Irreversible electroporation as an intraoperative adjunctive treatment for locally advanced pancreatic cancer after neoadjuvant therapy: An initial clinical experience.

Backgrounds/aims: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) may have a potential application as either a "back-up therapy" or for margin accentuation during trial dissection of locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). The aim of this report was to describe our experience with IRE in terms of its potential applications mentioned above.

Methods: A clinical policy to use IRE in LAPC patients undergoing exploratory surgery after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) was initiated in 2017.

Health professions students' acceptance and readiness for learning analytics: lessons for educators.

Background: Learning analytics (LA) is a tool for gathering, analysing, and interpreting data related to student's learning behaviour, engagement, and performance. As the student data collected by the institutions are used to construct LA, it is essential to understand the acceptance and readiness of the students regarding the implementation of LA.

Methods: A sequential mixed method research design was used in this study.

The Importance Characteristics for Veterinary Workplace Clinical Training (WCT) in a Distributive Curriculum, from the Perspectives of Students, Academics, and Clinical Supervisors.

Veterinary students, academics, and clinical supervisors are likely to have different perspectives on what it takes to be prepared for workplace clinical training (WCT). Differing expectations could confuse students if they receive conflicting messages about the skills and attributes to which they should aspire. Furthermore, they may struggle to engage with the affordances that workplaces provide for learning if unprepared.

Inclusive assessment in health professions education: Balancing global goals and local contexts.

Context: In this article, we draw upon diverse and contextually different experiences of working on inclusive assessment, with the aim of bridging and enhancing practices of inclusive assessments for health professions education (HPE) within universities. Instead of juxtaposing our views from three countries, we combine our perspectives to advocate for inclusive assessment.

Discussion: Creating an inclusive assessment culture is important for equitable education, even if priorities for inclusion might differ between contexts.

Managing assessment during curriculum change: Ottawa Consensus Statement.

Curriculum change is relatively frequent in health professional education. Formal, planned curriculum review must be conducted periodically to incorporate new knowledge and skills, changing teaching and learning methods or changing roles and expectations of graduates. Unplanned curriculum evolution arguably happens continually, usually taking the form of "minor" changes that in combination over time may produce a substantially different programme.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Lumbar Spondylolysis in White and Black Patients.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Objective: To the best of our knowledge, the prevalence of lumbar spondylolysis in white and black populations has never been studied using computed tomography (CT). The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the prevalence and characteristics of lumbar spondylolysis in white and black patients.

Clinical supervisors' and students' perspectives on preparedness for veterinary workplace clinical training: An international study.

Background: The alignment of student and workplace supervisors' perspectives on student preparedness for veterinary workplace clinical training (WCT) is unknown, yet misalignment could negatively impact workplace learning. The aim of this study was to quantify the relative importance of WCT preparedness characteristics according to students and supervisors and to identify differences.

Methods: A survey was completed by 657 veterinary students and 244 clinical supervisors from 25 veterinary schools, from which rankings of the preparedness characteristics were derived.

A Qualitative Study on the Experiences of Preclinical Students in Learning Clinical and Communication Skills at a Simulation Centre.

Introduction: Simulation centres (SC) and its learning resources are now firmly established as part of medical education. In SC, medical students obtain both knowledge and skills based on a combination of theory and practice using provided resources. This study aims to explore medical students' use of SC learning resources to learn clinical and communication skills based on Kolb's experiential learning cycle.

Supporting validity: steps to contextualise applications for technology and assessment, for learning.

In the paper, the authors offer perspectives on the uses of technology and assessment, that support learning. The perspectives are viewed through validity (from the field of assessment) as a framework and they discuss four aspects of an interconnected technology, learning and assessment space that represent theory informed, authentic practice. The four are: 1) integrated coherence for learning, assessment and technology; 2) responsibilities for equity, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing; 3) sustainability; and 4) balancing resources in global contexts.

Faculty perceptions regarding an individually tailored, flexible length, outcomes-based curriculum for undergraduate medical students.

Purpose: The perception of faculty members about an individually tailored, flexible-length, outcomes-based curriculum for undergraduate medical students was studied. Their opinion about the advantages, disadvantages, and challenges was also noted. This study was done to help educational institutions identify academic and social support and resources required to ensure that graduate competencies are not compromised by a flexible education pathway.

Remote online open book examinations: through the lenses of faculty and students in health professions programmes.

Background: Open book examinations have been used to assess students' higher order cognitive skills. These examinations can be conducted online remotely with the advancement of technology. However, there are concerns regarding its validity and reliability particularly if the examinations are not proctored.

Communication skills in primary care settings: aligning student and patient voices.

