with male or female PATs. Often students turn to friends and family who may provide advice that is unhelpful or outdated, particularly for issues such as poor mental health. Reasons for not speaking to PATs included concerns about being judged and academic records being affected. Worryingly, 18% of respondents (n = 28) had personal issues that had not been disclosed to anyone. CONCLUSIONS: Satisfaction with more traditional academic tutoring was high but the reluctance to discuss wellbeing issues was concerning. Further work involving the student body is planned to co-create strategies to overcome reluctance to discuss personal issues.

Construcción y validación de un instrumento para evaluar el desempeño pedagógico del tutor de Medicina General Integral

Introducción: Para evaluar resulta imprescindible la construcción de herramientas en función de establecer resultados medibles. Objetivo: Construir y validar un instrumento para evaluar el desempeño profesional pedagógico del tutor de la especialidad de Medicina General Integral. Materiales y métodos: Enfoque mixto, diseño transversal analítico. Métodos: teóricos: análisis y síntesis, inducción-deducción, enfoque sistémico; empíricos: análisis documental, encuesta a tutores y residentes, observación y criterio de expertos; estadísticos: estadística descriptiva (valores absolutos y porcentuales), coeficiente alfa de Cronbach, coeficiente W de Kendall. Procedimientos: parametrización y triangulación metodológica. Fases: revisión bibliográfica, parametrización, análisis de validez de contenido, confiabilidad y aplicabilidad. Resultados: Se elaboró un instrumento con tres dimensiones (cognoscitiva, procedimental y comportamental) y 19 indicadores. Se seleccionaron 15 expertos. Más del 70 % evaluaron los ítems según los criterios de Moriyama en la categoría Mucho. El cálculo del coeficiente W de Kendall sugirió una alta concordancia entre los jueces. El instrumento final contó con 18 ítems. El coeficiente alfa de Cronbach resultó en 0,83 (alta confiabilidad). Con su aplicación se identificaron siete problemas y seis potencialidades, lo cual demostró su validez en la práctica para el diagnóstico. Conclusiones: El instrumento construido evidenció buenas condiciones de validez teórica y práctica, lo cual permitirá direccionar las acciones de superación para los tutores de la especialidad de Medicina General Integral. También puede complementar la evaluación profesoral, al particularizar en el cumplimiento de las funciones del tutor.

Introduction: To evaluate, the construction of tools able to establish measurable results is essential. Objective: To build and validate an instrument to evaluate the professional pedagogical performance of the tutor of the Comprehensive General Medicine specialist. Materials and methods: Mixed approach, cross-sectional, analytical design. Theoretical methods: analysis and synthesis; induction-deduction; systemic approach. Empirical methods: documentary analysis; survey to tutors and residents; observation, and experts' judgment. Statistical methods: descriptive statistics (absolute and percentage value), Cronbach Alpha coefficient; Kendall's W coefficient. Procedures: parametrization and methodological triangulation. Phases: bibliographic review; parametrization; analysis of content validity; reliability, and applicability. Results: An instrument was developed with three dimensions (cognitive, procedural and behavioral) and 19 indicators. 15 experts were chosen. More than 70% evaluated the items according to Moriyama criteria in the category A lot. The calculation of the Kendall's W coefficient suggested a high concordance between judges. The final instrument had 18 items. Cronbach Alpha coefficient resulted in 0.83 (high reliability). With its application, seven problems and six potentialities were identified, which demonstrated its validity in practice for diagnostic. Conclusions: The built document showed good conditions of theoretical and practical validity, which will allow directing the training actions for the tutors in the specialty of Comprehensive General Medicine. It can also complement the professorial evaluation, by particularizing in the fulfillment of the tutor's functions.

Teaching-Learning Optimization Algorithm Based on the Cadre-Mass Relationship with Tutor Mechanism for Solving Complex Optimization Problems.

The teaching-learning-based optimization (TLBO) algorithm, which has gained popularity among scholars for addressing practical issues, suffers from several drawbacks including slow convergence speed, susceptibility to local optima, and suboptimal performance. To overcome these limitations, this paper presents a novel algorithm called the teaching-learning optimization algorithm, based on the cadre-mass relationship with the tutor mechanism (TLOCTO). Building upon the original teaching foundation, this algorithm incorporates the characteristics of class cadre settings and extracurricular learning institutions. It proposes a new learner strategy, cadre-mass relationship strategy, and tutor mechanism. The experimental results on 23 test functions and CEC-2020 benchmark functions demonstrate that the enhanced algorithm exhibits strong competitiveness in terms of convergence speed, solution accuracy, and robustness. Additionally, the superiority of the proposed algorithm over other popular optimizers is confirmed through the Wilcoxon signed rank-sum test. Furthermore, the algorithm's practical applicability is demonstrated by successfully applying it to three complex engineering design problems.

