Competency milestones for medical students: Design, implementation, and analysis at one medical school.

Competency-based assessment seeks to align measures of performance directly with desired learning outcomes based upon the needs of patients and the healthcare system. Recognizing that assessment methods profoundly influence student motivation and effort, it is critical to measure all desired aspects of performance throughout an individual's medical training. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) defined domains of competency for residency; the subsequent Milestones Project seeks to describe each learner's progress toward competence within each domain. Because the various clinical disciplines defined unique competencies and milestones within each domain, it is difficult for undergraduate medical education to adopt existing GME milestones language. This paper outlines the process undertaken by one medical school to design, implement and improve competency milestones for medical students. A team of assessment experts developed milestones for a set of focus competencies; these have now been monitored in medical students over two years. A unique digital dashboard enables individual, aggregate and longitudinal views of student progress by domain. Validation and continuous quality improvement cycles are based upon expert review, user feedback, and analysis of variation between students and between assessors. Experience to date indicates that milestone-based assessment has significant potential to guide the development of medical students.

Tracheostomy risk factors and outcomes after severe traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To determine risk factors associated with tracheostomy placement after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and subsequent outcomes among those who did and did not receive a tracheostomy. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study compared adult trauma patients with severe TBI (n = 583) who did and did not receive tracheostomy. A multivariable logistic regression model assessed the associations between age, sex, race, insurance status, admission GCS, AIS (Head, Face, Chest) and tracheostomy placement. Ordinal logistic regression models assessed tracheostomy's influence on ventilator days and ICU LOS. To limit immortal time bias, Cox proportional hazards models assessed mortality at 1, 3 and 12-months. RESULTS: In this multivariable model, younger age and private insurance were associated with increased probability of tracheostomy. AIS, ISS, GCS, race and sex were not risk factors for tracheostomy placement. Age showed a non-linear relationship with tracheostomy placement; likelihood peaked in the fourth decade and declined with age. Compared to uninsured patients, privately insured patients had an increased probability of receiving a tracheostomy (OR = 1.89 [95% CI = 1.09-3.23]). Mortality was higher in those without tracheostomy placement (HR = 4.92 [95% CI = 3.49-6.93]). Abbreviated injury scale-Head was an independent factor for time to death (HR = 2.53 [95% CI = 2.00-3.19]), but age, gender and insurance were not. CONCLUSIONS: Age and insurance status are independently associated with tracheostomy placement, but not with mortality after severe TBI. Tracheostomy placement is associated with increased survival after severe TBI.

Burst suppression on processed electroencephalography as a predictor of postcoma delirium in mechanically ventilated ICU patients.

OBJECTIVES: Many patients, due to a combination of illness and sedatives, spend a considerable amount of time in a comatose state that can include time in burst suppression. We sought to determine if burst suppression measured by processed electroencephalography during coma in sedative-exposed patients is a predictor of post-coma delirium during critical illness. DESIGN: Observational convenience sample cohort. SETTING: Medical and surgical ICUs in a tertiary care medical center. PATIENTS: Cohort of 124 mechanically ventilated ICU patients. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Depth of sedation was monitored twice daily using the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale and continuously monitored by processed electroencephalography. When noncomatose, patients were assessed for delirium twice daily using Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU. Multiple logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to assess associations between time in burst suppression and both prevalence and time to resolution of delirium, respectively, adjusting for time in deep sedation and a principal component score consisting of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score and cumulative doses of sedatives while comatose. Of the 124 patients enrolled and monitored, 55 patients either never had coma or never emerged from coma, yielding 69 patients for whom we performed these analyses; 42 of these 69 (61%) had post-coma delirium. Most patients had burst suppression during coma, although often short-lived (median [interquartile range] time in burst suppression, 6.4 [1-58] min). After adjusting for covariates, even this short time in burst suppression independently predicted a higher prevalence of post-coma delirium (odds ratio, 4.16; 95% CI, 1.27-13.62; p = 0.02) and a lower likelihood (delayed) resolution of delirium (hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.53-0.98; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Time in burst suppression during coma, as measured by processed electroencephalography, was an independent predictor of prevalence and time to resolution of postcoma/post-deep sedation delirium. These findings of this single-center investigation support lighter sedation strategies.

Patient enrollment onto clinical trials: the role of physician knowledge.

