Evaluation of simulation methods for teaching peripheral arterial examination to medical students.

Physical examination is a critical component of medical practice yet the focus on efficient patient turnover has impacted the availability of patients with clinical findings willing to be examined by students and skills' teaching is not consistent across clinical rotations. This work evaluates simulation methodologies for teaching of the peripheral arterial examination and evaluates whether skills learnt are transferable to clinical practice. Second-year medical students were taught peripheral arterial examination on a SimMan 3G or with simulated patients (SPs).

A mixed-methods study of the causes and impact of poor teamwork between junior doctors and nurses.

Objectives: This study aimed to collect and analyse examples of poor teamwork between junior doctors and nurses; identify the teamwork failures contributing to poor team function; and ascertain if particular teamwork failures are associated with higher levels of risk to patients.

Design: Critical Incident Technique interviews were carried out with junior doctors and nurses.

Setting: Two teaching hospitals in the Republic of Ireland.

Health and use of health services of people who are homeless and at risk of homelessness who receive free primary health care in Dublin.

Background: Homeless populations experience poorer physical and mental health, and more barriers to accessing adequate healthcare. This study investigates the health of this population, following the provision of a free to access primary care service for homeless people in Dublin (Safetynet). The health of this group will be compared to previous studies on homelessness conducted in Dublin prior to the establishment of this service (in 1997 and 2005).