Barcamps or unconferences as an emerging paradigm in medical education: Insights from a pilot and feasibility mixed methods study.

Medical education is experiencing a paradigm shift towards more interactive and collaborative pedagogical approaches. Barcamps, also known as unconferences, offer an interactive, participant-driven learning approach. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of using barcamps as an educational model in medical education.

A simple approach of applying blended learning to problem-based learning is feasible, accepted and does not affect evaluation and exam results-a just pre-pandemic randomised controlled mixed-method study.

We tested for feasibility, acceptance, and "non-inferiority" of small-group teaching applying blended learning (i.e., the integration of face-to-face and online instruction) to problem-based learning (bPbL) compared to conventional PbL (cPbL).

Gender Differences in Attachment Anxiety and Avoidance and Their Association with Psychotherapy Use-Examining Students from a German University.

Attachment anxiety and avoidance might explain gender differences in psychotherapy use, which is generally lower in men. In addition, university students are a particularly vulnerable group for mental health problems, and understanding psychotherapy use, especially among mentally distressed male students, is pivotal. A total of 4894 students completed an online survey answering questions regarding psychotherapy use and completing the PHQ-D identifying psychological syndromes.

The impact of COVID-19 on medical students' practical skills and hygiene behavior regarding venipuncture: a case control study.

Background: Despite their importance to current and future patient care, medical students' hygiene behaviors and acquisition of practical skills have rarely been studied in previous observational study. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical student's hygiene and practical skills.

Methods: This case-control study assessed the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on hygiene behavior by contrasting the practical skills and hygiene adherence of 371 medical students post the pandemic associated lockdown in March 2020 with that of 355 medical students prior to the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.

Deterioration in hygiene behavior among fifth-year medical students during the placement of intravenous catheters: a prospective cohort comparison of practical skills.

Background: The American Association of Medical Colleges has defined peripheral intravenous cannulation as one of the eight practical skills that a medical student should possess upon graduation. Since following a standard hygiene protocol can reduce the rate of complications such as bloodstream infections, the medical student's compliance to hygienic standards is highly relevant.

Methods: This unicentric longitudinal cohort study included 177 medical students undergoing OSCE 1 in the winter semesters 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 as well as OSCE 2 during the winter semesters 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 at the University of Cologne.

Studies on acceptance, evaluation and impact of the Cologne program "Research and Medical Studies".

The curricular implementation of events (or programs) for science-related training in human medicine has been on the agenda of the medical faculties since the publication of the Federal-State Working Group [1]. The Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne developed and established a systematic, longitudinal science curriculum together with the start of the model curriculum in human medicine in 2003. Here, we investigate the questions of whether the described (para-) curricular elements are accepted by students and lecturers and how they are evaluated, especially by students.

Fifteen years of the cologne medical model study course: has the expectation of increasing student interest in general practice specialization been fulfilled?

The 2002 Medical Licensure Act gave German universities certain freedoms for reforming their medical degree courses. The Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne took advantage of this opportunity and introduced a model study course in the winter semester 2003/04 through §41 of the Medical Licensure Act. One of the main reasons for this was that back then there was an increasing shortage of doctors in clinical curative medicine and GP primary care.

Research into finding a stable prognosis parameter for the detection of students in need of guidance - Realization of equal opportunities through a diversity-oriented study guidance.

The internationalization of teaching and studying as well as increasing numbers of students with increasingly heterogeneous educational biographies and lifestyles require universities to develop awareness of this diversity and the need for adequate diversity management. For some diversity criteria at least it has been proven that they can influence the individual study success of students. The Dean's Office of the Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne has empirically determined a stable prognosis parameter for study progression on the basis of selected criteria in order to enable early detection of students in need of guidance.

Does teaching social and communicative competences influence dental students' attitudes towards learning communication skills? A comparison between two dental schools in Germany.