Sixty-six attending physicians at academic medical centers completed a 43-question self-assessment evaluating communication skills, comfort with clinical trial enrollment, and knowledge of patient-related barriers to enrollment on clinical trials. Responses and demographic information were analyzed for trends and for association with estimated trial enrollment. Physician-described enrollment of patients onto trials varied widely, with estimated enrollment varying from less than 5 patients to well over 125 enrolled during the previous year. Participants perceived themselves to have excellent communication skills and were comfortable with the trial enrollment process, though did not consistently identify patient-related barriers to enrollment. Physician knowledge of clinical trials currently enrolling within their field was associated with increased patient enrollment on study (p = 0.03). Academic physicians expressed confidence in their skills related to clinical trial enrollment despite less than ideal reported enrollment. Knowledge of clinical trials currently enrolling within a physician's specialty was associated with estimated patient enrollment, and may represent a correctable barrier to trial enrollment.

Evaluating the Role of Competency-Based Behavioral Interviewing in Holistic Medical School Admissions.

PROBLEM: Holistic review is a multifaceted concept that aims to increase diversity and applicant fit with program needs by complementing traditional academic requirements with appraisal of a wider range of personal characteristics and experiences. Behavioral interviewing has been practiced and studied in human resources, business, and organizational psychology for over 50 years. Its premise is that future performance can be anticipated from past actions. However, many of the interview approaches within the holistic framework are resource intensive and logistically challenging. APPROACH: The Vanderbilt University School of Medicine instituted a competency-based behavioral interview (CBBI) to augment the selection process in 2012. Behavioral interviews are based on key competencies needed for entering students and require applicants to reflect on their actual experiences and what they learned from them. The authors reviewed 5 years of experience (2015-2019) to evaluate how CBBI scores contributed to the overall assessment of applicants for admission. OUTCOMES: The final admission committee decision for each applicant was determined by reviewing multiple factors, with no single assessment determining the final score. The CBBI and summary interview scores showed a strong association (P < .005), suggesting that the summary interviewer, who had access to the full applicant file, and the CBBI interviewer, who did not, assessed similar strengths despite the 2 different approaches, or that the strengths assessed tracked in the same direction. Students whose 2 interview scores were not aligned were less likely to be accepted to the school. NEXT STEPS: The review raised awareness about the cultural aspects of interpreting the competencies and the need to expand our cultural framework throughout interviewer training. Findings indicate that CBBIs have the potential to reduce bias related to over-reliance on standardized metrics; however, additional innovation and research are needed.

A Graduate Medical Orientation Intervention Focused on Local Health Inequities.

Background: Residents must understand the social drivers of health in the communities they serve to deliver quality care. While resident orientation provides an opportunity to introduce residents to social and structural drivers of health, inequity, and care delivery relevant to the patient population in their new communities, many graduate medical education orientation curricula do not include this content. Objective: To report the development and implementation of a novel, patient-centered health equity orientation curriculum, including initial feasibility and acceptability data as well as preliminary self-reported outcomes. Methods: The curriculum was developed by academic faculty in collaboration with institutional and local health equity champions. Content centered on the history of inequities and racism within the local communities and included didactic presentations, asynchronous video, and virtual site visits to community resource groups. The curriculum was administered to all 2021 incoming Vanderbilt University Medical Center medical and surgical residents (N=270) over 2 half-days, both in-person and via Zoom. Data were collected anonymously via pre- and post-surveys. Results: A total of 216 residents (80% response rate) provided pre-survey response data, but only 138 residents (51.1%) provided post-survey data, including self-reported demographics (eg, underrepresented in medicine status) and level of agreement with 10 competency-based statements coded as pertaining to knowledge, skills, behaviors, or attitudes (KSBAs). Primary outcomes included improvement in residents' KSBAs from pre- to post-survey. The greatest increases in percentages occurred with content that was specific to local history and population. Conclusions: In a class of incoming residents, this study demonstrated feasibility, acceptability, and pre-post curriculum improvement in self-reported KSBAs when addressing health equity issues.

Use of individualized learning plans among fourth-year sub-interns in pediatrics and internal medicine.

