Collaborative learning: Elements encouraging and hindering deep approach to learning and use of elaboration strategies.

AIM: The purpose of this research was to investigate students' approaches to learning and use of cognitive strategies in a collaborative learning environment with team-based learning. METHOD: In a mixed-methods study, 263 medical students from 6 different semesters answered the R-SPQ-2F Questionnaire and MSLQ's items that measure elaboration and rehearsal strategies. ANOVA was used to compare differences between semesters, and Pearson's correlation to investigate how approaches to learning, cognitive strategies, and academic achievement correlate. Focus groups elucidated which elements in the collaborative learning environment enhanced or hindered deep approach to learning or elaboration strategies and why. RESULTS: Students took a deep approach to learning and sometimes a surface approach. They used elaboration and rehearsal strategies. First semester's students had significantly higher deep approach than fifth and sixth semesters' students. Elaboration strategies significantly correlated with final grade. Commitment to the group, case discussions, feeling challenged by teachers, and patients' visits were perceived to enhance deep approach to learning and use of elaboration strategies, while overload in course activities hindered deep approach to learning. CONCLUSIONS: Particular elements of the learning environment triggered students to take deep approach to learning and use elaboration strategies, and this positively correlated to academic achievement.

First experience with multiple mini interview for medical school admission in Brazil: Does it work in a different cultural scenario?

PURPOSE: Evaluation of non-cognitive skills never has been used in Brazil. This study aims to evaluate Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) in the admission process of a School of Medicine in São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: The population of the study comprised 240 applicants summoned for the interviews, and 96 raters. MMI contributed to 25% of the applicants' final grade. Eight scenarios were created with the aim of evaluating different non-cognitive skills, each one had two raters. At the end of the interviews, the applicants and raters described their impressions about MMI. The reliability of the MMI was analyzed using the Theory of Generalization and Many-Facet Rasch Model (MFRM). RESULTS: The G-study showed that the general reliability of the process was satisfactory (coefficient G = 0.743). The MMI grades were not affected by the raters' profile, time of interview (p = 0.715), and randomization group (p = 0.353). The Rasch analysis showed that there was no misfitting effects or inconsistent stations or raters. A significant majority of the applicants (98%) and all the raters believed MMIs were important in selecting students with a more adequate profile to study medicine. CONCLUSIONS: The general reliability of the selection process was excellent, and it was fully accepted by the applicants and raters.

Tratamento do canal arterial persistente em neonatos prematuros: análise de 18 casos / Treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in neonate premature: analysis of 18 cases

A presente investigaçäo tem o propósito de analisar, retrospectivamente, os resultados obtidos em 18 pacientes neonatos prematuros, submetidos a operaçäo para oclusäo da PCA, no período entre julho de 1990 e dezembro de 1993 (42 meses), sendo 12 (66,6 por cento) pacientes do sexo feminino, com idade que variou entre 10 e 44 (20,8 mais ou menos 8,3)dias, idade gestacional entre 26 e 28 (27,1 mais ou menos 0,9) semanas. No dia da operaçäo o peso dos pacientes esteve compreendido entre 700 e 1380 (985,8 mais ou menos 181,6) gramas. A insuficiência respiratória ocorreu em todos os pacientes, sendo a principal indicaçäo cirúrgica, estando em 6 (33,3 por cento) pacientes associada à insuficiência cardíaca congestiva. A indometacina endovenosa foi utilizada no período pré-operatório em 9 (50 por cento) pacientes na tentativa de se obter o fechamento farmacológico, sem sucesso, do canal arterial e apesar de näo influenciar nos resultados pós-operatórios, apresentou como principal efeito secundário a reduçäo significativa da diurese (p,0,001), que se normalizou após quatro dias do uso da droga. A técnica operatória empregada fo a toracotomia póstero-lateral esquerda trans-pleural com fixaçäo de três ou quatro clipes metálicos para oclusäo do canal arterial. O exame ecocardiográfico pré-operatório, realizado em 15 (83,2 por cento) pacientes, mostrou que a relaçäo entre o diâmetro do átrio esquerdo/aorta estava aumentada com quatro meses após a operaçä, evidenciando tendência de normalizaçäo da funçäo cardíaca. Um (5,5 por cento) paciente apresentou reabertura do canal arterial no pós-operatório imediato, sendo submetido à reoperaçäo para ligadura do canal. Näo foi observada diferença significativa no tempo necessário de intubaçäo orotraqueal (IOT) (p=0.586) bem como do tempo de permanência com fraçäo inspiratória de oxigênio (FIO2), <40 por cento e >40 por cento,60 por cento no período pré e pós-operatório (p=0,841 e p=0,692, respectivamente), mas com reduçäo significativa do tempo de permanência com FIO2,60 por cento p=0,033). O período de internaçäo hospitalar variou de 43 a 157(96,0 mais ou menos 24,8)dias. Näo houve mortalidade operatória, observando-se ainda baixa morbidade com este método. As causas de óbito, no período pós-operatório, näo estiveram relacionadas com o tratamento cirúrgico. Pode-se concluir que a ligadura cirúrgica da PCA, nos pacientes neonatos e prematuros, é método eficaz e seguro, podendo ser praticado com baixa morbidade e mortalidade.