Student Champion Research Articles

The comparison of a top-level Japanese tennis player's serve-performance evolution between two seasons

This study sought to determine the impact of changes in serve performance (relationship between speed, spin rate, reproducibility, and impact height) on world rankings for one top-level Japanese tennis player in 2017, when he became the All Japan Student Champion, and in 2022, when he represented Japan in the Davis Cup and won the ITF tournament (M25 Monastir: 10 Jan - 16 Jan 2022). This study clarifies the impact of changes in serve performance on world rankings in 2022. The results showed that, among the three types of serves (flat, slice, and kick), there were higher values for slice and kick in 2022 compared to 2017. Higher ball speed values were found for flat in 2022 and lower values for slice and kick in 2017. In 2022, all serve heights were higher, resulting in an increase in the flat success rate, which had the lowest reproducibility. These results suggest that longitudinal measurement and evaluation of the relationship between speed, spin rate, reproducibility, and impact height when serving is important for improving competitive performance.

The State of Vascular Surgery Interest Groups in North America

Vascular surgery interest groups (VSIGs) raise awareness and attract medical students to the specialty. There has been a plateauing of applicants interested in integrated programs. The goal of this survey was to assess the activities of VSIGs and identify factors associated with matriculation into vascular surgery residency. A survey was administered to members of the association of program directors in vascular surgery. It inquired about the presence of a VSIG at the corresponding medical schools. The program directors at institutions lacking VSIGs were asked about possible hurdles in establishing one. The rest of the survey focused on the different activities of the VSIG. The VSIGs were divided into low enrollment if less than 10% of the students in that group pursue vascular surgery training and high enrollment if greater than 10% of the students pursue vascular surgery. Chi-squared test was used for comparison. There were 65/123 programs that responded (53% response rate). The responses came most commonly from programs in the Northeast (36.9%). Only 37% (n=24) had a VSIG at their institutions. Lack of time (65.2%) and lack of a student champion (60.9%) were the most common hurdles encountered by the program directors who considered establishing a VSIG. Comparing the 2 groups of VSIGs, there was no difference in terms of the training paradigm, experience of program director, or geographical location. The VSIGs had comparable duration of activity, number of students, and meeting frequency. There was no difference in clinical exposure outside the curriculum between the 2 groups with observation on the wards and in clinic being most common. Endovascular simulation was significantly (P=0.01) more common in low enrollment (83.3%) compared with high enrollment (33.3%) VSIG. There was a trend in the high enrollment group for more vascular anastomosis training (75% vs. 66.7%) that did not reach statistical significance (P=0.65). There was no difference between the 2 groups in career development opportunities and education activities. Most VSIGs (75%) operated with a budget of less than $1,000 based on divisional or departmental funding (low enrollment=66.7% versus high enrollment=41.7%, P=0.22). Only one-third of the vascular surgery training programs have an associated VSIG. Vascular surgery training programs should promote VSIG formation with equal emphasis on endovascular and open surgery, thus providing medical students an early exposure to the specialty.

Peer-led information literacy training: a qualitative study of students' experiences of the NICE Evidence search Student Champion Scheme.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Evidence search Student Champion Scheme aims to enable undergraduate health and social care students to teach their peers skills for information literacy (IL), thereby encouraging future evidence-based practice. To analyse the Student Champions' teaching methods; discover what effects the Scheme had on their IL; and uncover any differences between disciplines. Fifty-one reflective reports, written by Student Champions and submitted to NICE, were thematically analysed using a non-linear six-stage model. Four health disciplines from academic year 2017/2018 were featured. (a) Students preferred active teaching methods; (b) reported benefits of participation included gaining/developing new skills and increased confidence; (c) students believed that participating improved their skills for IL; (d) multiple recommendations for improving the Scheme were given; and (e) students wanted the Scheme to be offered earlier in their degrees. Champions from all disciplines positively benefit from participating in the Scheme. However, they also have concerns which are not well-documented in the literature. Student Champions have overall positive experiences. There is demonstrated improvement in their IL, and they become familiar with a useful evidence-based practice resource. They also offer recommendations for future improvements to the Scheme.

