Can all roads lead to competency? School levels effects in Licensing examinations scores.

At the foundation of research concerned with professional training is the idea of an assumed causal chain between the policies and practices of education and the eventual behaviours of those that graduate these programs. In medicine, given the social accountability to ensure that teaching and learning gives way to a health human resource that is willing and able to provide the healthcare that patients and communities need, it is of critical importance to generate evidence regarding this causal relationship. One question that medical education scholars ask regularly is the degree to which the unique features of training programs and learning environments impact trainee achievement of the intended learning outcomes.

A mixed-methods evaluation of a dementia education program for hospital staff and volunteers in Melbourne, Australia.

People with dementia have a high likelihood of being hospitalized at some point during the disease process. Recent research has found that more can be done to improve dementia care in hospitals. One of the strategies suggested to help achieve this objective is to provide dementia education programs to hospital staff.

Comparative Assessment of Otolaryngology Knowledge Among Large Language Models.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of advanced large language models from OpenAI (GPT-3.5 and GPT-4), Google (PaLM2 and MedPaLM), and an open source model from Meta (Llama3:70b) in answering clinical test multiple choice questions in the field of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.

Methods: A dataset of 4566 otolaryngology questions was used; each model was provided a standardized prompt followed by a question.

Gender-sensitive community weight-loss programmes to address overweight and obesity in men: a scoping review.

Objectives: To examine how gender-sensitive community weight-loss programmes have been used to address overweight and obesity in men and to identify what can be learnt from this rapidly evolving field.

Design: Scoping review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping review checklist for reporting.

Data Sources: A database search was conducted using EBSCOhost (Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Complete, Global Health, Health Source: Consumer Edition, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition and Medline Complete), Google, Google Scholar, Open Access Theses and Dissertations platform and Scopus.

From admissions to licensure: education data associations from a multi-centre undergraduate medical education collaboration.

This paper reports the findings of a Canada based multi-institutional study designed to investigate the relationships between admissions criteria, in-program assessments, and performance on licensing exams. The study's objective is to provide valuable insights for improving educational practices across different institutions. Data were gathered from six medical schools: McMaster University, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University, Queen's University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, and Western University.

Professional identity work of nurse practitioners and family physicians in primary care in Quebec and Ontario - a study protocol.

Background: Solo medical practices in primary healthcare delivery have been abandoned in favor of interdisciplinary teamwork in most Western countries. Dynamics in interdisciplinary teams might however be particularly difficult when two or more autonomous health professionals develop similar roles at the practice level. This is the case of family physicians (FPs) and nurse practitioners (NPs), due to the fact that the latter might accomplish not only the traditional role proper to a nurse, but also several medical activities such as requesting diagnostic exams and prescribing medical treatments.

Acceptability and feasibility of screening with a pediatric care provider-led social determinants of health identification tool.

Background: Complex social determinants of health may not be easily recognized by health care providers and pose a unique challenge in the vulnerable pediatric population where patients may not be able to advocate for themselves. The goal of this study was to examine the acceptability and feasibility of health care providers using an integrated brief pediatric screening tool in primary care and hospital settings.

Methods: The framework of the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) and Pediatric Intermed tools was used to inform the selection of items for the 9-item Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths-Pediatric Complexity Indicator (CANS-PCI).

From Compliance to Care: Qualitative Findings from a Survey of Essential Caregivers in Ontario Long-Term Care Homes.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of the care provided by family members and close friends to older people living in long-term care (LTC) homes. Our implementation science team helped three Ontario LTC homes to implement an intervention to allow family members to enter the homes during pandemic lockdowns.

Objective: We used a variety of methods to support the implementation, and this paper reports results from an Ontario-wide survey intended to help us understand the nature of the care provided by family caregivers.

Insights into a collective impact partnership to promote consumption of healthy drinks in North East Melbourne: A qualitative case study.

Issue Addressed: To explore insights and perspectives of a collective impact (CI) partnership taking on a new project that aimed to reduce sugary drink consumption and promote water as the drink of choice across North East Melbourne.

Methods: A qualitative case study was undertaken. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders in the partnership.

Synergistic Anticancer Activity of Plumbagin and Xanthohumol Combination on Pancreatic Cancer Models.

Among diverse cancers, pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive types due to inadequate diagnostic options and treatments available. Therefore, there is a necessity to use combination chemotherapy options to overcome the chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer cells. Plumbagin and xanthohumol, natural compounds isolated from the Plumbaginaceae family and respectively, have been used to treat various cancers.

Circumstances that promote social connectedness in older adults participating in intergenerational programmes with adolescents: a realist review.

Objectives: Limited social connectedness in older adults is a risk factor for poor physical and mental health. Older adults who are socially isolated, lonely and disconnected have a higher risk of chronic illness, depression and premature death. Current literature suggests that improved social connectedness reduces these risks.

