First-semester Medical Students Research Articles

Interactional competencies in medical student admission- what makes a "good medical doctor"?

Doctors' interactional competencies play a crucial role in patient satisfaction, well-being, and compliance. Accordingly, it is in medical schools' interest to select candidates with strong interactional abilities. While Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) provide a useful context to assess such abilities, the evaluation of candidate performance during MMIs is not always based on a solid theoretical framework. The newly developed selection procedure "Interactional Competencies - Medical Doctors (IC-MD)" uses an MMI circuit with five simulation patient scenarios and is rated based on the theoretically and empirically grounded construct of emotional availability. A first validation study with N = 70 first-semester medical students took place in 2021. In terms of convergent validity, IC-MD ratings showed strong correlations with simulation patients' satisfaction with the encounter (r =.57) but no association with emotional intelligence measures. IC-MD ratings were not related to high school performance or a cognitive student aptitude test, indicating divergent validity. Inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.63) and generalizability (Eρ2 = 0.64) were satisfactory. The IC-MD proved to be fair regarding participants' age and gender. Participants with prior work experience in healthcare outperformed those without such experience. Participant acceptance of the procedure were good. The IC-MD is a promising selection procedure capable of assessing interactional competencies relevant to the medical setting. Measures of interactional competencies can complement the use of cognitive selection criteria in medical student admission. The predictive validity of the IC-MD needs to be addressed in future studies.

An exploration of students’ use of digital resources for self-study in anatomy: a survey study

BackgroundThe development of technology has provided new ways for active engagement and for visualizing structures in anatomy education including digital resources that may be used outside of the classroom. To support students’ learning, there is a need to better understand students’ experiences of using digital resources. This study aimed to identify which resources students use, their preferences, the purpose of using them, and barriers to adopting tools for self-study of anatomy.MethodsA mixed -methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative data was used to collect and analyse data. Two consecutive cohorts of first-semester medical students (n = 278) were invited to complete an anonymized survey. The survey consisted of itemized questions, free-text space for comments, and one open-ended question. Descriptive statistics were used for demographics and itemized answers. Comments and free-text answers were analysed qualitatively using abductive inference.ResultsOne hundred and twenty-seven students completed the survey (response rate 45%). Most students (46%) reported that they spend more than 30 h/per week on self-study. They used a variety of digital resources for different purposes. Most students used digital resources to prepare for examinations, when they encountered difficulties and after going through a section. Students reported that they would use digital resources to a greater extent if they were offered an introduction, if resources were more accessible, and if they could interact with a tutor. The free-text responses revealed that digital resources helped students understand anatomy, allowed them to make active choices, provided tools for repetition and memorization, accelerated and simplified the learning process, and complemented other learning resources.ConclusionsDigital resources may support the understanding of anatomy by offering alternative modes of learning and providing a valuable complement to other learning resources. Educators should consider how digital resources are introduced and offer support and feedback.

Virtual Reality as a Complementary Learning Tool in Anatomy Education for Medical Students.

Virtual reality seems to be a promising tool to improve the study of anatomy; however, its efficacy compared to traditional methods remains unclear. This randomized experimental study included 42 first-semester medical students enrolled in a Morphology discipline, divided into two groups. Each group was interchangeably assigned to use virtual reality plus traditional methods or traditional methods alone in a four-section crossover design. Participants' scores in four distinct tests were compared between groups, as well as a motivation questionnaire. The results showed that virtual reality does not provide significant increase on scores neither short-, medium-, and long-term analysis. Nonetheless, in the motivation questionnaire, participants agreed virtual reality provides a better tridimensional view of the human body and therefore is a potential complementary tool when learning anatomy. We conclude virtual reality does not seem to have an impact on academic performance, but it was perceived as an engaging and promising complementary tool for the study of anatomy.

ISBARR Huddle: First-Year Medical Students Managing Critical Hypoglycemia as an Interprofessional Team.