Introduction: Effective communication is essential for patient-centred relationships. Although medical graduates acquire communication skills during undergraduate training, these have been shown to be inadequate in early practice. Both students' and patients' perspectives are required to improve readiness for the workplace, patient satisfaction, and health outcomes.

Irreversible Electroporation for Liver Metastases from Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Background: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a non-thermal form of ablation based on the delivery of pulsed electrical fields. It has been used to treat liver lesions, particularly those in proximity to major hepatic vasculature. The role of this technique in the portfolio of treatments for colorectal hepatic metastases has not been clearly defined.

Rating and ranking preparedness characteristics important for veterinary workplace clinical training: a novel application of pairwise comparisons and the Elo algorithm.

Quantitatively eliciting perspectives about a large number of similar entities (such as a list of competences) is a challenge for researchers in health professions education (HPE). Traditional survey methods may include using Likert items. However, a Likert item approach that generates ratings of the entities may suffer from the "ceiling effect," as ratings cluster at one end of the scale.

Inclusion in global health professions education communities through many lenses.

In this paper, we reflect on what inclusion can mean to the global Health Professions Education (HPE) community, the impact of lack of inclusion, and offer suggestions on how to be inclusive. To illustrate the impact of inclusion, we offer perspectives from the lens of a medical student, junior doctor, educators, and educational leaders. The viewpoints offered in this communication can be useful to broaden and nurture inclusive pedagogy and scholarship.

Synthesis and perspectives from the Ottawa 2022 conference on the assessment of competence.

Introduction: The Ottawa Conference on the Assessment of Competence in Medicine and the Healthcare Professions was first convened in 1985 in Ottawa. Since then, what has become known as the Ottawa conference has been held in various locations around the world every 2 years. It has become an important conference for the community of assessment - including researchers, educators, administrators and leaders - to share contemporary knowledge and develop international standards for assessment in medical and health professions education.

Does preoperative corticosteroid injection increase the risk of periprosthetic joint infection after reverse shoulder arthroplasty?

Background: Corticosteroid injections (CSIs) are used for the symptomatic management of osteoarthritis. However, their use may contaminate the joint space and pose an increased risk of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) following reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess whether there is any association between the timing of CSI and the incidence of PJI at 90 days, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively.

Stakeholder perspectives on veterinary student preparedness for workplace clinical training - a qualitative study.

Background: The success of workplace clinical training (WCT) is important given that veterinary students are licensed to work independently upon graduation. Considering this, it is perhaps surprising that there is limited published work describing what it means to be prepared for this educational experience, particularly given that the transition to WCT can be stressful for students. This paper reports the results of a qualitative study aiming to generate a rich understanding of veterinary student preparedness for WCT using emic, or insider, perspectives of key stakeholders.

Prevalence and characteristics of thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in 3299 Black patients: a cross-sectional study of a prospectively registered database.

Objectives: To the best of our knowledge, the prevalence of thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (T-OPLL) in the Black population has never been studied and is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and characteristics of T-OPLL in the Black patients.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study.

Technology enhanced assessment: Ottawa consensus statement and recommendations.

Introduction: In 2011, a consensus report was produced on technology-enhanced assessment (TEA), its good practices, and future perspectives. Since then, technological advances have enabled innovative practices and tools that have revolutionised how learners are assessed. In this updated consensus, we bring together the potential of technology and the ultimate goals of assessment on learner attainment, faculty development, and improved healthcare practices.

An exploratory study on the challenges faced and coping strategies used by preclinical medical students during the COVID-19 crisis.

Purpose: The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis on medical education includes reduced clinical training, a significant loss of learning time and a probable decline in confidence of being a doctor. These recent changes will have significant effect on the well-being of medical students and interventional support needs to be given early. This study explores the challenges faced and coping strategies used by preclinical medical students during the crisis.

Mind your language: the importance of english language skills in an International Medical Programme (IMP).

Background: Language proficiency is crucial for doctors as they communicate with patients, peers and other healthcare professionals. Although proficiency in English is part of admission requirements, there is a gap in the knowledge of medical students' perception of factors enhancing English language (EL) skills during training in international medical programmes (IMPs). The gap prevents educators and policy makers from helping students who struggle with communication skills during medical training.

Adaptive leadership during challenging times: Effective strategies for health professions educators: AMEE Guide No. 148.

Leadership and management are becoming increasingly recognised as vital for high-performing organisations and teams in health professions education. It is often difficult for those embarking on leadership activities (as well as more experienced leaders) to find their way through the volume of literature and generic information on the topic. This guide aims to provide a framework for developing educators' understanding of leadership, management, and followership in the context of health professions education.