Alfaisal University's Academic Success Center: An Individualized Peer-Assisted Learning Program for Mutual Tutor-Student Advancement.

INTRODUCTION: Peer-assisted learning (PAL) is an educational strategy whereby students teach other students. PAL presents many advantages to the institution, tutors, and tutees. It can benefit the university by presenting a cost-effective approach where the efforts and time of faculty are reduced. We describe a retrospective analysis detailing the structure, function, and effectiveness of the Academic Success Center (ASC) at Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, since 2020. The ASC encompasses various types of PAL methods. It is the only PAL program in Saudi Arabia whereby its tutors, referred to as student consultants, are compensated financially. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the total number of appointments, the total number of students who accessed the center, as well as the breakdown between different colleges and academic years, and their satisfaction level with the PAL mode of teaching. RESULTS: Our results indicate a high level of appointments for these PAL sessions increasing on a yearly basis and a high level of satisfaction from both the tutors and the tutees. CONCLUSION: PAL is an effective teaching and mentoring modality with high retention rates that has contributed to an increased sense of well-being among students who have utilized these services.

The lecturer-tutor in undergraduate medical education; navigating complexity as "a recruiter, a timetabler, an administrator, a counsellor".

BACKGROUND: Tutors play an important role in the delivery of effective undergraduate medical education (UGME). These roles commonly involve competing clinical, educational and research commitments. We sought to obtain a rich description of these posts from doctors working in them. METHODS: We used a pragmatist, sequential explanatory mixed-methods design with a sampling frame of clinical lecturer/tutors in 5 Irish medical schools. Purposive sampling was used for recruitment. Quantitative data collected from a validated online questionnaire were used to inform a semi-structured interview question guide. Thematic analysis was conducted independently by each of the study researchers, using a coding frame derived in part from the findings of the online questionnaire. Quantitative and qualitative mixing occurred during data collection, analysis and reporting. RESULTS: 34 tutors completed the online survey with 7 volunteers for interview. Most respondents took the job to gain experience in either educational practice (79.4%) or in research (61.8%). Major themes to emerge were the diverse interactions with students, balancing multiple professional commitments, a high degree of role-autonomy, mis-perception of role by non-tutor colleagues, challenges around work-life balance and unpredictable work demands. Using a complexity theory lens, the tutor role was defined by its relational interactions with numerous stakeholders, all in the context of an environment that changed regularly and in an unpredictable manner. CONCLUSIONS: The undergraduate tutor works in a demanding role balancing educational and non-educational commitments with suboptimal senior guidance and feedback. The role is notable for its position within a complex adaptive system. An understanding of the system's interactions recognises the non-linearity of the role. Using a complex systems lens, we propose improvements to undergraduate education centred around the tutor.

The Effectiveness of Student-Led Musculoskeletal and Vascular Ultrasound Workshops at a Single Institution: A Retrospective Survey Analysis.