Recognizing a patient requiring urgent or emergent care and initiating evaluation and management must include elements that support teams working and thinking together. Although team communication strategies exist, a standardized approach for communicating about patients with urgent or emergent conditions is lacking. This simulation was designed to provide first-semester medical students with the opportunity to deliberately practice the foundational teamwork skills required to think as a team while caring for a patient with critical hypoglycemia. Students were introduced to a team huddle that was structured using ISBARR (identify, situation, background, assessment, recommend, recap) to assist in synthesizing gathered information and arriving at a diagnosis and associated care plan. Students practiced in small groups with faculty coaches and then applied the skills learned to two cases of a patient with critical hypoglycemia followed by debriefing. Two hundred eight first-semester medical students participated in the simulation course across three campuses. We surveyed a single campus subset of 172 students. One hundred thirty-three students completed a postevent survey. The majority felt that the difficulty of the simulation was appropriate for their educational level (94%) and that the training would be applicable to real-life clinical events (76%) and would improve the quality and safety of care (100%). Survey comments highlighted teamwork and the use of the ISBARR huddle communication tool. The course provided first-semester medical students with standardized practice of a team-based approach using huddle communication to advance patient care.

Perception of undergraduate medical students regarding the use of Information and Communication Technologies

INTRODUCTION: Information and communication technologies enhance collaboration between students and health personnel worldwide to generate globalized health research and to improve the implementation of public health measures. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the perception of information and communication technologies of medical students from a private university in the city of Medellín-Colombia. METHODOLOGY: Descriptive observational study that included pre-med and first-semester medical students who gave their consent. Variables such as sociodemographic, academic, information, and communication technologies skills and perception were included in the study. The information was collected through a survey made in Microsoft Forms®; absolute and relative frequencies were used for the analysis. RESULTS: 69 students participated in the study, of which 69.5% (48) were women; the average age was 17 years. Regarding access to electronic devices, it was found that 98.5% (68) had a cell phone, while 94.2% (65) had their own computer, and 100% (69) had internet access at home. CONCLUSION: Students perceive that due to the pandemic, the use of the Internet for academic activities increased, which impacted the time that was dedicated to digital entertainment activities; furthermore, they perceive that the trend in the use of information and communication technologies leads to a dehumanization of society.

Percepción de los gerentes y directivos de las IPS públicas del Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá sobre los convenios docencia - servicio en salud

Objective: To find out the perception of the personnel with administrative responsibilities from second and third complexity-level public hospitals or State social enterprises in the Aburra Valley (which have teaching agreements, but that are not considered teaching hospitals), about medicine students’ rotation. The aim was to ascertain the institutional commitment to the formative processes, their knowledge of their methodology, as well as benefits or limitations that result from such processes. Methodology: A qualitative hermeneutical study in which 14 managers and professionals with administrative charges from six public hospitals of the Metropolitan Area of the Aburra Valley were interviewed. Results: the first-semester medical students’ practices are framed in basic matters because when they are starting their training, they are allowed little practice, have little or no direct relationship or intervention with patients and are denied access to their clinical history. Conclusions: first-semester Medicine students are framed in basic rotations. They require permanent accompaniment and supervision from teachers. The advantages that IPS ob¬tain due to the development of students’ practices are few compared to the limitations that this process causes.

LeiKA: an optional German general practice teaching project for first-semester medical students: who is taking part and why? A cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThis study investigates students’ adoption of LeiKA, a new extracurricular longitudinal general practice (GP) teaching project. LeiKA aims to attract a broad range of students, not only those who are...

“Effectiveness of the flipped classroom instructional method in Physiology teaching among diversified student group”-A Study from Guyana.

Background The flipped classroom teaching method is more active learning, and more student-centered, it is already gaining popularity across the globe in health science teaching. Available pieces of evidence are still contradictory. Few studies found that the flipped classroom teaching method is effective compared to traditional lectures in promoting student learning in basic medical science. On the contrary few studies reported that there was no significant difference found when compared with the traditional teaching method. The conflicting results are indicating that more in-depth research is warranted to find the effectiveness of flipped classroom instructional methods. No study was published on the effectiveness of the Flipped classroom teaching method among diversified student groups also. The study aims to find the effectiveness of a flipped classroom, among diversified student group. Methods The Cross-sectional study was adopted under Texila American University, Guyana Campus. Synaptic transmission and membrane potential topics were chosen from the Physiology Course. Sixty-two students from first-semester medical Students from 25 different countries were selected, they were randomly divided into two groups, Group-A was assigned for traditional didactic lecture method and group-B is assigned for flipped classroom Instruction method for one week. The study protocol was approved by the institutional review board. Multiple choice questions (MCQs) were given according to Bloom's Taxonomy for assessment, course evaluation Questionnaire was also provided after completion of the experiment to get feedback regarding the course. Data were analyzed by using descriptive analysis on SPSS 16. Results It has been observed that students participated in flipped classroom teaching has scored significantly high,54% of students scored above 90% marks compared to those students who have participated in the traditional teaching method, no one from this group scored 90% and above marks, even It has been revealed that students participated in flipped classroom instructional method developed significant improvement in course evaluations from the learning outcome (P

