Training Program For Medical Students Research Articles

Two-week intensive medical student point-of-care ultrasound training impact on long term utilization

BackgroundThere is little to no data evaluating long term usage of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) after a training intervention for medical students. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of an intensive POCUS training program on medical student’s usage at 9-months post-program.MethodsThis was a prospective cross-sectional study of rising second year medical students who participated in a 2-week summer POCUS training program. Instruction consisted of 8 h of asynchronous online didactic material, 2–4 h of daily hands-on instructor-led and independent scanning, and instruction on how to teach POCUS. Students were assessed pre- and post-program, and again at 9 months post-program to evaluate POCUS usage.ResultsA total of 56 students participated in the program over 2 summers; 52 (92.9%) responded to the 9-month post-program survey. At 9 months, 49 (94.2%) of students taught POCUS after the program to peers or faculty. Students reported serving as a POCUS instructor in 283 subsequent teaching sessions accounting for 849 h of POCUS instruction time. Six (11.5%) students were involved in the creation of a POCUS interest group on their regional campus, 7 (13%) created a POCUS curriculum for their student interest group, and 4 (7.7%) created an opt-in co-curricular POCUS program for students at their regional campus. Three (5.8%) students did not serve as educators after the program and only one student reported not using POCUS again after the program.ConclusionAfter a 2-week intensive POCUS training program for medical students, the majority of students demonstrated continued involvement in POCUS learning and education at 9-month follow-up including serving as peer instructors and assisting with limitations in financial resources and trained faculty.

Impact of liminality and rituals on professional identity formation in physician training.

The transition from medical student to practicing physician affects the complex processes of professional identity formation and professionalism, which have a lasting effect on the physician's career development. This study explored two different transitional processes of medical students in Taiwan, the associated rituals during this transitional period (the 'liminal phase') and their effect on the formation of professional identity. Using snowball sampling, we recruited 13 medical students from two training systems: six from the traditional postgraduate year programme and seven from the accelerated postgraduate year (A-PGY) programme. Semi-structured interviews were thematically analysed to identify significant themes that encapsulated trainees' experiences. A consistent and mutually confirmed discussion ensured the identification of robust recurring themes. A comparative analysis of the two training modalities provided critical insights into the relative impact of the training dynamics. The A-PGY cohort, subjected to an altered 'incorporation' ritual, encountered an influx of unexpected symbolic social power, complicating their transformation within the liminal phase. Without a defined internship like in the PGY system, A-PGY trainees exhibited confusion and inconsistencies in professional identity formation marked by conflicting internal and external perceptions. This ambiguity affected their clinical training, social integration and overall development of professionalism. The absence of a structured, sequential liminal phase increased conflict and diminished motivation, culminating in an incomplete self-crafting journey for A-PGY trainees. This study highlights the impact of the well-sequenced implementation of rituals in liminality on professional identity formation. A good transition training programme for medical students should compass sequential rituals in the liminal phase, including clear starting and ending points, supervision by seniors, guided reflection and plenty of opportunities for observation and imitation in context. Optimal training and pivotal elements in a medical training system warrant delicate design and further research when developing and changing the structure of the training programme.

Early Exposure of Medical Students to a Formal Research Program Promotes Successful Scholarship in a Multi-Campus Medical School.

Many physicians today struggle to learn the complexities of the biological basis for evidence-based medicine. To bridge this gap, the Medical Scholar Research Pathway Program (MSRPP) founded in 2019 prepares medical students for analytical reasoning and critical thinking while engaging in faculty-mentored research projects in a community-based public medical school. MSRPP is an application-based extracurricular research program, designed for novice and experienced medical students. Three distinct pathways offer ample opportunities for pre-clinical and clinical students to participate in research on a flexible schedule. The program director guides students in one-on-one coaching meetings to set achievable goals with their faculty mentor, and plan their research deliverables, considering their interests and residency plans. We report the implementation of a multi-year and multi-campus research training program for medical students across five campuses. Our results show that five class cohorts (2021-2025) of MSRPP students were twice as likely to seek formal research support than students not in the program. MSRPP students continuously growth their self-confidence to disseminate their research by practicing oral communication in monthly Launch talk research reports and bi-annual research conferences. Moreover, students report they learn technical communication skills and feel inspired to participate in research by interacting with invited faculty seminars. MSRPP students have a significantly higher scholarship output as compared to non-MSRPP students. Early indicators show that students that participate in formal research programs have a measurable difference for matching into competitive residencies. MSRPP students report that they have gained research competencies and technical skills to establish a baseline to promote their future research engagement. This study provides other peer medical schools with strategies to create the infrastructure to support and promote medical student research. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40670-024-02098-6.