Evaluating student perceptions and awareness of social prescribing

ABSTRACTThe importance of Social Prescribing (SP) has been highlighted in the National Health Service (NHS) Long-Term Plan. SP is enabling healthcare professionals to refer patients to a link worker, to co-design a non-clinical social prescription to improve their health and well-being. Our aim was to explore perceptions, understanding, and awareness of SP amongst United Kingdom (UK) medical students.Views were collected using pre- and post-session surveys around teaching sessions in 27 UK medical schools as part of NHS England’s National SP Student Champion Scheme. Pre-session surveys suggested 93% (n = 848) of respondents had not heard of the concept of SP before the session. Post-session surveys highlighted that 98% (n = 895) regarded the concept as useful and relevant to their future careers.Findings show a lack of awareness regarding Social Prescribing (SP) amongst UK medical students. New strategies are needed to ensure the doctors of tomorrow are equipped with the necessary tools to achieve the recent outcomes for graduates and implement plans for the NHS and general practice which highlight the importance of personalised care. We believe general practice can play an integral role in shaping values and beliefs amongst tomorrow’s doctors through formal education and mentoring.

Exploring student perceptions and awareness of social prescribing

BackgroundThe importance of social prescribing has been illustrated by the NHS Long Term Plan, as well as the GP Forward View published in 2016. Social prescribing is enabling healthcare professionals to refer patients to a link worker, to co-design a non-clinical social prescription to improve their health and well-being. A lack of awareness of social prescribing has been suggested in the past, although no studies have been formally conducted to date to provide the evidence basis for this statement.AimExploring perceptions, understanding, and awareness of social prescribing among medical students across the UK.MethodStudent views were collected using a survey delivered before and after teaching sessions as part of the NHS England National Social Prescribing Student Champion Scheme. A total of 932 responses were recorded from 27 different medical schools.ResultsPre-session surveys suggested that 91% (n = 848) of medical students have never heard of the concept of social prescribing before the teaching session. Post-session surveys highlighted that 98% (n = 913) of students regarded the concept as useful and relevant to their future careers following teaching on the subject.ConclusionSurvey findings confirm a significant lack of awareness regarding social prescribing among medical students from 27 different medical schools across the UK. New strategies are needed to ensure the doctors of tomorrow are equipped with the necessary tools to achieve the recent outcomes for graduates which highlight the importance of personalised care and social sciences.

Improving the digital literacy competence of nursing and midwifery students: A qualitative study of the experiences of NICE student champions.

Developing competence in digital literacy is an important component of health professional education in order to increase confidence in accessing best evidence for clinical practice. Regulators of pre-registration nursing programmes in the UK have stipulated an increasing number of digital competencies that will be required by future nurses. The teaching of digital literacy skills may be achieved through a range of methods, including didactic, experiential and peer-taught approaches. The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have developed the NICE student champion scheme (NICE SCS) to train health care students to deliver digital literacy sessions on using the NICE Evidence Search engine to peers. This scheme has previously been evaluated from the perspective of medical and pharmacy students, but there has been no published evaluation of the experiences of nursing and midwifery students. In this study focus groups were used to explore the experiences of those who acted as NICE student champions. Findings were that student champions experienced benefits, which ranged from greater facility in using the search engine and a better understanding of accessing resources and information about evidence-based care. Student champions described improvements in their presentation skills and knowledge, despite some challenges in facilitating sessions.