Teaching social and communicative competences has become an important part of undergraduate dental education. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of a longitudinal curriculum, addressing social and communication skills, on dental students' attitudes towards learning these skills. Data on the attitudes towards learning communication skills were collected at two German universities and compared in a cross-sectional survey.

Peyton's 4-Steps-Approach in comparison: Medium-term effects on learning external chest compression - a pilot study.

Introduction: The external chest compression is a very important skill required to maintain a minimum of circulation during cardiac arrest until further medical procedures can be taken. Peyton's 4-Steps-Approach is one method of skill training, the four steps being: Demonstration, Deconstruction, Comprehension and Execution. Based on CPR skill training, this method is widely, allegedly predominantly used, although there are insufficient studies on Peyton's 4-Steps-Approach for skill training in CPR in comparison with other methods of skill training.

Implementation of an innovative hands-on training to improve adherence to hygiene rules: A feasibility Study.

Background: Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) still pose a major problem in inpatient care. The single most important measure for preventing HAIs is to improve adherence to hand hygiene among health care professionals.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of an innovative hands-on training to improve adherence to hygiene rules under standardized and under real life conditions.

"May I help you?" - Evaluation of the new student service at the reception desk during the clinical courses at the Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology as a part of a longitudinal curriculum of social and communicative competences for dental students.

Objectives: Since 2009, the University of Cologne has been developing a longitudinal curriculum for teaching social and communicative skills to dental students (LSK-Dent) based on the recommendations of the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE). As a part of this curriculum it was considered to develop a reception service in the undergraduate treatment courses of the Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology involving the organizational and administrative handling of the patients by the students. Students should gain an insight into everyday practice and the reception service should function as a learning environment for social und communicative competences.

Computer versus paper--does it make any difference in test performance?

Unlabelled: CONSTRUCT: In this study, we examine the differences in test performance between the paper-based and the computer-based version of the Berlin formative Progress Test. In this context it is the first study that allows controlling for students' prior performance.

Background: Computer-based tests make possible a more efficient examination procedure for test administration and review.

Do different medical curricula influence self-assessed clinical thinking of students?

Objectives: As a fundamental element of medical practice, clinical reasoning should be cultivated in courses of study in human medicine. To date, however, no conclusive evidence has been offered as to what forms of teaching and learning are most effective in achieving this goal. The Diagnostic Thinking Inventory (DTI) was developed as a means of measuring knowledge-unrelated components of clinical reasoning.

Simulator Network project report: a tool for improvement of teaching materials and targeted resource usage in Skills Labs.

During the last decade, medical education in the German-speaking world has been striving to become more practice-oriented. This is currently being achieved in many schools through the implementation of simulation-based instruction in Skills Labs. Simulators are thus an essential part of this type of medical training, and their acquisition and operation by a Skills Lab require a large outlay of resources.

Can computer-based assessment enhance the acceptance of formative multiple choice exams? A utility analysis.

Background: Students' motivation to participate is one of the main challenges in formative assessment. The utility framework identifies potential points of intervention for improving the acceptance of formative assessment [Van Der Vleuten C. 1996.

A consensus statement on practical skills in medical school - a position paper by the GMA Committee on Practical Skills.

Introduction: Encouraged by the change in licensing regulations the practical professional skills in Germany received a higher priority and are taught in medical schools therefore increasingly. This created the need to standardize the process more and more. On the initiative of the German skills labs the German Medical Association Committee for practical skills was established and developed a competency-based catalogue of learning objectives, whose origin and structure is described here.

Student Evaluation Scale for Medical Courses with Simulations of the Doctor-Patient Interaction (SES-Sim).

Objective: Simulations of doctor-patient interactions have become a popular method for the training of medical skills, primarily communication skills. A new questionnaire for the measurement of students' satisfaction with medical courses using this technique is presented, the Student Evaluation Scale for Medical Courses with Simulations of the Doctor-Patient Interaction (SES-Sim).

Method: A set of items focusing on the course quality and the core elements of simulations was created and presented to 220 medical students who had been trained with this method.