Developing and Implementing a Training Programme for Medical Students to Become Peer Educators in Simulation-Based Education

Peer assisted learning is a useful strategy for medical students to learn from one another in a safe, structured capacity. As a pilot, we designed a training programme in collaboration with medical students to equip them with the knowledge, skills and abilities to act effectively as peer educators in simulation-based education.

Developing an Effective Team-Based Emergency Training Program for Medical Students

Developing an Effective Team-Based Emergency Training Program for Medical Students

Evaluation of an OSCE's implementation and a two-step approach for a theoretical and practical training program in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is a well-known assessment method to evaluate clinical skills and competence in healthcare. Following the recently reformed National Competence-Based Catalog of Learning Objectives in Medicine, the implementation of this assessment method in the training program for medical students is now obligatory in Germany. This major change requires a reorganization not only of the training programs but also of the students themselves and the way they learn. We performed a poll evaluating the students' opinions regarding these major changes and the implementation of the OSCE with a new training program. To implement this assessment method and to evaluate the OSCE, Kern's six-step approach comprising (1) problem identification and general needs assessment, (2) needs assessment of the targeted learners, (3) goals and objectives, (4) educational strategies, (5) implementation, and (6) evaluation and feedback was applied. To evaluate and gather feedback, a poll was used to analyze the student's opinions regarding OSCE in gynecology and obstetrics and OSCE in general, in addition to the regular analysis of the students' results. To reform the educational strategy, a two-step approach was developed: First, the students completed the regular training program and a written examination, and second, they participated in a 1-week clerkship, in small group teaching, and in the OSCE. The OSCE stations were developed primarily based on the National Competence-Based Catalog and the German Catalog of Learning Objectives in Medicine, as well as on the feedback of experts reflecting their expectations for physicians beginning their careers. The students performed well in the OSCE and gave positive feedback regarding this examination method. Furthermore, they welcomed the upcoming changes by considering OSCE a valuable assessment tool, and they showed appreciation for the two-step approach by supporting the combination of an OSCE and a written examination. Thus, this article presents the implementation of an OSCE and a strategy for the adaptation of the curriculum to fulfill the new OSCE requirements and-to our knowledge-reveals students' primary opinions regarding the changes in their medical training program for the first time.

Evaluation of a Pain Identification and Treatment Training for Medical Students Based on the “Good Medical Practice” Framework

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a pain identification and treatment training program for medical students based on the “good medical practice” framework.
 Methods: A questionnaire was used to collect data from a total of 732 students who received the 3-day pain identification and treatment training held by the algology department between 2014 and 2021. The questionnaire included 8 questions about the definition of pain, types of pain, assessing pain, treatment methods and analgesic drugs. The students completed the questionnaire in person before training and 3 months after the training. A total of 732 pre-training and 230 post-training questionnaires were included in the analysis.
 Results: Correct response rates before and after the training, respectively, were 11.3%(n=83) and 77.4%(n=178) for knowing which nerve fibers conduct pain; 22.3%(n=163) and 74.8%(n=172) for knowing what “VAS” stands for; 76%(n=556) 90.4%(n=208) for giving correct examples of chronic pain; 6.3%(n=46) and 63.5%(n=146) for knowing what the World Health Organization’s analgesic ladder is; and 24.8%(n=178) and 87.7%(n=202) for giving correct examples of strong opioid analgesics (p

Successful implementation of a rater training program for medical students to evaluate simulated pediatric emergencies.

Simulation-based training is increasingly used in pediatrics to teach technical skills, teamwork, and team communication, and to improve potential deficiencies in pediatric emergency care. Team performance must be observed, analyzed, and evaluated by trained raters. The structured training of medical students for the assessment of simulated pediatric emergencies has not yet been investigated. We developed a rater training program for medical students to assess guideline adherence, teamwork, and team communication in simulated pediatric emergencies. Interrater reliability was measured at each training stage using Kendall tau coefficients. In 10 out of 15 pairs of raters interrater reliability was moderate to high (tau>0.4), whereas it was low in the remaining 5 pairs of raters. The interrater reliability showed good agreement between medical students and expert raters at the end of the rater training program. Medical students can be successfully involved in the assessment of guideline adherence as well as teamwork and team communication in simulated pediatric emergencies.