BACKGROUND: Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs) are an effective tool for promoting self-directed learning among residents. However, no literature details ILP use among medical students. METHODS: Fifty fourth-year sub-interns in pediatrics and internal medicine created ILPs, including a self-assessment of strengths and weaknesses based on ACGME core competencies and the setting of learning objectives. During weekly follow-up meetings with faculty mentors and peers, students discussed challenges and revised goals. Upon completion of the rotation, students completed a survey of Likert-scale questions addressing satisfaction with and perceived utility of ILP components. RESULTS: Students most often self-identified strengths in the areas of Professionalism and Interpersonal and Communication Skills and weaknesses in Patient Care and Systems-Based Practice. Eighty-two percent set at least one learning objective in an identified area of weakness. Students expressed high confidence in their abilities to create achievable learning objectives and to generate strategies to meet those objectives. Students agreed that discussions during group meetings were meaningful, and they identified the setting learning objectives and weekly meetings as the most important elements of the exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Fourth-year sub-interns reported that ILPs helped them to accomplish rotation goals, with the setting of learning objectives and weekly discussions being the most useful elements.

Is early venous thromboembolism prophylaxis safe in trauma patients with intracranial hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are at high risk for venous thromboembolic sequelae; however, prophylaxis is often delayed because of the perceived risk of intracranial hemorrhagic exacerbation. The goal of this study was to determine whether enoxaparin for early venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis is safe for hemodynamically stable patients with TBIs. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study from a Level I Trauma Center of patients with TBIs receiving early (0-72 hours) or late (>72 hours) VTE prophylaxis. Inclusion criteria included evidence of acute intracranial hemorrhagic injury (IHI) on admission computed tomography, head/neck abbreviated injury score≥3, age≥16 years, and hospital length of stay≥72 hours. Exclusion criteria included intracranial pressure monitor/ventriculostomy, current systemic anticoagulation, pregnancy, coagulopathy, history of DVT, ongoing intra-abdominal hemorrhage 24 hours postadmission, and preexisting inferior vena cava filter. Progression of IHI defined as lesion expansion/new IHI on repeat computed tomography. RESULTS: Totally, 669 patients were identified: 268 early (40.1%) and 401 late (59.9%), with a mean injury severity score of 27.8±10.2 and 29.4±11, respectively. Head neck abbreviated injury score of 3 (47% vs. 34%), 4 (42% vs. 46%), 5 (11% vs. 19%), and 6 (0% vs. 1%) were reported for the early and late treatment groups, respectively. Mean time to prophylaxis was 2.77 days±0.49 days and 5.31 days±1.97 days. IHI progression before prophylaxis was 9.38% versus 17.41% (p<0.001) and after prophylaxis was 1.46% versus 1.54% (p>0.9). Proportions of proximal DVT were 1.5% versus 3.5% (p=0.117) and pulmonary embolism were 1.5% versus 2.2% (p=0.49). There were no differences in injury severity score, age, and pelvic and/or long bone fractures. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence that early VTE prophylaxis increases the rate of IHI progression in hemodynamically stable patients with TBIs. The natural rate of IHI progression observed is comparable with previous studies. Although not powered to detect differences in the incidence of DVT and pulmonary embolism, the data trend toward increased proportions of both VTE outcomes in the late group.

Intraoperative blood loss predicts hemorrhage-related reoperation after orthotopic liver transplantation.

Postoperative hemorrhage after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) may require early reoperative intervention. Previous studies have shown intraoperative transfusion requirement as a main determinant of reoperative intervention after OLT. The goal of this study was to develop an intraoperative hemorrhage model predicting need for reoperation after OLT. A single institution, retrospective review of adult primary OLT patients from January 2002 to 2008 was conducted. Multivariate logistical regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of reoperation due to postoperative hemorrhage. Secondary analysis was conducted on patients in the reoperation group managed with temporary open abdomen techniques. Four hundred and ten primary transplantations were performed with 59 patients (14.4%) requiring reoperation. The adjusted odds of reoperation when intraoperative blood loss (IBL) increases from 1.5 L to 10.0 L is 2.48 [95% confidence interval: (1.18, 5.31)]. IBL of 10.0 L predicts a 19.4 per cent probability of reoperation. Patients managed with open abdomen (n = 8) exhibited a significant IBL difference (16.0 L vs. 6.0 L, P < 0.001) when compared with the closed abdomen cohort. Our results indicate that intraoperative blood loss is the primary predictor of reoperation after OLT and provide a hemorrhage threshold to guide postoperative management of complicated OLT patients.

Improvements in medical school wellness and career counseling: A comparison of one-on-one advising to an Advisory College Program.