Motives for Choosing Medicine as a University Major: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Awareness of the motives of the students for choosing to study medicine demonstrates their understanding of the nature of this major and their expectations from their future profession. The evaluation of the volume of students who choose this major with wrong motives is necessary for educational planning of professional commitment. This study was conducted to evaluate the motives of choosing to study medicine in the first-year medical students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Methods:This descriptive analytical study was conducted on first-semester medical students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in the 2014-15 academic year who were selected through census sampling. The data collection tool was a self-administered questionnaire, which included questions on 17 different motives in a Likert scale in addition to demographic characteristics. Results: Of 131 distributed questionnaires, 124 (93%) were completed and returned. Eighty-six participants (65.61%) mentioned helping others as their main motive for choosing medicine followed by interest in the human body, interaction with people, professional prestige, and starting a good profession after graduation. On the other hand, unfamiliarity with other majors, competition with others, and teamwork were the least important motives. Conclusions: The students’ motives are mostly altruistic and in accordance with medical professionalism. These motives should be reinforced to enhance professional performance. Moreover, the faculty of medicine should recognize and offer counseling services to students with undesirable motives.

Engaging medical undergraduates in question making: a novel way to reinforcing learning in physiology

The monotony of conventional didactic lectures makes students less attentive toward learning, and they tend to memorize isolated facts without understanding, just for the sake of passing exams. Therefore, to promote a habit of gaining indepth knowledge of basic sciences in medical undergraduates along with honing of their communication and analytical skills, we introduced this more interactive way of learning. The present study was performed on 99 first-semester medical students. After conventional didactic lectures, students were asked to prepare small conceptual questions on the topic. They were divided into two teams, which were made to ask questions to each other. If a team failed to answer, the student who questioned was supposed to answer to the satisfaction of the other team's student. Data were then obtained by getting feedback from the students on a 10-item questionnaire, and statistical evaluation was done using MS Excel and SPSS. To draft questions, students went through the whole system comprehensively and made questions from every possible aspect of the topic. Some of the questions (30%) were of recall type, but most judged higher cognitive domains. Student feedback revealed that they were satisfied, motivated to read more, and were confident of applying this learning and communication skills in future clinical practice. Students also expressed their desire to implement this activity as a regular feature of the curriculum. The activity resulted in an increase in student perceptions of their knowledge on the topic as well as communicative and analytical skills. This may eventually lead to better learning.

The Miniproject: An initial step in scientific research skill development for first-semester medical students

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Although medical students involved in research training express greater interest in academic medicine, a paucity of clinician-scientists remains. Herein, we describe a feasible project, titled 'The Miniproject,' which introduces first-semester medical students to basic concepts in scientific research. The Miniproject was introduced in 2007 as part of a major curriculum reform to provide a structured, systematic approach to scientific training to Karolinska Institute's study programme in Medicine. The Miniproject itself was developed in recognition that emphasis is increasingly placed on student-centred study, which involves greater assumption of responsibility by the student for his or her own learning. Over the course of five days during the first weeks of medical school, students participate in a variety of activities designed to align with five intended learning outcomes. These intended learning outcomes include: formulating a scientific hypothesis; discussing, in broad terms, at least one method used to answer a scientific question; giving and receiving feedback from peers and teachers; demonstrating the ability to search, interpret, present and discuss written and oral scientific medical information; and actively engaging in a small group discussion. Teachers facilitate small group discussions, but encourage students to lead these discussions. Via electronic, anonymous evaluations, most students (65.1%) evaluated the Miniproject as good or very good. In conclusion, the Miniproject is a feasible project led by researchers, and which is designed to introduce first-semester medical students to scientific literature and the research process, as initial steps in the scientific development thread.