Introduction Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a rapidly evolving field of diagnostic medicine as its low cost, portability, and versatility have made handheld ultrasound (US) probes an invaluable tool for many modern physicians. Despite US's benefits as a bedside evaluative tool, many medical schools have not integrated POCUS into their pre-clerkship medical education due to a lack of equipment and faculty. The first objective of our study was to determine whether student tutors (STs) would be effective resources to teach musculoskeletal (MSK) and vascular US to preclinical medical students. The second objective of our study was to determine whether students who previously attended ST-run MSK US workshops perform better in vascular US than those who did not. Methods Six POCUS workshops were led by STs after approval from experienced US faculty. These included US workshops on gastrointestinal structures, forearm structures, joint structures, basic echocardiography, and US-guided IV access. We collected data from two of our six workshops. We developed surveys to gauge the confidence and ability of students to perform US after an MSK workshop and US-guided IV access workshop led by STs. We also measured students' US abilities and collected student feedback after our US-guided IV access workshop. We evaluated students' US competency in US-guided IV access via their ability to correctly position the US probe, angle the needle of insertion, move the probe with the needle, and access the vein based on the accuracy of the movements. We divided student results into two groups: students who previously attended the MSK workshop before attending the US-guided IV access workshop and students who did not attend the MSK workshop before attending the US-guided IV access workshop. We used averages, frequencies, and two-tailed t-tests to analyze the survey responses and US-guided IV access skill assessments. Results Fifty percent of first- and second-year surveyed students "agreed," and 32.4% "strongly agreed" that they felt confident using US after an ST-run MSK workshop. About 29.4% of surveyed students "agreed" and 41.2% "strongly agreed" that they felt comfortable explaining basic US concepts, such as proper probe positioning and echogenicity. The group of students who attended the MSK workshop prior to the peripheral IV workshop scored similarly to the students who did not attend the MSK workshop (14.33±1.03 versus 14.20±0.84 points). Both groups of students had an average of over 94% accuracy in technique, positioning, angling, moving the US probe, and achieving US-guided venous access after being taught by STs. Qualitative surveying noted positive student feedback, such as "Teacher was great at guiding us through the procedure." Survey responses also included suggestions on adding and diversifying equipment, such as "[It would be useful to have a] different type of needle to see the difference on ultrasound." Conclusion Based on the high percentages of accuracy and confidence, we found that STs were effective resources to teach MSK and vascular POCUS and that students who attended previous MSK ST-run US workshops had stronger vascular US ability over time compared to those who did not. Our data support the use of STs as US educational resources, especially in institutions without an existing pre-clerkship US curriculum and limited US resources.

satisfacción de la tutoría clínica de estudiantes de la especialidad de enfermería del adulto en estado crítico, en relación con el perfil del tutor clínico / Satisfaction with the clinical tutoring of students in the nursing specialty of critically ill adults, in relation to the profile of the clinical tutor / satisfação com a tutoria clínica de alunos da especialidade de enfermagem de adultos gravemente enfermos, em relação ao perfil do tutor clínico

Dentro del contexto universitario la tutoría pretende coadyuvar al estudiante al ingresar a programas de especialización como opción a titulación de su licenciatura. Por la importancia de ésta a nivel pedagógico es trascendental conocer la satisfacción a través de la percepción del estudiante, con relación al perfil de los tutores clínicos. Objetivo: Analizar el nivel de satisfacción de la tutoría clínica de estudiantes de la especialidad de enfermería del adulto en estado crítico respecto a sus características sociodemográficas y antecedentes académicos, en relación al perfil del tutor clínico. Estudio transversal-analítico, en estudiantes y académicos del Programa Único de Especialización de Enfermería, de la Especialidad del Adulto en Estado Crítico. Censo de 84 estudiantes y 15 tutores. Recolección a través del instrumento "Satisfacción de la tutoría clínica para enfermeras"; medida por funciones y dimensiones. El perfil del tutor clínico, a través del cuestionario académico-laboral. Satisfacción global percibida, media de 129.5 ± .569, de un máximo posible de 170 y grado de satisfacción alto 57%. A través del Coeficiente de correlación de Pearson, no existe relación lineal en dichas variables. (rp=.116, p=.304), sin embargo, sí existen diferencias significativas en la satisfacción percibida, según el género. (t=- 2.413, m=124, p = 0.019, F=53. 124 ± 22.6; M= 31; 138 ± 19.49), Replantear estrategias relativas al tipo de ingreso al programa y la estandarización óptima del índice tutor-alumno, pueden ayudar a la mejora de la satisfacción en la calidad de la tutoría clínica impartida en la especialización. Palabras Clave: tutoría clínica, estudiantes de enfermería.

Within the university context, the tutoring aims to assist the student when entering specialization programs as an option for a bachelor's degree. Due to the importance of this at the pedagogical level, it is transcendental to know the satisfaction through the perception of the student, in relation to the profile of the clinical tutors. Objective: To analyze the level of satisfaction of the clinical tutoring of students in the nursing specialty of critically ill adults with respect to their sociodemographic characteristics and academic background, in relation to the profile of the clinical tutor. Cross-analytical study, in students and academics of the Unique Nursing Specialization Program, of the Adult in Critical Condition Specialty. Census of 84 students and 15 tutors. Collection through the instrument "Satisfaction of clinical tutoring for nurses"; measured by functions and dimensions. The profile of the clinical tutor, through the academic-labor questionnaire. Perceived global satisfaction, average of 129.5 ± .569, out of a possible maximum of 170 and a high degree of satisfaction of 57%. Through the Pearson correlation coefficient, there is no linear relationship in these variables. (rp=.116, p=.304), however, there are significant differences in perceived satisfaction, according to gender. (t=- 2.413, m=124, p = 0.019, F=53. 124 ± 22.6; M= 31; 138 ± 19.49), Rethink strategies related to the type of admission to the program and the optimal standardization of the tutor-student ratio, They can help to improve satisfaction with the quality of the clinical tutoring provided in the specialization.