BACKGROUND: Medical students have unmet needs in the areas of career and wellness advising. AIMS: The goal of this study is to describe the development of an Advisory College Program (ACP) and assess its effectiveness compared to a traditional one-on-one faculty advisor system. METHODS: The ACP, consisting of four colleges co-led by Advisory College Directors and supported by key Faculty, was developed to provide structured career and wellness advising. The authors compared the ACP to the former Faculty Advisory Program (FAP) using two parallel questionnaires. RESULTS: Surveys were completed by 74% of first-year students, 60% of second-year students, and 88% of third-year students. Survey data demonstrated a significant increase in the number of students who could identify their advisor, the frequency of student-advisor contacts, and the perceived accessibility of advisors in the ACP compared to the FAP. While an ordinal logistic regression model did not demonstrate a significant effect of the new advising system on overall satisfaction, univariate analysis demonstrated a significant increase in student satisfaction with wellness and career counseling. CONCLUSIONS: The ACP was more effective in promoting student wellness and career counseling than the traditional one-on-one faculty advisor system. Similar college-based programs may be beneficial to students at other medical school programs.

Effects of Advanced Cardiac Procedure Simulator Training on Learning and Performance in Cardiovascular Medicine Fellows.

BACKGROUND: Simulation-based training has been used in medical training environments to facilitate the learning of surgical and minimally invasive techniques. We hypothesized that integration of a procedural simulation curriculum into a cardiology fellowship program may be educationally beneficial. METHODS: We conducted an 18-month prospective study of cardiology trainees at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Two consecutive classes of first-year fellows (n = 17) underwent a teaching protocol facilitated by simulated cases and equipment. We performed knowledge and skills evaluations for 3 procedures (transvenous pacing [TVP] wire, intra-aortic balloon pump [IABP], and pericardiocentesis [PC]). The index class of fellows was reevaluated at 18 months postintervention to measure retention. Using nonparametric statistical tests, we compared assessments of the intervention group, at the time of intervention and 18 months, with those of third-year fellows (n = 7) who did not receive simulator-based training. RESULTS: Compared with controls, the intervention cohort had higher scores on the postsimulator written assessment, TVP skills assessment, and IABP skills assessment (P = .04, .007, and .02, respectively). However, there was no statistically significant difference in scores on the PC skills assessment between intervention and control groups (P = .08). Skills assessment scores for the intervention group remained higher than the controls at 18 months (P = .01, .004, and .002 for TVP, IABP, and PC, respectively). Participation rate was 100% (24/24). CONCLUSIONS: Procedural simulation training may be an effective tool to enhance the acquisition of knowledge and technical skills for cardiology trainees. Future studies may address methods to improve performance retention over time.

Rheumatologic skills development: what are the needs of internal medicine residents?

Given the burden of rheumatic disease in our society and the anticipated future shortage of rheumatologists, all internal medicine (IM) residencies need to train internists who are capable of caring for patients with rheumatic diseases. The objective of this study was to perform a targeted needs assessment of the self-confidence of IM residents in the evaluation and care of patients with rheumatologic diseases. A 16-item, web-based, self-assessed confidence survey tool was administered to participating post graduate year (PGY)1 (N = 83) and PGY3 (N = 37) residents. The categories of questions included self-confidence in performing a rheumatologic history and exam, performing common rheumatologic procedures, ordering and interpreting rheumatologic laboratory tests, and caring for patients with common rheumatologic diseases. Resident demographics, prior rheumatology exposure, and career plans were also queried. PGY3 residents had higher self-assessed confidence than PGY1 residents in all categories. Self-assessed confidence in joint procedures was consistently low in both groups and when compared to other categories. Prior exposure to a rheumatology course or elective was not consistently associated with higher self-assessed confidence ratings across all categories. PGY3 residents showed less interest in rheumatology as a career than PGY1 residents, although the interest in the topic of rheumatology was not statistically different. Our needs assessment shows a low level of self-assessed confidence in rheumatology knowledge and skills among IM residents. Despite improvement with PGY year of training, self-assessed confidence remains low. To improve resident's skills and self-confidence in rheumatology, more curricular innovations are needed. Such innovations should be assessed for overall effectiveness.

Neurologic Functional and Quality of Life Outcomes after TBI: Clinic Attendees versus Non-Attendees.

