Psychiatric diagnoses and cognitive impairment in pediatric multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) represents approximately 5% of the MS population; information regarding clinical features is slowly accumulating. Cognitive and psychiatric impairments frequently occur, but remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: To describe psychiatric diagnoses among children with MS referred for psychiatric assessment and their relation to cognitive impairment. METHODS: Forty-five pediatric MS patients (aged 8 to 17 years) were referred for outpatient psychiatric evaluation including a psychiatric interview (K-SADS), a clinician-based global assessment of functioning (Children's Global Assessment Scale, CGAS), a neurologic examination including the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and a neuropsychological test battery. RESULTS: The most common categories of psychiatric diagnoses were anxiety disorders (n=15), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, n=12), and mood disorders (n=11). Cognitive impairment was classified in 20/25 (80%) of patients meeting criteria for a psychiatric disorder versus 11/20 (55%) of those without psychiatric disorder (p=0.08). Those diagnosed with anxiety or mood disorder had the highest frequency of cognitive impairment, with a significantly higher rate when compared with those with psychiatric diagnoses in other categories (p=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A variety of psychiatric diagnoses can occur in children with pediatric MS. Many of these children also had cognitive impairment, particularly those in the mood and anxiety groups.

Designing and Implementing Effective Remote Simulation.

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid innovations in distance learning.1 Simulation is a valuable medical education strategy for learners to translate abstract knowledge to clinical application and can be facilitated remotely. This AM Last Page presents common challenges in delivering remote simulation, practical solutions, and unique opportunities afforded by this novel educational format.

Simulation vs RISE UP: A Comparative Study of Approaches for Teaching Emergency Medicine Trainees How to Manage Microaggressions.

PURPOSE: Microaggressions are discriminatory actions or words targeted at people for their perceived or expressed identities. The study aimed to address the critical need for training emergency medicine (EM) resident-physicians to manage microaggressions. The authors compared the effectiveness of the Realizing Inclusion and Systemic Equity in Medicine: Upstanding in the Medical Workplace (RISE UP) curriculum from Inova Children's Hospital and a simulation (SIM) curriculum created by a research team specifically for this study. The new SIM curriculum was guided by the original RISE UP curriculum but incorporates simulation as a learning tool. These 2 educational modalities were selected based upon previous literature showing their efficacy as tools in medical education. METHOD: Through a collaboration with residency leadership, EM residents were recruited to participate in a comparison study in which they received either the RISE UP or newly created SIM curriculum as part of their regular simulation training. Pre- and post-intervention surveys assessed perceived knowledge on handling microaggressions. A follow-up survey was sent one month post-intervention to evaluate retention of self-reported knowledge. RESULTS: Out of 81 eligible residents, 69 residents participated: 37 in the new SIM curriculum group, 32 in the RISE UP curriculum group. Participants in both groups self-reported significant improvements in perceived knowledge immediately post-intervention. At the 1-month follow up, both intervention groups retained higher levels of perceived knowledge. Additionally, while both curricula were effective, the RISE UP group showed slightly higher retention rates of self-reported knowledge compared to the SIM group, although this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Both the SIM and RISE UP curricula were effective in improving resident knowledge about handling workplace microaggressions, with participants in the RISE UP curriculum showing marginally better retention of skills. Implementing such educational programs may enhance workplace awareness and response to microaggressions among EM residents.

The MIDAS touch: Frameworks for procedural model innovation and validation.