No contexto universitário, a tutoria visa auxiliar o aluno no ingresso em cursos de especialização como opção pelo bacharelado. Pela importância disso a nível pedagógico, é transcendental conhecer a satisfação pela percepção do aluno, em relação ao perfil dos tutores clínicos. Objetivo: Analisar o nível de satisfação da tutoria clínica dos alunos da especialidade de enfermagem de adultos gravemente enfermos quanto às suas características sociodemográficas e formação acadêmica, em relação ao perfil do tutor clínico. Estudo transversal analítico, em discentes e acadêmicos do Programa Único de Especialização em Enfermagem, da Especialidade Adulto em Estado Crítico. Censo de 84 alunos e 15 tutores. Recolha através do instrumento "Satisfação da tutoria clínica para enfermeiros"; medida por funções e dimensões. O perfil do tutor clínico, através do questionário acadêmico-laboral. Satisfação global percebida, média de 129,5 ± 0,569, de um máximo possível de 170 e alto grau de satisfação de 57%. Através do coeficiente de correlação de Pearson, não há relação linear entre essas variáveis. (rp=.116, p=.304), no entanto, existem diferenças significativas na satisfação percebida, de acordo com o sexo. (t=- 2,413, m=124, p = 0,019, F=53,124 ± 22,6; M= 31; 138 ± 19,49), Repensar estratégias relacionadas ao tipo de ingresso no programa e a padronização ideal do tutor- proporção de alunos, Eles podem ajudar a melhorar a satisfação com a qualidade da tutoria clínica fornecida na especialização.

Importancia social de la preparación pedagógica del tutor en la formación del médico general integral

Introducción: la figura del tutor es de vital importancia en la formación del especialista en medicina general integral. Objetivo: fundamentar la importancia del desempeño profesional pedagógico del tutor en la formación del especialista en medicina general integral en la sociedad cubana. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un análisis documental a partir de una búsqueda sobre el tema, de enero de 2020 a agosto de 2022, en las bases de datos PubMed y SciELO, y en el motor de búsqueda Google Académico. Se evaluaron artículos de revisión, de investigación y páginas web -en español, portugués e inglés- que hicieran referencia al tema a través del título. Fueron excluidos los artículos que no cumplieron con estas condiciones. Conclusiones: la medicina familiar es eminentemente social, por su objeto y misión en la comunidad, de ahí que garantizar la formación de profesionales integrales que involucren en su desarrollo los contenidos y habilidades de la especialidad, junto a valores y formas de actuación acorde con los principios de la sociedad socialista, supondrá una mayor resolutividad de los problemas de salud de la población y, por ende, una mayor calidad de vida.

Introduction: the figure of the tutor is of vital importance in the training of the specialist in comprehensive general medicine. Objective: to base the importance of the professional pedagogical performance in the training of the specialist in comprehensive general medicine in Cuban society. Materials and methods: a documental analysis was carried out froma search on the subject, from January 2020 to August in PubMed and SciELO databases and in the Google Scholar search engine. Review and research articles and web pages-in Spanish, Portuguese and English-that referred to the subject in the title were evaluated. Articles that did not meet this condition were excluded. Conclusions: family medicine is eminently social, due to its objective and mission in the community, hence guaranteeing the training of comprehensive professionals who involve the contents and skills of the specialty in their development, along with values and forms of action in accordance with the principles of the socialist society, will suppose a better resolution of the health problems of the population, and therefore, a better quality of life.

Style and influencing factors of tutors-postgraduates' interactions in Chinese medical colleges: a cross-sectional survey in Heilongjiang Province.