Commentary on Ultrasound Instruction in Undergraduate Medical Education: Perspective from Two Students.

Ultrasound integration in undergraduate medical education (UME) has been a focused endeavor in recent years. According to the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, more than a third of all US medical schools have adopted a focused ultrasound training program for medical students. Medical student perspectives on best practices in ultrasound education are lacking in the literature. Two students' reflections are presented regarding two different didactic approaches, flipped classroom and self-study learning models, to teaching ultrasound in the pre-clinical medical education curriculum. Students present reflections on these didactic approaches to facilitate further improvement in ultrasound education curricula. The self-directed learning model enabled students to learn foundational ultrasound exam techniques efficiently in a low-stress environment and subsequently optimized the efficiency of later faculty-led learning events. However, we noted that in both the flipped classroom and self-study learning models of education, the training on basic physical properties of ultrasound, tissue characteristics, and probe manipulation was limited. A self-study learning model ultrasound curricula improves perceived learning efficiency and student confidence, especially when followed by faculty-guided didactics and scanning opportunities. We suggest a framework for ultrasound education curricula that includes components of both formats of ultrasound education alongside faculty-led sessions as an ideal model of ultrasound education. Further, we propose the added benefit of inanimate object scanning to optimize students' knowledge of waveform physics (image acquisition and physical properties of materials) early in the ultrasound education process.

Assessment of students' satisfaction with virtual robotic surgery training

ObjectiveNowadays, in Bulgaria there is a trend of increasing entry into the surgical field of robot-assisted surgery operations, which suggests a need for the establishment of a large number of specialists in this field in a short period. Based on these arguments, the Medical University of Varna was the first university in the country to introduce a robotic surgery training program for medical students. The study aims to investigate the medical students’ satisfaction on robotic surgery training provided at Medical University of Varna with da Vinci Skills Simulator. DesignDuring the summer semester of the academic 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 years, a pilot training of robotic surgery was conducted with 5th year students in Medicine. Within one month, the students had the opportunity to get acquainted with the simulator of da Vinci Xi robotic system. The training was divided into two modules: a two-week theoretical module and a two-week practical module. After completing the training, students filled out a questionnaire dedicated to assess their satisfaction with the proposed training. Correlation between their responses and the objective parameters assessed on the simulator was calculated. ResultsThirty participants (16 men and 14 women) shared their opinion on easiness of use and usefulness of the robotic simulator in training of surgery activities. Students’ responses highly evaluated both aspects with average five-point Likert scale scores of 4.3 and 4.5, respectively. 93% of the participants would continue their further education and training in robotic surgery field. In addition, there was no correlation between objective evaluation by the simulator and students responses. ConclusionsTraining in robotic surgery proves to be a useful approach for training students to develop skills and profession in the field of surgery. The results suggest that training in this field may be accomplished even at the student level, by exploiting the robotic surgery in realistic scenario and thus, in a timely manner to find out the surgical direction they want to be further evolved.

Routine use of mobile electronic devises by schoolchildren and students and its correction by hygienic education

Many research works have described negative effects produced by use of electronic devices, mobile ones (smartphone, tablets) included, on children, adolescents and youth. However, the problem has many aspects and not all of them have been explored profoundly. In this study, our aim was to conduct hygienic assessment of routine use of mobile electronic devices by schoolchildren and students and to give grounds for its correction by hygienic education. By conducting a survey, we obtained data on use of mobile electronic devices by 1218 schoolchildren and students both in their educational and spare time activities and created a profile of a work and rest routine when working with mobile electronic devices. 943 students and schoolchildren were examined by an ophthalmologist. Next, issues related to hygienic education were integrated into the training program for medical students at the Hygiene Department of the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University. The emphasis was on creating a safe routine of using mobile electronic devices. Schoolchildren and students who adhered to a healthy work and rest routine when working with mobile electronic devices complained about health disorders authentically less frequently (p ≤ 0.05).We established a statistically significant relative risk for visual acuity if schoolchildren and students did not pursue a safe routine of using mobile electronic devices. Its level was RR = 3.07 (95 % CI =1.88–5.03). By the end of hygienic studies with their focus on creating a safe routine of using mobile electronic devices, medical students had an authentic (p ≤ 0.05) increase in visual acuity due to decline in such states as routine accommodative excess and pre-myopia. Work and rest routines accepted by children, adolescents and youth when they use mobile electronic devices are a manageable risk factor of health disorders in these population groups. This study shows that hygienic education may be quite effective for correcting a routine of using mobile electronic devices by schoolchildren and students.