Background: Simulation-based procedural practice is crucial to emergency medicine skills training and maintenance. However, many commercial procedural models are either nonexistent or lacking in key elements. Simulationists often create their own novel models with minimal framework for designing, building, and validation. We propose two interlinked frameworks with the goal to systematically build and validate models for the desired educational outcomes. Methods: Simulation Academy Research Committee and members with novel model development expertise assembled as the MIDAS (Model Innovation, Development and Assessment for Simulation) working group. This working group focused on improving novel model creation and validation beginning with a preconference workshop at 2023 Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Annual Meeting. The MIDAS group sought to (1) assess the current state of novel model validation and (2) develop frameworks for the broader simulation community to create, improve, and validate procedural models. Findings: Workshop participants completed 17 surveys for a response rate of 100%. Many simulationists have created models but few have validated them. The most common barriers to validation were lack of standardized guidelines and familiarity with the validation process.We have combined principles from education and engineering fields into two interlinked frameworks. The first is centered on steps involved with model creation and refinement. The second is a framework for novel model validation processes. Implications: These frameworks emphasize development of models through a deliberate, form-follows-function methodology, aimed at ensuring training quality through novel models. Following a blueprint of how to create, test, and improve models can save innovators time and energy, which in turn can yield greater and more plentiful innovation at lower time and financial cost. This guideline allows for more standardized approaches to model creation, thus improving future scholarship on novel models.

Applying simulation learning theory to identify instructional strategies for Generation Z emergency medicine residency education.

Introduction: Generation Z learners are entering emergency medicine (EM) residency training, bringing unique learning preferences that influence their engagement with residency education. To optimally teach and motivate this incoming generation of learners, EM educators must understand and adapt to the changing instructional landscape. Methodology: The Simulation Leaders Advancing the Next Generation in Emergency Medicine (SLANG-EM) Workgroup was created to identify effective educational strategies for Generation Z learners entering EM. Members were faculty in the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Simulation Academy, well versed in learning theory supporting simulation-based education (SBE) and actively involved in EM residency education. Unique treatment/analysis: Through primary and secondary literature searches, the SLANG-EM Workgroup identified four distinctive learning preferences of Generation Z learners: (1) individualized and self-paced learning, (2) engaging and visual learning environments, (3) immediate and actionable feedback, and (4) combined personal and academic support. Workgroup members evaluated these learning preferences using a novel conceptual framework informed by the theoretical principles underpinning SBE, recommending instructional strategies for Generation Z EM residency learners across multiple educational environments. Implications for educators: Instructional strategies were described for the didactic, simulation, and clinical learning environments. In the didactic environment, identified instructional strategies included meaningful asynchronous education, interactive small-group learning, and improved multimedia design. In the simulation environment, educational innovations particularly suitable for Generation Z learners included learner-centered debriefing, rapid-cycle deliberate practice, and virtual simulation. In the clinical environment, described instructional strategies involved setting learner-centered goals and delivering facilitative feedback in the context of an educational alliance. Overall, these instructional strategies were clustered around themes of student-centered education and the educator as facilitator, which align well with Generation Z learning preferences. These findings were synthesized and presented as an advanced workshop, "Delivering Effective Education to the Next Generation," at the 2023 SAEM Annual Meeting.

Workshop in Simulation Debriefing for Educators in Medicine: Creation, implementation, and evaluation of a debriefing curriculum for novice simulation educators.

Objectives: Debriefing is an integral component of simulation education, and effective debriefing education is required to maintain effective simulation programs. However, many educators report financial and logistical barriers to accessing formal debriefing training. Due to limited educator development opportunities, simulation program leaders are often compelled to utilize educators with insufficient debriefing training, which can limit the impact of simulation-based education. To address these concerns, the SAEM Simulation Academy Debriefing Workgroup authored the Workshop in Simulation Debriefing for Educators in Medicine (WiSDEM), a freely available, concise, and ready-to-deploy debriefing curriculum with a target audience of novice educators without formal debriefing training. In this study, we describe the development, initial implementation, and evaluation of the WiSDEM curriculum. Methods: The Debriefing Workgroup iteratively developed the WiSDEM curriculum by expert consensus. The targeted level of content expertise was introductory. The curriculum's educational impact was assessed by surveying participants on their impressions of the curriculum and their confidence and self-efficacy in mastery of the material. Additionally, facilitators of the WiSDEM curriculum were surveyed on its content, usefulness, and future applicability. Results: The WiSDEM curriculum was deployed during the SAEM 2022 Annual Meeting as a didactic presentation. Thirty-nine of 44 participants completed the participant survey, and four of four facilitators completed the facilitator survey. Participant and facilitator feedback on the curriculum content was positive. Additionally, participants agreed that the WiSDEM curriculum improved their confidence and self-efficacy in future debriefing. All surveyed facilitators agreed that they would recommend the curriculum to others. Conclusions: The WiSDEM curriculum was effective at introducing basic debriefing principles to novice educators without formal debriefing training. Facilitators felt that the educational materials would be useful for providing debriefing training at other institutions. Consensus-driven, ready-to-deploy debriefing training materials such as the WiSDEM curriculum can address common barriers to developing basic debriefing proficiency in educators.