OBJECTIVES: This study assesses the style of tutor-postgraduate interactions in Chinese medical colleges and explores the association between postgraduates' demographic factors and tutors' demographic characteristics. METHODS: With the stratified sampling method, a cross-sectional online survey was used. A total of 813 medical postgraduates were recruited as participants, with an effective response rate of 85.49%. The two dimensions of "Professional Ability Interaction" and "Comprehensive Cultivation Interaction" in the self-developed "Instructor-Graduate Interaction Scale for Medical Colleges" were used as dependent variables. And tutors' demographic characteristics and postgraduates' demographic characteristics were taken as independent variables. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of Tutor-Postgraduates Interactions in medical colleges. RESULTS: The Tutor-Postgraduates Interaction scale consists of 14 items from the two dimensions of "Professional Ability Interaction" and "Comprehensive Cultivation Interaction". The results of the logistic regression analysis show the reasons for selecting the mentor students (industry recognition, the tutor's research direction, charm in attracting mentors, and recommendations for mentor selection); student to mentor satisfaction; student to study life satisfaction; and regular academic seminars. Indirect guidance and a high postgraduate grade high are the protective factors of interaction between tutors and postgraduates of medical colleges and universities postgraduates. Older mentors and more graduate tutors are the risk factors for Tutor-Postgraduates Interaction in medical colleges (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The current study proposes that managers should pay more attention to the double-track promotion of "Professional Ability Interaction" and "Comprehensive Cultivation Interaction". We should not only pay attention to the cultivation of postgraduates' professional ability but also pay more attention to the comprehensive cultivation including postgraduates' mental and psychological aspects. The interaction between tutors and postgraduates in medical colleges is generally good, but much attention should be given to the dual-track promotion mentioned above. Regular academic seminars play an important role in the process of postgraduate training. The research findings, including the influencing factors regarding tutor-postgraduate interactions, the Professional Ability Interaction and Comprehensive Cultivation Interaction, are very informative and can contribute to strategies for postgraduate management systems that enhance this relationship.

Multicenter randomized trial of carpal tunnel release with ultrasound guidance versus mini-open technique.

BACKGROUND: Comparative studies of carpal tunnel release with ultrasound guidance (CTR-US) vs. mini-open CTR (mOCTR) are limited, prompting development of this randomized trial to compare efficacy and safety of these techniques. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients were randomized (2:1) to CTR-US or mOCTR, treated by experienced hand surgeons (median previous cases: 12 CTR-US; 1000 mOCTR), and followed for 3 months. RESULTS: Among 149 randomized patients, 122 received CTR-US (n = 94) or mOCTR (n = 28). Mean incision length was 6 ± 2 mm in the wrist (CTR-US) vs. 22 ± 7 mm in the palm (mOCTR) (p < 0.001). Median time to return to daily activities (2 vs. 2 days; p = 0.81) and work (3 vs. 4 days; p = 0.61) were similar. Both groups reported statistically significant and clinically important improvements in Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire Symptom Severity and Functional Status Scales, Numeric Pain Scale, and EuroQoL-5 Dimension 5-Level, with no statistical differences between groups. Freedom from wound sensitivity and pain favored CTR-US (61.1% vs. 17.9%; p < 0.001). Adverse event rates were low in each group (2.1% vs. 3.6%; p = 0.55). CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy and safety of CTR-US were comparable to mOCTR despite less previous surgical experience with CTR-US. The choice of CTR technique should be determined by shared decision-making between patient and physician. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier is NCT05405218.

Preparing tutors for interprofessional peer-assisted learning in health professions education (Prep4TUT): A mixed-methods study protocol.

Peer tutorials - one form of peer-assisted learning (PAL) - are becoming increasingly important in health professions education (HPE). Student tutors usually undergo preparation to support learners in interactive and self-directed learning; however, it is unclear whether and to what extent tutors need special preparation to facilitate interprofessional PAL (iPAL) or what impact this preparation might have. To investigate these questions, a mixed-methods study is underway that consists of three sub-studies: (1) an online survey exploring current tutor preparation in Germany, (2) group discussions on training with iPAL tutors in Germany, and (3) interviews with international experts. The quantitative data are analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the qualitative data are analyzed thematically. This study will provide multi-perspective insights into tutor preparation for iPAL. Results may be used to support conclusions and stimulate debate on the didactic legitimacy and design of tutor preparation as well as to inform future research.

The whole-process tutor management system of residency training based on informatization / 中华医学教育探索杂志

The standardized residency training is an important stage in the training of physicians. Shanghai East Hospital has explored the system of the whole-process tutor management in the residency training. To explore the specific methods of carrying out the whole-process tutor training for residents in the whole hospital, gradually the whole-process tutor system is built with qualification certification, mutual selection of teachers and students, tutor empowerment, plan implementation and assessment and evaluation. Meanwhile, a supporting informatization platform is being developed to provide necessary tool support for the implementation and promotion of the whole-process tutor of residency training. And information tools are used to carry out implementation management, process optimization and quality monitoring, so as to form a closed management loop.