Assignment or Selection: Evaluation of Two Different Methods Used During Scientific Research Skill Development for First-Semester Medical Students

Abstract Introduction As part of the scientific research skill development for first-semester medical students, we evaluated two different methods employed during a novel activity based on Medical ...

Fostering interprofessional teamwork in an academic medical center: Near-peer education for students during gross medical anatomy.

The purpose of this report is to describe student satisfaction with a near-peer interprofessional education (IPE) session for physical therapy and medical students. Ten senior physical therapy students worked in peer-groups to develop a musculoskeletal anatomy demonstration for first-semester medical students. Together with their classmates, they demonstrated observation, palpation, and musculoskeletal assessment of the shoulder and scapular-thoracic articulation to medical student dissection groups in the Gross Anatomy laboratory. The medical students were encouraged to consider the synergistic function of shoulder structures and the potential impact of a selected pathology: rotator cuff injury. The session provided the medical students with an opportunity to integrate their new anatomical knowledge into a framework for clinical musculoskeletal evaluation. The experience offered senior physical therapy students an opportunity to work in teams with their peers, internalize and adapt to constructive feedback, and seek common ground with members of another profession. Both student groups reported a high degree of satisfaction with the sessions and expressed a desire for further interaction. These positive perceptions by student stakeholders have prompted us to consider additional IPE exchanges for the anatomy course in the upcoming school year. Given the positive outcome of this descriptive study, we now plan to systematically test whether near-peer IPE interactions can enhance the degree that students learn key anatomical concepts.

Initial knowledge of medical professionalism among Chinese medical students

Background: Initial knowledge of professionalism among medical students is particularly important for designing effective professionalism curricula and for studying the change in the knowledge of professionalism.Aim: The study examined first-semester medical students’ initial knowledge of important attributes of good doctors.Methods: Mixed methods were used to examine initial knowledge among first-semester students from a Chinese medical college. We used an open-ended survey to identify attributes of good doctors and grounded theory analysis to find emergent themes. We also used a close-ended survey to solicit students’ responses to 50 attributes of good doctors and explorative and confirmatory factor analysis to examine underlying factors.Results: 973 students completed the open-ended survey while 1730 students completed the close-ended survey. Through grounded theory analysis, 24 subthemes and three themes that include Ethics, Skill, and Person, emerged from the data. Explorative and confirmatory factor analysis showed convergent results: 24 valid items and three factors that include Ethics, Skill, and Person were identified.Conclusion: The initial knowledge of medical professionalism among first-semester students involves approximately 24 important attributes within three major dimensions of Ethics, Skill, and Person, with an overwhelming emphasis on Ethics. It is neither sophisticated nor comprehensive, compared with specialists’ professional knowledge.

Anatomy practice and medical education

Medical education is committed to a distant and impersonal model of medical care that does not take into consideration the complexity of the encounter between physician and patient. Some authors believe that the "dehumanizing posture" of physicians is encouraged by the pedagogical practice of dissecting cadavers. In this sense the relationship between student and cadaver would be a model preceding and shaping the relationship between physician and patient. This article describes a study on the impact of anatomy practice on first-semester medical students enrolled in the anatomy course at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Groups of 16 students attended four 1-hour meetings over the semester. Thirty-two groups were assessed over four semesters, with a total of 384 students. The activity was coordinated by medical psychology and anatomy professors, who took notes during the sessions. At the end of each semester the students filled out a questionnaire to help evaluate this teaching activity. In the groups, the most frequent themes were the first encounter with the cadaver, respect for the cadaver, and the presence or absence of humanity in the cadaver. In general the questionnaire showed that the students found the experience to be positive. We believe that the pedagogical activity described here provides an opportunity to reverse the gloomy state of affairs of dehumanized medical care. Group discussions help decrease students' anxiety with the cadaver. This in turn results in a more humane model for the physician-patient relationship and promotes change in the ideology of coldness and distance on the part of the physician. The paradox of medical education--being technical and also having to take into account the complexity of human relationships--can be resolved through activities such as this one.