PC116. Medical Student Interest Groups: The Future of 0-5 Success

Vascular surgery interest groups (VSIG) raise awareness and attract medical students to the specialty. There has been a plateauing of applicants interested in integrated programs. The goal of this survey is to assess the activities of VSIGs and identify factors associated with matriculation into vascular surgery residency. A survey was administered to members of the Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery. It inquired about the presence of a VSIG at the corresponding medical schools. The programs that lack VSIG were asked about possible hurdles to establish one. The rest of the survey focused on the different activities of the VSIG. The VSIGs were divided into group A if 10% of the students in that group pursue vascular surgery training and group B if more 10% of the students go into vascular surgery. The χ2 test was used for comparison. There were 65 of the 123 programs that responded (53% response rate). The responses came most commonly from programs in the Northeast (36.9%). Only 37% (n = 24) had a VSIG at their institutions. Lack of time (65.2%) and lack of a student champion (60.9%) were the most common hurdles encountered by the programs who have considered establishing a VSIG. Comparing the 2 groups of VSIGs, there was no difference in terms of the training paradigm, experience of program director, or geographic location. The VSIGs had a comparable duration of activity, number of students, and meeting frequency. There was no difference in clinical exposure outside the curriculum between the 2 groups with observation on the wards and in clinic being most common (group A, 75% vs group B; P = .39). Endovascular simulation was significantly (P = .01) more common in group A (83.3%) compared with group B (33.3%) and there was a trend in group B for more vascular anastomosis training (75% vs 66.7%) that did not reach statistical significance (P = .65). There was no difference between the 2 groups in career development opportunities and education activities. Most VSIG (75%) operated with a budget of less than $1000 based on sectional or departmental funding (group A, 66.7% vs group B, 41.7%; P = .22; Table). Only one-third of the vascular surgery training programs have an associated VSIG. Endovascular simulation may attract students that eventually pursue a purely endovascular alternative specialty. Vascular surgery programs should promote VSIG formation and emphasize open surgical simulation to attract medical students.TableActivities of vascular surgery interest groups (VSIG) divided by the percentage of patients going into vascular surgerySurvey questionsGroup A (≤10%) (n = 12), No. (%)Group B (>10%) (n = 12), No. %PWhat kind of vascular surgery training program is available at your institution? Integrated residency16.7 (2)8.3 (1).81 Fellowship41.7 (5)41.7 (5) Both41.7 (5)50 (6)How long have you been a practicing vascular surgeon? 1-10 years33.3 (4)50 (6).41 ≥11 years66.7 (8)50 (6)How long have you been a vascular surgery program director? <6 years75 (9)58.3 (7).39 ≥6 years25 (3)41.7 (5)In which geographic region is your institution located? U.S. Northeast33.3 (4)53.9 (6).25 U.S. Midwest33.3 (4)7.7 (1) U.S. South8.3 (1)30.8 (4) U.S. West16.7 (2)7.7 (1) Canada8.3 (1)0For how many years has the VSIG been active at your medical school? <4 years66.7 (8)58.3 (7) ≥4 years33.3 (4)41.7 (5)On average, how many medical student members do you have in the VSIG? ≤10 students66.7 (8)66.7 (8).67 >10 students33.3 (4)33.3 (4)How frequently do the members of your VSIG convene to meet? Twice a year or less33.3 (4)25 (3).65 Quarterly or more66.7 (8)75 (9)What kind of clinical exposure is provided to your VSIG, outside of the required medical school curriculum? Observation on wards and clinics75 (9)58.3 (7).39 Participation in the operating room66.7 (8)46.1 (6).41 Participation in the angiography suite58.3 (7)25 (3).1 Attendance of noninvasive laboratory8.3 (1)8.3 (1)1What are the variety of skills development activities your VSIG is involved in? Vascular anastomosis training66.7 (8)75 (9).65 Endovascular simulation83.3 (10)33.3 (4).01 Suturing workshop75 (9)66.7 (8).65What opportunities for career development do the members of your VSIG have? Prematch and postmatch panels8.3 (1)25 (3).27 Faculty mentorship91.7 (11)91.7 (11)1 Exposure to academic and private practices50 (6)41.7 (5).68What educational activities do the members of your VSIG engage in? Case presentation and review50 (6)33.3 (4).41 Research projects66.7 (8)66.7 (8)1 Attendance to regional and national vascular meetings83.3 (10)75 (9).62 Journal club25 (3)25 (3)1How frequently do you organize social events (dinners/mixers with faculty, residents and students) for the members of your VSIG? 1-2 times per year or less91.7 (11)66.7 (8).13 3-6 times per year8.3 (1)33.3 (4)How much monetary funding do you allocate toward your VSIG per year? <$100075 (9)75 (9)1 ≥$100025 (3)25 (3)1What are your sources of funding? Departmental and sectional66.7 (8)41.7 (5).22 School of medicine41.7 (5)33.3 (4).67 Industry partners16.7 (2)25 (3).61 Open table in a new tab

Peer teaching and information retrieval: the role of the NICE Evidence search student champion scheme in enhancing students' confidence.

This research reports on the NICE Evidence search (ES) student champion scheme (SCS) first five years of activity (2011-2016) in terms of its impact on health care undergraduate students' information search skills and search confidence. A review of students' evaluation of the scheme was carried out to chart the changes in attitude towards NICE Evidence search as an online health care information source and to monitor students' approach to information seeking. This study is based on the results of questionnaires distributed to students before and after attending a training session on NICE Evidence search delivered by their own peers. The exercise was implemented in health related universities in England over a period of five consecutive academic years. (i) Students' search confidence improved considerably after the training; (ii) ES was perceived as being an increasingly useful resource of evidence based information for their studies; (iii) the training helped students develop discerning search skills and use evidence based information sources more consistently and critically. The NICE SCS improves confidence in approaching information tasks amongst health care undergraduate students. Future developments could involve offering the training at the onset of a course of study and adopting online delivery formats to expand its geographical reach.