Режим использования мобильных электронных устройств обучающимися и его коррекция средствами гигиенического воспитания

Many research works have described negative effects produced by use of electronic devices, mobile ones (smartphone, tablets) included, on children, adolescents and youth. However, the problem has many aspects and not all of them have been explored profoundly. In this study, our aim was to conduct hygienic assessment of routine use of mobile electronic devices by schoolchildren and students and to give grounds for its correction by hygienic education. By conducting a survey, we obtained data on use of mobile electronic devices by 1218 schoolchildren and students both in their educational and spare time activities and created a profile of a work and rest routine when working with mobile electronic devices. 943 students and schoolchildren were examined by an ophthalmologist. Next, issues related to hygienic education were integrated into the training program for medical students at the Hygiene Department of the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University. The emphasis was on creating a safe routine of using mobile electronic devices. Schoolchildren and students who adhered to a healthy work and rest routine when working with mobile electronic devices complained about health disorders authentically less frequently (p ≤ 0.05).We established a statistically significant relative risk for visual acuity if schoolchildren and students did not pursue a safe routine of using mobile electronic devices. Its level was RR = 3.07 (95 % CI =1.88–5.03). By the end of hygienic studies with their focus on creating a safe routine of using mobile electronic devices, medical students had an authentic (p ≤ 0.05) increase in visual acuity due to decline in such states as routine accommodative excess and pre-myopia. Work and rest routines accepted by children, adolescents and youth when they use mobile electronic devices are a manageable risk factor of health disorders in these population groups. This study shows that hygienic education may be quite effective for correcting a routine of using mobile electronic devices by schoolchildren and students.

Establishment of a vaccine administration training program for medical students

While vaccine administration training is included in the curriculum for several health professions, it is not universally incorporated into the medical school preclinical curriculum. To fill this education gap, a pilot vaccine training program for first- and second-year medical students was conducted using an online Centers for Disease Control and Prevention module and an in-person simulation with nursing faculty. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the training program. Pre- and post-surveys used a Likert 5-point scale to assess the training effectiveness. Ninety-four students completed the surveys (response rate, 93.1%). Following the training, students felt more comfortable giving a patient a vaccine under the supervision of a physician (P < 0.0001), volunteering in a community-wide vaccine campaign (P < 0.0001), and administering vaccines during clinical rotations (P < 0.0001). Most students, 93.6%, found the in-person training to be “effective” or “very effective,” and 97.8% felt that learning how to administer vaccines should be incorporated into the preclinical medical curriculum. Without this program, 76 students (80.1%) would not have been able to participate in a vaccine training. The interdisciplinary training program outlined in this study may serve as a model for similar initiatives at other medical schools.

A training programme for medical students in providing spiritual care to people with advanced diseases and their loved ones: A case study from the Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland.

PurposeThis article presents the first programme on spiritual care particularly for people with advanced life-limiting illness including heart failure, lung disease or cancer for medical students in Poland implemented at the Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń.Methods and materialsSeveral steps were identified for the development of the first programme on spirituality for medical students at the Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz including preliminary work on the content of the programme, agreement on key concepts, terms, and definitions; consultations with teachers and review of the literature.ResultsThe first Polish spiritual curriculum for medical students was implemented. The spirituality curriculum will potentially contribute to better care for the people with advanced illnesses such as heart failure, chronic lung disease or cancer and improve the quality of relationships between professionals and patients.ConclusionThe article presents the content of the program, the expected learning objectives and ascribed teaching methods, along with the preliminary evaluation made by students.

