Mapping session learning objectives to exam questions: How to do it and how to apply the results.

The undergraduate pre-clerkship Population Health courses for University of Manitoba medical students underwent a mapping exercise to improve alignment between session learning objectives and the multiple choice questions (MCQs) used for learner assessment. Each learning objective was mapped to all related MCQs in the exam bank. Learning objectives not linked to any specific MCQs were identified.

The burden of pneumococcal disease in the Canadian population before routine use of the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

Background: In the United States, implementation of the seven-valent conjugate vaccine into childhood immunization schedules has had an effect on the burden of pneumococcal disease in all ages of the population. To evaluate the impact in Canada, it is essential to have an estimate of the burden of pneumococcal disease before routine use of the vaccine.

Methods: The incidence and costs of pneumococcal disease in the Canadian population in 2001 were estimated from various sources, including published studies, provincial databases and expert opinion.