Procedural task trainer gaps in emergency medicine: A rift in the simulation universe.

Objectives: We identified and quantified the gap between emergency medicine (EM) procedures currently taught using simulation versus those that educators would teach if they had better procedural task trainers. Additionally, we endeavored to describe which procedures were taught using homemade models and the barriers to creation and use of additional homemade models. Methods: Using a modified Delphi process, we developed a survey and distributed it to a convenience sample of EM simulationists via the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Simulation Academy listserv. Survey items asked participants to identify procedures they thought should be taught using simulation ("most important"), do teach using simulation ("most frequent"), would teach if a simulator or model were available ("most needed"), and do teach using simulation with "homemade" models ("most frequent homemade"). Results: Thirty-seven surveys were completed. The majority of respondents worked at academic medical centers and were involved in simulation-based education for at least 6 years. Three procedures ranked highly in overall teaching importance and currently taught categories. We identified four procedures that ranked highly as both important techniques to teach and would teach via simulation. Two procedures were selected as the most important procedures that the participants do teach via simulation but would like to teach in an improved way. We found 14 procedures that simulationists would teach if an adequate model was available, four of which are of high importance. Conclusions: This study captured data to illuminate the procedural model gap and inform future interventions that may address it and meet the overarching objective to create better and more readily available procedure models for EM simulation educators in the future. It offers an informed way of prioritizing procedures for which additional homemade models should be created and disseminated as well as barriers to be aware of and to work to overcome. Our work has implications for learners, educators, administrators, and industry.

Virtual Mentoring: Two Adaptive Models for Supporting Early-career Simulation Investigators in the Era of Social Distancing.

BACKGROUND: Early-career simulation investigators identify limited mentorship as a common barrier to disseminating scholarship and launching a successful academic career in emergency medicine (EM). Conferences often bridge this gap, but the COVID-19 pandemic has forced their indefinite delay. Virtual solutions are needed to capitalize on the breadth of national simulation research experts and grow mentorship in a postpandemic world. METHODS: We developed two complementary innovations to facilitate scholarship development and minimize COVID-associated career challenges resulting from social distancing requirements. The e-fellows forum (FF) provides a capstone experience for works-in-progress and the e-consultation service (CS) supports simulation research during the earlier project stages of design and development. In conjunction with the Society for Academic Medicine's Simulation Academy, we applied videoconferencing technology for both of these novel, virtual innovations. We analyzed corresponding chat transcripts and detailed field notes for emerging themes. In addition, we collected quantitative data via participant surveys regarding their experiences and impact on their projects. RESULTS: Nine simulation fellows presented at the FF and seven junior simulation investigators participated in the CS sessions. Most preferred the virtual format (56% FF, 66% CS) and found the sessions to be helpful in project advancement (66% FF, 100% CS). COVID-19 affected most projects (89% FF, 67% CS). We identified three themes via qualitative analysis: design concerns and inquiries, validation or support shown by mentors and peers, and professional cohesion. CONCLUSIONS: Participants felt that both virtual mentorship innovations advanced their simulation research projects and fostered a sense of professional cohesion within a greater community of practice. These benefits can be powerful at a time where simulation researchers in EM feel disconnected in an era of social distancing. Our future work will include adaptations to a hybrid model with both virtual and in-person modalities as well as creation of more e-mentorship opportunities, thus broadening the early-career simulation research community of practice.

Simulation-based Remediation in Emergency Medicine Residency Training: A Consensus Study.