Evaluation of a Novel Clinical Training Program for Medical Students on their Neurology Clerkship (P13-6.003)

Evaluation of a Novel Clinical Training Program for Medical Students on their Neurology Clerkship (P13-6.003)

Building a Community-Centered Public Health Advocacy Training Program for Medical Students.

Context:Public health advocacy is increasingly acknowledged as an essential component of practice in medicine. Medical schools, residency programs, and professional organizations have begun developing curricula in an effort to teach advocacy. This article describes the structuring and evolution of the Dr Pete Dehnel Public Health Advocacy Fellowship, an innovative program prioritizing a community-centered approach to teaching physician advocacy to medical students.Program:Created by the Twin Cities Medical Society (TCMS), the fellowship's curriculum adopts a cohort-based learning model organized around skills training, personalized physician-mentor pairing in a shared field of interest, and hands-on advocacy activities. The curriculum also centers insights and practical knowledge from community members who are outside of the health care sphere alongside those of experienced physician-advocates.Implementation:TCMS partnered with an independent research organization to conduct an ongoing developmental evaluation (DE) of the fellowship. DE focuses on rapid-cycle feedback and utilization of findings to inform the development of program components. This enables TCMS to customize the fellowship's curricular components to the local context and in response to student and mentor feedback.Evaluation:Early findings have allowed TCMS to refine curricular components while providing evidence of significant gains in 3 areas of growth among fellows: perceived knowledge and advocacy skills proficiency; perceived self-efficacy; and motivation for lifelong advocacy practice.Discussion:Key fellowship components, including a flexible curricular structure with built-in adaptability and emphasis on long-term health advocacy engagement, are associated with student growth. These core elements along with a focus on community-centeredness can be integrated into curricula of other programs seeking to train medical learners and physicians to embrace a lifelong commitment to public health advocacy.

The Student Dermatology Clinic for the Underserved: A Service-Learning Model to Promote Skin Health Equity

People who are uninsured and live in underserved communities face several barriers to accessing dermatologic care, including financial, geographic, and racial barriers, resulting in detrimental effects on health outcomes and quality of life. We (1) describe and evaluate an innovative, student-faculty run dermatology free clinic that serves people in marginalized populations and (2) present action steps to strategically develop community partnerships and integrate a service-learning program into a dermatology residency training program for medical students and residents. The Student Dermatology Clinic for the Underserved (SDU) is a quarterly, student-faculty run free clinic at a community health center in Pittsburgh that serves the marginalized populations within our community. Interprofessional teams of medical students and dermatology residents evaluate patients, devise patient care plans with the dermatology attending physician, and coordinate follow-up care. In a survey of residents who voluntarily participated in SDU, 88% (n=8) report that their involvement increased their awareness of health disparities and social factors impacting dermatologic care and encouraged them to be more involved in community service throughout their career. The SDU clinic is an instrumental resource in our community that allows for patient-centered, longitudinal care, while reducing barriers to access for patients in underserved communities. In this service-learning model for dermatology residency training programs, we not only address the dermatologic needs of marginalized populations, but we also create a rewarding training environment for medical students and residents that facilitates vertical learning and interprofessional collaboration, fosters an interest in health disparities, increases skin health equity, and cultivates cultural sensitivity.

Brief online mindfulness training for medical students: a randomized control study

BACKGROUNDMedical students experience high levels of stress during their training. Literature suggests that mindfulness can reduce stress and increase self-compassion levels in medical students. However, most mindfulness training programs are delivered face-to-face and require significant time commitments, which can be challenging for rurally-based students with heavy academic workloads and limited support networks. PURPOSETo evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a brief online Mindfulness training program for medical students based in rural areas, with regards to reducing stress, increasing self-compassion, mindfulness and study engagement. METHODSThis is a non-registered randomised control trial. Participants included both urban and rural medical students from UWA, University of Notre Dame and the RCSWA from 2018-2020. Participants were randomised to the intervention group, an 8-week online mindfulness training program, or the control group. Using quantitative-qualitative mixed-methods approach, we measured the frequency, duration and quality of the participants mindfulness meditation practice, and assessed changes in their perceived stress, self-compassion, mindfulness and study engagement levels. Further, the intervention group recorded a weekly reflective journal documenting their experience of the program. RESULTS114 participants were recruited to the study. 61 were randomised to the intervention, and 53 to the control. