Offering effective feedback to trainees.

Effective feedback on performance is an integral part of clinical training. It allows the trainee to critically reflect on their development, as well as enable the teacher to chart progress and detect areas for development. In order to provide effective feedback, we need to take into account the performance itself, but also the setting where feedback is offered, and the expected outcomes of the encounter. As ever, negative feedback remains more difficult to give and receive, and as such requires a greater degree of delicacy to produce a positive result.

Simulation Training in Medical Education-an Exploration Through Different Theoretical Lenses.

Different theoretical frameworks offer specific, but separate, understandings of the same phenomenon. With the increasing use of simulation for training and assessment in medical education, it is vital to consider how different frameworks grant various insights into the pedagogical value of simulation. In this article, the author evaluated three exemplar theoretical frameworks, cultural-historical activity theory, cognitive load theory, and grounded theory, considering their ontological and epistemological stances, their limitations, and their application to simulation training. The greater understanding offered by this article will inform research design and interpretation of results, enabling a more theoretically poised construction of pedagogical techniques.

Systematic review of the implementation of audience response systems and their impact on participation and engagement in the education of healthcare professionals.

Background: Audience response system provides a mechanism to engage larger groups as active participants in teaching sessions. However, they are traditionally based on 'fixed' closed loop system, which limits their functionality to a single geographical location, thus has the effect of confining their use to universities and other larger institutions, with a primary focus on education. Conversely, in the healthcare education context, the majority of formal education is undertaken through postgraduate training programmes, largely conducted in smaller cohorts in clinical settings. Objective: The purpose of this review is to evaluate audience response systems in terms of feasibility of implementation and the impact on participation within the field of education of healthcare professionals, in comparison to the non-healthcare education. Study selection: Therefore, systematic structured searches of PubMed and Medline databases for healthcare education were conducted, and Scopus, Education Resources Information Center, British Education Index, Education Abstracts, Education Administration Abstracts and PsycINFO databases for non-healthcare education databases. Findings and conclusions: Consistent and fundamental differences were found in the studies evaluating healthcare education compared with other fields, with more difficulties encountered in implementation and a less significant impact on engagement seen. Here we discuss the consequences of these findings on the use of audience response systems and beyond.

Mentorship in Modern UK Surgical Training.

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Over the years, surgical training has been standardised and centralised with less emphasis on a mentorship style of training. However, having a consistent mentor during surgical training can overcome obstacles faced by trainees. It has been shown to improve career success as well as general well-being in a demanding and competitive specialty. Despite this, a mentor is not a mandatory part of surgical training with trainees struggling to identify a mentor in the present system. We suggest the introduction of a programme managed by regional deaneries which promotes the formation of a mentor and trainee relationship at the beginning of surgical training. We are confident this scheme has the potential of producing a technically able, healthy and well-rounded surgeon.

Spontaneous Atraumatic Mediastinal Hemorrhage: Challenging Management of a Life-Threatening Condition and Literature Review.

Spontaneous atraumatic mediastinal hematomas are rare. We present a case of a previously fit and well middle-aged lady who presented with acute breathlessness and an increasing neck swelling and spontaneous neck bruising. On plain chest radiograph, widening of the mediastinum was noted. The bruising was later confirmed to be secondary to mediastinal hematoma. This life-threatening diagnostic conundrum was managed conservatively with a multidisciplinary team approach involving upper gastrointestinal and thoracic surgeons, gastroenterologists, radiologists, intensivists, and hematologists along with a variety of diagnostic modalities. A review of literature is also presented to help surgeons manage such challenging and complicated cases.

A right inguinoscrotal swelling: the importance of histological analysis.

Myxofibrosarcoma of the spermatic cord is a rare condition. We present an unusual case of a 69-year-old gentleman who presented to the emergency department on two occasions with a right inguinoscrotal swelling. We will explore the diagnostic difficulties encountered and subsequent management. We will also highlight the importance of histological analysis when unexpected findings are encountered.