INTRODUCTION: Resident remediation is a pressing topic in emergency medicine (EM) training programs. Simulation has become a prominent educational tool in EM training and been recommended for identification of learning gaps and resident remediation. Despite the ubiquitous need for formalized remediation, there is a dearth of literature regarding best practices for simulation-based remediation (SBR). METHODS: We conducted a literature search on SBR practices using the terms "simulation," "remediation," and "simulation based remediation." We identified relevant themes and used them to develop an open-ended questionnaire that was distributed to EM programs with experience in SBR. Thematic analysis was performed on all subsequent responses and used to develop survey instruments, which were then used in a modified two-round Delphi panel to derive a set of consensus statements on the use of SBR from an aggregate of 41 experts in simulation and remediation in EM. RESULTS: Faculty representing 30 programs across North America composed the consensus group with 66% of participants identifying themselves as simulation faculty, 32% as program directors, and 2% as core faculty. The results from our study highlight a strong agreement across many areas of SBR in EM training. SBR is appropriate for a range of deficits, including procedural, medical knowledge application, clinical reasoning/decision-making, communication, teamwork, and crisis resource management. Simulation can be used both diagnostically and therapeutically in remediation, although SBR should be part of a larger remediation plan constructed by the residency leadership team or a faculty expert in remediation, and not the only component. Although summative assessment can have a role in SBR, it needs to be very clearly delineated and transparent to everyone involved. CONCLUSION: Simulation may be used for remediation purposes for certain specific kinds of competencies as long as it is carried out in a transparent manner to all those involved.

Comparative evaluation of capsular polysaccharide-specific IgM and IgG antibodies and F(ab')2 and Fab fragments as delivery vehicles for radioimmunotherapy of fungal infection.

PURPOSE: The applicability of radioimmunotherapy with organism-specific monoclonal antibodies to treatment of infectious disease in experimental models has been recently shown for fungal, bacterial, and viral infections. To identify the best delivery vehicle for radioimmunotherapy of human pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans (CN), we have done comparative evaluation of capsular polysaccharide-specific antibodies with IgG1 and IgM isotypes and F(ab')2 and Fab fragments. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: 18B7 IgG1 and 13F1 IgM and their isotype-matching controls were radiolabeled with 188Re, and their binding to 24067 and H99 CN strains was evaluated by doing Scatchard and kinetics analyses. The doses delivered during in vitro radioimmunotherapy were estimated using a cellular dosimetry algorithm. The biodistribution of 188Re-labeled 18B7 and 13F1 and of 111In-labeled 18B7 and its F(ab')2 and Fab fragments was done in A/JCr mice systemically infected with 24067 CN strain. RESULTS: 18B7 IgG1 showed superior to 13F1 IgM binding to 24067 CN (Ka=1.7x10(9) mol/L(-1) and 5.4x10(7) mol/L(-1), respectively). Substantial killing of 24067 and H99 CN cells was achieved with 1 microCi 188Re-18B7 (55 cGy dose), whereas no killing was observed for 1 microCi 188Re-13F1 (2 cGy dose). In vivo 188Re-18B7 localized specifically in the lungs of CN-infected mice, whereas uptake of 188Re-13F1 was nonspecific. 111In-F(ab')2 fragments showed higher uptake in the lungs and lower in the liver at the 48-h time point in comparison with intact 111In-18B7. CONCLUSIONS: Comparative evaluation of IgG and IgM and of F(ab')2 and Fab fragments as potential delivery vehicles for radioimmunotherapy of cryptococcal infection strongly suggests that affinity for the target antigen is an important prerequisite for successful targeting of infection in vivo and that in vitro affinity measurements may predict the in vivo efficacy of candidate monoclonal antibodies.

Simulation-based Education to Ensure Provider Competency Within the Health Care System.