This investigation describes the relationship between TBI patient demographics, quality of life outcome, and functional status outcome among clinic attendees and non-attendees. Of adult TBI survivors with intracranial hemorrhage, 63 attended our TBI clinic and 167 did not attend. All were telephone surveyed using the Extended-Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE), the Quality of Life after Brain Injury (QOLIBRI) scale, and a post-discharge therapy questionnaire. To determine risk factors for GOSE and QOLIBRI outcomes, we created multivariable regression models employing covariates of age, injury characteristics, clinic attendance, insurance status, post-discharge rehabilitation, and time from injury. Compared with those with severe TBI, higher GOSE scores were identified in individuals with both mild (odds ratio [OR]=2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-3.6) and moderate (OR=4.7; 95% CI: 1.6-14.1) TBIs. In addition, survivors with private insurance had higher GOSE scores, compared with those with public insurance (OR=2.0; 95% CI: 1.1-3.6), workers' compensation (OR=8.4; 95% CI: 2.6-26.9), and no insurance (OR=3.1; 95% CI: 1.6-6.2). Compared with those with severe TBI, QOLIBRI scores were 11.7 points (95% CI: 3.7-19.7) higher in survivors with mild TBI and 17.3 points (95% CI: 3.2-31.5) higher in survivors with moderate TBI. In addition, survivors who received post-discharge rehabilitation had higher QOLIBRI scores by 11.4 points (95% CI: 3.7-19.1) than those who did not. Survivors with private insurance had QOLIBRI scores that were 25.5 points higher (95% CI: 11.3-39.7) than those with workers' compensation and 16.8 points higher (95% CI: 7.4-26.2) than those without insurance. Because neurologic injury severity, insurance status, and receipt of rehabilitation or therapy are independent risk factors for functional and quality of life outcomes, future directions will include improving earlier access to post-TBI rehabilitation, social work services, affordable insurance, and community resources.

The role of the nonphysician educator in general surgery residency training: from outcome project and duty-hours restrictions to the next accreditation system and milestones.

OBJECTIVE: In 2002 and 2003 the ACGME Outcome Project (assessing residents based on competencies) and duty-hours restrictions were implemented. One strategy for assisting PDs in the increased workload was to hire nonphysician educators with training and experience in curriculum design, teaching techniques, adult learning theories, and research methods. This study sought to document prevalence and responsibilities of nonphysician educators. METHODS: IRB approval was received for a two-part study. All 247 general surgery PDs were e-mailed the question, "Do you have a nonphysician educator as a member of your surgery education office?" Those who replied "yes" or volunteered "not currently but in the past" were e-mailed a link to an electronic survey concerning the role of the nonphysician educator. SETTING: Residency training programs in general surgery. PARTICIPANTS: General surgery program directors. RESULTS: Of the 126 PDs who responded to the initial query, 37 said "yes" and 4 replied "not currently but in the past". Thirty-two PDs of the initial 41 respondents completed the survey. Significant findings included: 65% were hired in the last 6 years; faculty rank is held by 69%; and curriculum development was the most common responsibility but teaching, research, and administrative duties were often listed. PDs perceived that faculty, residents, and medical students had mostly positive attitudes towards nonphysician educators. CONCLUSIONS: The overall results seem to support the notion that nonphysician educators serve as vital members of the team.

Therapeutic alliance: satisfaction and attrition of patients from a mental health clinic in Ayacucho, Peru.

This study examines the role of the patient-provider relationship (alliance) and patient satisfaction in early patient withdrawal from mental health therapy in rural Peru. A prospective comparison of 60 patients demonstrated that early withdrawal was associated with the clinician's, but not the patient's, evaluation of the patient-provider alliance. This suggests that the satisfaction and alliance questionnaires typically used in high-income countries may not be effective in evaluating patient attitudes in this population, but may be useful for clinician evaluations of the alliance. Clinicians can use the Working Alliance Inventory to indicate the need for early intervention to prevent patient drop-out in middle- and low-income countries.

Effects of transesophageal echocardiography simulator training on learning and performance in cardiovascular medicine fellows.

BACKGROUND: The role of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) simulation in cardiology fellows' learning is unknown. Standard TEE training at the authors' institution occurs during the second of 3 clinical years. Fellows spend 2 months in the TEE laboratory learning through hands-on experience. The addition of TEE simulation to this experience may improve proficiency, speed learning, and increase fellows' comfort with TEE. This study was designed to compare methods of TEE simulator training with standard training. METHODS: Group A (n = 8) consisted of fellows who had completed standard TEE training. Fellows starting their second clinical year were randomly assigned to group B (n = 10), simulator training during month 1, or group C (n = 9), simulator training during month 2. All groups completed 2 months of standard TEE training. All groups underwent assessment of TEE performance and a self-assessment of ability and comfort level with TEE. RESULTS: Groups B and C had higher total assessment scores than group A. Groups B and C had higher numbers of views achieved without assistance (P = .01). After month 1, group B had higher total scores and number of views achieved without assistance compared with group C (P = .02 and P = .02, respectively). The length of time of the examination tended to be lower for group B, and fellows in group B had greater comfort with TEE than those in group C (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that TEE simulator training improves proficiency and helps speed learning and comfort with TEE.