Does the clinical experience of a tutor influence how students learn extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (eFAST) is now an essential part of the primary survey of an emergency patient. The discrepancy between an increasing number of medical students and growing clinical commitments of lecturers is a major challenge in student teaching that needs to be resolved. The practice of using peers in the clinical education of medical students is a well-established tradition and commonly practiced but lacks definition in its implementation. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether the level of experience of the tutor affects the effectiveness of learning among students using eFAST during a clinical scenario. METHODS: A prospective randomized single-blinded controlled trial, where 168 medical students in the eighth semester were randomized into control and intervention groups. The control group received the 4-h standard ultrasound (US) tutorial from various resident doctors. All residents were at least stage-1-certified in ultrasound. The intervention group received the tutorial from trained peer teachers (TPTs). These TPTs were medical students who were qualified to teach the procedure. All students received an initial tutorial on basic ultrasound principles and a final lecture on recognizing pathological images. Students completed basic questionnaires requesting pre-existing US experience, theoretical and clinical application questions based on eFAST one day later and at the end of the semester. Students also completed a 6-min OSCE (Objective-Structured-Clinical-Exam) station involving clinical emergency scenarios. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent of participants had no previous eFAST experience. Early and later evaluation of the participants show no significant differences between both groups regarding the theoretical and the clinical application examinations, except the early phase OSCE results, which was not repeated in the late-stage results. CONCLUSIONS: Peer-teaching can be utilized to teach practical skills such as eFAST without a loss of clinical application skills. This relieves the burden of removing doctors from patient care situations and maintains teaching standards.

Students' opinions on tutor-supported comprehensive care training in clinical dental education.

Tutor-supported comprehensive care training at the University of Bern School of Dental Medicine (SDM) has been used for many years. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate dental students' opinions on tutor-supported training to identify key aspects of future course organisation that are important for students to achieve the minimum requirements for their graduation. A digital survey was developed and distributed among all fourth- and fifth-year dental students enrolled in the SDM in 2014 and 2016. A total of 28 (41.2%) and 21 (36.2%) students participated in the survey in 2014 and 2016, respectively. The average age of all respondents was 25.8 (±4.0) years. The proportion of females was 75% with no differences between groups, neither among classes nor years of the survey. The students felt well prepared following the bachelor's degree pre-clinical programme and a two-week introduction immediately preceding the clinical course. During clinical training, the students' experiences with their assigned tutors were positive even though waiting times for tutors during patient care as well as organisational efforts to manage attestations and logbooks were mentioned. For each discipline, patient assignment (ρ=0.54, p<0.0001) and frequently meeting with their tutors (ρ=0.56, p<0.0001) revealed the highest correlation with 1) achieving minimum requirements and 2) improving treatment planning skills in both fourth- and fifth-year dental students. In conclusion, tutor-supported comprehensive care training is well accepted by dental students while focusing on both patient assignment and frequent discussions with tutors may help students to better achieve minimum requirements in clinical dental education.

Comparing the Effectiveness and Image Quality of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound of First-Year Medical Students After Training by Student Tutors Versus Ultrasound Instructors: A Pilot Study.

Background Ultrasound is a vital part in many medical schools' curriculum. Although there is strong support for the use of student tutors (STs), there is a lack in gauging their effectiveness with more difficult organ systems such as the musculoskeletal (MSK) system. We aim to determine the effectiveness of using STs versus expert ultrasound instructors (UIs) when teaching MSK ultrasound. Methodology Medical students were recruited to participate in an MSK workshop to identify superficial volar arm structures (radial nerve, radial artery, median nerve, ulnar artery, ulnar nerve) using Butterfly iQ. In total, 14 participants were taught by STs and 10 participants were taught by UIs. Participants imaged the five structures and answered surveys gauging their confidence via five-point Likert scales. Results There was no significant difference in confidence or identification accuracy for all five structures between the two groups. However, there was a significant difference in confidence in the understanding of basic ultrasound concepts in favor of the UI group (p < 0.05). A greater number of students were more confident in identifying all five structures when taught by STs, but more students correctly identified the structures when taught by UIs. Conclusions The results on confidence could be due to positive peer perception. Both groups scored relatively high in their identification accuracies, promoting the successful use of STs. The successful use of STs in teaching MSK ultrasound opens the possibility to developing peer-led ultrasound curriculum on more complex ultrasound topics in the future.