The acquisition and maintenance of individual competency is a critical component of effective emergency care systems. This article summarizes consensus working group deliberations and recommendations focusing on the topic "Simulation-based education to ensure provider competency within the healthcare system." The authors presented this work for discussion and feedback at the 2017 Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference on "Catalyzing System Change Through Healthcare Simulation: Systems, Competency, and Outcomes," held on May 16, 2017, in Orlando, Florida. Although simulation-based training is a quality and safety imperative in other high-reliability professions such as aviation, nuclear power, and the military, health care professions still lag behind in applying simulation more broadly. This is likely a result of a number of factors, including cost, assessment challenges, and resistance to change. This consensus subgroup focused on identifying current gaps in knowledge and process related to the use of simulation for developing, enhancing, and maintaining individual provider competency. The resulting product is a research agenda informed by expert consensus and literature review.

Alcohol Withdrawal and Lithium Toxicity: A Novel Psychiatric Mannequin-Based Simulation Case for Medical Students.

Introduction: High-fidelity mannequin-based simulation is frequently used to compliment medical student education during clinical clerkships. However, psychiatric educators have not broadly adopted this modality, focusing rather on standardized patient actors. We developed and delivered a simulation case involving a patient with alcohol withdrawal and lithium toxicity followed by a debriefing session to medical students at the end of their psychiatric clerkship. Methods: The case involves a 40-year-old male truck driver with a history of bipolar disorder who presents to the emergency room after a truck accident. The patient is in alcohol withdrawal, which responds to benzodiazepines. A workup reveals that the patient also has lithium toxicity related to the co-ingestion of lithium and naproxen for pain. Participants learn to evaluate and treat alcohol withdrawal, consider medical comorbidities and legal consequences, and complete a brief intervention for substance use. This case requires a simulation mannequin. Results: To date, 150 second-, third-, and fourth-year medical students have participated in this case and 76 have been surveyed. Participants have provided a postsession rating of 4.49 on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree) on a question about enjoyment, and 3.93 on a question about confidence with evaluation and treatment of patients in alcohol withdrawal. Discussion: Psychiatric education currently underutilizes mannequin-based simulation compared to other medical disciplines. Mannequin simulation is feasible and effective in psychiatric education, especially in cases involving medical complexity, as shown in this novel case involving a patient with alcohol withdrawal and lithium toxicity.

Are All Competencies Equal in the Eyes of Residents? A Multicenter Study of Emergency Medicine Residents' Interest in Feedback.

INTRODUCTION: Feedback, particularly real-time feedback, is critical to resident education. The emergency medicine (EM) milestones were developed in 2012 to enhance resident assessment, and many programs use them to provide focused resident feedback. The purpose of this study was to evaluate EM residents' level of interest in receiving real-time feedback on each of the 23 competencies/sub-competencies. METHODS: This was a multicenter cross-sectional study of EM residents. We surveyed participants on their level of interest in receiving real-time on-shift feedback on each of the 23 competencies/sub-competencies. Anonymous paper or computerized surveys were distributed to residents at three four-year training programs and three three-year training programs with a total of 223 resident respondents. Residents rated their level of interest in each milestone on a six-point Likert-type response scale. We calculated average level of interest for each of the 23 sub-competencies, for all 223 respondents and separately by postgraduate year (PGY) levels of training. One-way analyses of variance were performed to determine if there were differences in ratings by level of training. RESULTS: The overall survey response rate across all institutions was 82%. Emergency stabilization had the highest mean rating (5.47/6), while technology had the lowest rating (3.24/6). However, we observed no differences between levels of training on any of the 23 competencies/sub-competencies. CONCLUSION: Residents seem to ascribe much more value in receiving feedback on domains involving high-risk, challenging procedural skills as compared to low-risk technical and communication skills. Further studies are necessary to determine whether residents' perceived importance of competencies/sub-competencies needs to be considered when developing an assessment or feedback program based on these 23 EM competencies/sub-competencies.

Radiolabeled melanin-binding peptides are safe and effective in treatment of human pigmented melanoma in a mouse model of disease.