Availability of volunteer-led home-based care system and baseline factors as predictors of clinical outcomes in HIV-infected patients in rural Zambia.

BACKGROUND: We assessed the impact of home-based care (HBC) for HIV+ patients, comparing outcomes between two groups of Zambians receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) who lived in villages with and without HBC teams. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using medical charts from Macha Mission Hospital, a hospital providing HIV care in Zambia's rural Southern Province. Date of birth, date of ART initiation, place of residence, sex, body mass index (BMI), CD4+ cell count, and hemoglobin (Hgb) were abstracted. Logistic regression was used to test our hypothesis that HBC was associated with treatment outcomes. RESULTS: Of 655 patients, 523 (80%) were eligible and included in the study. There were 428 patients (82%) with favorable outcomes (alive and on ART) and 95 patients (18%) with unfavorable outcomes (died, lost to follow-up, or stopped treatment). A minority of the 523 eligible patients (n = 84, 16%) lived in villages with HBC available. Living in a village with HBC was not significantly associated with treatment outcomes; 80% of patients in a village with HBC had favorable outcomes, compared to 82% of patients in a village without HBC (P = 0.6 by χ(2)). In bivariable analysis, lower BMI (P<0.001), low CD4+ cell count (P = 0.02), low Hgb concentration (P = 0.02), and older age at ART initiation (P = 0.047) were associated with unfavorable outcomes. In multivariable analysis, low BMI remained associated with unfavorable outcomes (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We did not find that living in a village with HBC available was associated with improved treatment outcomes. We speculate that the ART clinic's rigorous treatment preparation before ART initiation and continuous adherence counseling during ART create a motivated group of patients whose outcomes did not improve with additional HBC support. An alternative explanation is that the quality of the HBC program is suboptimal.

Factors that influence parental attitudes toward enrollment in type 1 diabetes trials.

AIMS: To assess parental attitudes towards type 1 diabetes clinical trials (T1DCTs) and factors that impact willingness to enroll their children with and without diabetes. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of parents of children with type 1 diabetes was administered at an academic clinic and a diabetes educational event. RESULTS: Survey response rate was 36%. Of 166 participating parents, 76% were aware of T1DCTs. More parents reported willingness to enroll children with diabetes (47%) than unaffected children (36%). Only 18% recalled being asked to enroll their children, and of these, 60% agreed to enroll at least some of those times. Less than 30% were comfortable with placebos. Factors predicting willingness to enroll children with diabetes included healthcare provider trust, comfort with consent by proxy, low fear of child being a "guinea pig," and comfort with placebo. Factors predicting willingness to enroll unaffected children were provider trust, comfort with consent by proxy, comfort with placebo, and perceived ease of understanding T1DCT information. CONCLUSIONS: Parents report moderate willingness to enroll children in T1DCTs. Willingness is diminished by common trial methodologies. Although most parents recalled receiving trial-related information, significantly fewer recalled being asked to participate. Efforts to optimize effective communication around identified areas of parental concern may increase T1DCT participation.

Assessing student mental health at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence rates of four major categories of mental illness among medical students and to examine associations between these illnesses and a range of demographic variables. METHOD: The authors invited all 330 first-, second-, and third-year medical students at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine to participate in a survey during winter 2008-2009. Students completed an anonymous written questionnaire assessing the prevalence of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and alcohol and drug use disorders. Additionally, the authors obtained student demographic information to investigate variations in rates of illness based on interindividual differences. RESULTS: Most students (301; response rate: 91.2%) completed the survey. The authors found that depression and anxiety were more prevalent in the Vanderbilt medical student population than in their nonmedical peer group. The authors found that 37 (12%) of the students were borderline for possible alcohol abuse and 3 (1%) were problem drinkers, 1 (0.3%) had a possible drug abuse disorder, and 3 (1%) had possible eating disorders. Whereas exercising one to three times per week was associated with lower rates of both depression and anxiety, having a family history of mental illness was associated with higher eating disorder scores and anxiety. There was an association between gender and all disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Insight into the prevalence of mental health disorders in the medical student population and the variables that may influence them provides important information for medical schools as they develop more robust and effective wellness programs to help students in these very stressful learning environments.