Champions and e-books: using student Library Champions to inform e-book purchasing strategies

How students really use e-books is a subject of much interest to library professionals. This has particular relevance when it comes to selecting suppliers and e-book platforms for institutional use. The question of preferred formats (print versus digital) has been asked exhaustively, but technology develops fast and is here to stay in higher education, so a more pressing question is how we evaluate which platforms offer the best user experience for our students. At the University of Exeter we used our student Library Champion volunteers as a focus group, repeating the process over two years, to help determine which platforms were preferred. Champions examined multiple interfaces, but concentrated primarily on aggregators. They were encouraged to use their own laptops and tablets to access the e-books, which proved particularly valuable as it allowed interfaces to be rated for their compatibility across devices. Positive and negative feedback was collated, sent to providers and also used directly to inform and alter the Library’s purchasing preference list.

A passport to better care.

Having worked as a healthcare assistant (HCA) for almost 20 years, Lorraine Ramnath found training to become a nurse at the Open University gave her a new insight into patient care.

Cova: The first SEG Wiki Student Champion

This SEG Wiki interview, the second of the 2016 series, features Raul Cova, Ph.D. candidate at the University of Calgary. Cova contributed more than 200 edits during the annual competition. His contributions primarily centered on technical improvements to figures, equations, and references within Sheriff's Encyclopedic Dictionary in the SEG Wiki. Cova joins Isaac Farley, SEG digital publications manager, to discuss these contributions and the resulting SEG Wiki Student Champion award ( http://wiki.seg.org/wiki/Wiki_awards ). [Figure: see text]

Peer-based information literacy training: Insights from the NICE Evidence Search Student Champion Scheme

There is a widespread acknowledgement that with ever-increasing levels of access to digital information sources, students need to be supported in the development of their information literacies. Academic libraries and librarians have taken the lead in the development of information literacy programmes. Whilst there has been much sharing of good practise, there has been less consideration of alternative models of the outcomes of information literacy programmes. To contribute to addressing this gap, this article reports on an evaluation of student peer delivery of an information literacy scheme in the specific context of a medical and health information portal. The Student Champion Scheme (SCS) is an initiative designed to promote the use of a national specialist health and social care information portal, Evidence Search, amongst students in the health professions, and thereby to further embed evidence-based practise. The SCS run by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, UK), uses a model of training, in which student champions are first trained by NICE staff, and then the champions train their peers. This study evaluates the scheme on the basis of secondary data gathered by NICE during the evaluation processes associated with two annual cycles of the SCS, together with focus groups with champions, and interviews with prospective university-based co-facilitators of the scheme. Findings suggest that the scheme is successful in promoting use of the portal, Evidence Search, and in developing advocates amongst champions. The evaluation offers a range of insights into the benefits and challenges associated with such a scheme, whose interest and implications extend beyond this specific scheme. To be successful the quality of peer training and peers' identification with and belief in the value of both the training they deliver, and specific information sources is pivotal. In addition, training is strengthened by contributions from librarians and academics, and a climate in which all participants are clear about their specific contribution. It is recommended that academic libraries should seek to develop a range of differentiated information literacy programmes, each with specific objectives, to suit different audiences, and undertake regular evaluation as a basis for improvement and innovation.

Debbie Davies 1957-2013 Nurse, nurse teacher, student champion and medical anthropologist

Deborah Davies (née Whetcombe), who has died after a long illness, was one of those lecturers that nursing students do not forget. She was a gifted teacher who continually strived to develop the quality of nurse education.

Milton in the Age of Fish: Essays on Authorship, Text, and Terrorism – Edited by Michael Lieb and Albert C. Labriola

Milton in the Age of Fish: Essays on Authorship, Text, and Terrorism – Edited by Michael Lieb and Albert C. Labriola

“Cave Man” Meets “Student Champion:” Sports Page Storytelling for a Nervous Generation during America's Jazz Age

This study shows that coverage of the Jack Dempsey-Gene Tunney prize fight appealed to publishers of all stripes. Although defenders of journalistic respectability charged the tabloids with sensational coverage, they participated in telling tales of heroism, hokum, and cultural spectacle.