The incidence of melanoma is rising, and therapeutic options for metastatic melanoma are limited. We report the results of experimental melanoma therapy with 188-Rhenium-labeled melanin-binding decapeptide ((188)RE-HYNIC-4B4) and a comprehensive safety evaluation of this treatment. (188)RE-HYNIC- 4B4 bound only to nonviable eumelanotic MNT1 and pheomelanotic SK-28-MEL human melanoma cells in vitro, as determined by immunofluorescence, which is consistent with the inaccessibility of intracellular melanin in live cells, and suggests specificity for tumors with a significant amount of extracellular melanin. Administration of 1 mCi (188)RE-HYNIC-4B4 to MNT1 tumor-bearing mice significantly slowed tumor growth, with the therapeutic effect being a result of specific binding to tumor melanin, as irrelevant (188)RE-labeled decapeptide did not produce therapeutic gain. Repeated doses of (188)RE-HYNIC-4B4 had a more profound effect on tumor growth than a single dose. Treatment of tumors with 0.3-0.4 cm diameter was more effective than of larger ones (0.5-0.7 cm). There was no difference in uptake of (188)REHYNIC- 4B4 in melanized tissues of black C57BL6 mice and no histologically apparent damage to these tissues in comparison with white BALB/C mice. Treatment of C57BL6 mice with (188)RE-HYNIC-4B4 did not change their behavior, as established by SHIRPA protocol, and did not cause damage to neurons and glial cells. These results indicate that radiolabeled melanin-binding peptides are efficient and safe in treatment of melanoma and could be potentially useful against this tumor.

Entrustable Professional Activity 10: Recognizing the Acutely Ill Patient-A Delirium Simulated Case for Students in Emergency Medicine.

INTRODUCTION: This simulation case was designed to evaluate the ability of third- and fourth-year emergency medicine clerkship students and acting interns to perform the tasks outlined in the Association of American Medical College's Core Entrustable Professional Activity 10, to "recognize a patient requiring urgent or emergent care and initiate evaluation and management." The overarching goal is to assess medical students' ability to recognize and take steps to stabilize a sick patient. METHODS: In this case, students encounter a physician, simulated with a high-fidelity manikin, who has suddenly become confused. Students are expected to recognize that he is acutely ill, call for help, and begin the initial steps of resuscitation. Bedside testing reveals hypoglycemia, which students are expected to treat. Further examination, history gathering, and diagnostic tests reveal that the patient is suffering from gram-negative sepsis. Students are evaluated on their ability to recognize signs of serious illness, call for appropriate help, perform critical assessment and treatment tasks, communicate their findings to an attending physician, and determine the appropriate patient disposition. Outcomes are measured using critical action checklists. RESULTS: Initial trials of this case demonstrated its feasibility. All 13 students who have participated in this session have identified all five critical actions. DISCUSSION: In later iterations, the number of roles was streamlined in order to reduce how many personnel were required. As a result of the very high critical-actions success rates of the first two groups of students tested, our case-specific checklist was revised with the goal of improving its discriminatory power.

Entrustable Professional Activity 10: Case Simulation and Assessment-STEMI With Cardiac Arrest.

INTRODUCTION: Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) are units of professional practice defined as tasks or responsibilities that trainees are entrusted to perform unsupervised. AAMC Core EPA 10 is defined as the ability to "recognize a patient who requires emergent care and initiate evaluation and management." We designed a simulation scenario to elicit EPA 10-related behaviors for learner assessment to guide entrustment decisions. METHODS: This case presents a 61-year-old male with a complaint of feeling ill. The students need to diagnose an ST segment elevation myocardial infarction that leads to a pulseless ventricular tachycardia arrest. A simulation manikin is used, and students are assessed using a checklist. The tool is a set of critical actions that were proposed by a group of content experts, based on the following EPA 10 functions: recognizing unstable vital signs, asking for help, and determining appropriate disposition. In addition to case-specific behavioral items, an overall entrustment item was added to inform the entrustment decision. RESULTS: This case was implemented in a mandatory fourth-year clerkship for 7 years prior to its adaptation for entrustment on EPA 10. In recent experience from one institution, about 14% of students failed to meet entrustment. Students rated the experience as valuable (average 5.0, on a 5-point Likert scale) and thought that it would change their performance in a clinical setting (average 4.95, on a 5-point Likert scale). DISCUSSION: Faculty raters noted challenges regarding entrustment based on a single simulation and the implications that team role (supporting role vs. leader role) has on entrustment.