Evidence and reporting standards in N-of-1 medical studies: a systematic review.

N-of-1 trials, a special case of Single Case Experimental Designs (SCEDs), are prominent in clinical medical research and specifically psychiatry due to the growing significance of precision/personalized medicine. It is imperative that these clinical trials be conducted, and their data analyzed, using the highest standards to guard against threats to validity. This systematic review examined publications of medical N-of-1 trials to examine whether they meet (a) the evidence standards and (b) the criteria for demonstrating evidence of a relation between an independent and an outcome variable per the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) standards for SCEDs.

In-situ simulation-based intervention for enhancing teamwork in the emergency department.

Simulation-based learning activities in the emergency department (ED) improve communication and teamwork and familiarise personnel with existing protocols. The authors' objective was to develop standardised in-situ simulations and to assess their effects on team performance during simulated patient care. The study was a prospective, single-centre pre-in-situ and post-in-situ simulation-based intervention in the ED of an academic hospital between March 2017 and February 2018.

Challenges in measuring ACGME competencies: considerations for milestones.

Background: Measuring milestones, competencies, and sub-competencies as residents progress through a training program is an essential strategy in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)'s attempts to ensure graduates meet expected professional standards. Previous studies have found, however, that physicians make global ratings often by using a single criterion.

Methods: We use advanced statistical analysis to extend these studies by examining the validity of ACGME International competency measures for an international setting, across emergency medicine (EM) and neurology, and across evaluators.

Characteristics and dispositional determinants of psychiatric emergencies in a University Hospital in Beirut.

Mental health problems are common in Lebanon, and so are psychiatric emergencies. In order to show the characteristics of psychiatric emergencies in Lebanon along with their dispositional determinants, we conducted this retrospective, single-center, chart-review study of patients who presented to the Emergency Department between July 1, 2016 until December 31, 2016 and required an official psychiatrist consultation. Our sample included 195 patients of all age groups.

Public knowledge of emergency medicine in Beirut, Lebanon.

Introduction: To examine the public's level of knowledge and expectations of Emergency Medicine (EM) in Beirut, Lebanon.

Methods: A nested cross-sectional study was conducted exploring participants' knowledge and expectations of EM; the skillset, role and scope of practice of the emergency physician, and the dynamics of the Emergency Department (ED).

Results: A majority understand EM physicians perform minor procedures (83%), have specialized training (79%) and that they should be treated by a specialized EM physician (74%).

Predicting Conversion from Laparoscopic to Open Cholecystectomy: A Single Institution Retrospective Study.

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the standard surgical treatment for benign gallbladder disease. Nevertheless, conversion to open cholecystectomy (OC) is needed in some cases. The aim of this study is to calculate our institutional conversion rate and to identify the variables that are implicated in increasing the risk of conversion (LC-OC).

The effect of patient death on medical students in the emergency department.

Background: The emotional consequences of patient deaths on physicians have been studied in a variety of medical settings. Reactions to patient death include distress, guilt, and grief. Comparatively, there are few studies on the effects of patient death on physicians and residents in the Emergency Department (ED).

Cynicism and other attitudes towards patients in an emergency department in a middle eastern tertiary care center.

Background: A caring, compassionate practitioner of the medical arts is the idealized version of what makes a good doctor. If asked to think of a painting of a doctor we most likely conjure an image of a physician sitting at a patient's bedside checking the pulse with a concerned look on his face. The reality is however that cynicism, among other negative attitudes, is becoming more prominent among physicians and medical staff.

The discrepancy rate between preliminary and official reports of emergency radiology studies: a performance indicator and quality improvement method.

Background: At teaching hospitals, radiology residents give preliminary reports for imaging studies requested from the Emergency Department (ED). Discrepancy rates between preliminary and final reports represent an important performance indicator.

Purpose: To present a system for feedback and follow-up of discrepancies, identify the variables associated with the rate and severity of such discrepancies, target the weaknesses, and suggest the need of a standard reference value for comparison among institutions.

Implementation of an emergency department computer system: design features that users value.

Background: Electronic medical records (EMRs) can potentially improve the efficiency and effectiveness of patient care, especially in the emergency department (ED) setting. Multiple barriers to implementation of EMR have been described. One important barrier is physician resistance.

War as a positive medical educational experience.

Context: There is little empirical evidence in the literature regarding the nature of the experiences of medical students during war. In this study we set out to assess and analyse the experiences of medical students and residents in Beirut, Lebanon during the 2006 Lebanon-Israel war.

Methods: Students and residents working at the American University of Beirut Medical Center and the Beirut Government University Hospital during the July 2006 war were invited to participate.