Novel Performance Rating Instruments for Gynecological Procedures in Primary Care: A Pilot Study.

Background And Objectives:  Improving training and confirming the acquisition of gynecological procedure skills for family physicians (FPs) is crucial for safe health care delivery. The objectives of this study were to (a) develop performance rating instruments for four gynecological procedures, and (b) pilot them to provide preliminary validity evidence using modern validity theory.

Methods:  Sixteen academic FPs and gynecologists participated in a modified Delphi technique to develop procedure-specific checklists (PSCs) for four procedures: intrauterine device insertion, endometrial biopsy, punch biopsy of the vulva, and routine pessary care.

Golf participants in Australia have a higher lifetime prevalence of skin cancer compared with the general population.

Objective: To estimate the age-specific lifetime prevalence of skin cancer in a sample of Australian golf participants and estimate skin cancer risk in golf participants compared with a general population-based sample.

Methods: Golf participants in Australia (n=336) completed the Australian Golf Health Survey which collected data on skin cancer diagnosis (self-reported history), physical activity levels and participant demographics. Data were compared with a sample of the Australian general population (n=15780, Australian Health Survey).

Experience of introducing an electronic health records station in an objective structured clinical examination to evaluate medical students’ communication skills in Canada: a descriptive study.

Purpose: There is limited literature related to the assessment of electronic medical record (EMR)-related competencies. To address this gap, this study explored the feasibility of an EMR objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) station to evaluate medical students’ communication skills by psychometric analyses and standardized patients’ (SPs) perspectives on EMR use in an OSCE.

Methods: An OSCE station that incorporated the use of an EMR was developed and pilot-tested in March 2020.

Mapping Health Professions Education: Using Complexity Science to Make Sense of Learning Through Electronic Consultations.

Phenomena studied within health professions education are often complex and multifaceted. This article describes a complexity science-informed theoretical framework that was developed for exploring how electronic consultations support learning among primary care providers, as well as within the larger organizations or systems in which they practice. This framework enables researchers to investigate learning occurring simultaneously at multiple levels (including individuals and social groups), without simplistically conflating levels or theories.

Investigating Patient Experience, Satisfaction, and Trust in an Integrated Virtual Care (IVC) Model: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

To improve access to primary care in underserved communities, we established a hybrid model of delivering team-based, comprehensive primary care using both in-person and virtual care options with family physician leadership. Using a cross-sectional online survey (n = 121), results showed high levels (90%) of patient satisfaction. Our findings suggest that a similar hybrid model for primary care delivery can provide levels of patient satisfaction comparable to traditional in-person models of primary care.

Australian golfers with and without osteoarthritis report reduced psychological distress and improved general health compared to a general population-based sample.

Objectives: To (i) evaluate psychological distress and general health in Australian golfers and compare with a general population-based sample, and (ii) explore the relationship between playing golf, psychological distress and general health in individuals with osteoarthritis.

Design: Cross sectional.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey collected outcomes in 459 Australian Golfers (Kessler-10 Psychological Distress Scale, Short-Form 12 (Health Status), International Physical Activity Questionnaire, osteoarthritis status).

Development of eConsult reflective learning tools for healthcare providers: a pragmatic mixed methods approach.

Background: Electronic consultation (eConsult) programs are crucial components of modern healthcare that facilitate communication between primary care providers (PCPs) and specialists. eConsults between PCPs and specialists. They also provide a unique opportunity to use real-world patient scenarios for reflective learning as part of professional development.

Systemic Heparinization After Neuraxial Anesthesia in Vascular Surgery: A Retrospective Analysis.

Objectives: The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine's guidelines recommend a 1-hour interval after neuraxial anesthesia (NA) before systemic heparinization to mitigate the risk of spinal hematoma (SH). The study authors aimed to characterize the time interval between NA and systemic heparinization in vascular surgery patients (primary outcome). The secondary outcomes included the historic incidence of SH, and risk estimation of the SH formation based on available data.

Exploring resident perspectives on family medicine enhanced skills training.

Background: Third-year enhanced skills programs, also known as family medicine (FM) PGY3 programs, have always been an area of debate. Their exponential growth does not stem from a strong body of academic evidence or public health needs assessment. This qualitative descriptive study explores the current perspectives of second-year FM residents at the University of Ottawa on extended training programs through semi-structured interviews.

Benefits of Providing Feedback and Utilisation Metrics to Specialists on Their Participation in eConsult.

Our study evaluates the impact of feedback sent to specialists participating in eConsult services. eConsult Specialists from two eConsult services in Ontario, Canada, received feedback on their use of eConsult via bi-annual specialist reports. An 11-item survey was developed to evaluate the impact, content, and distribution process of these specialist reports.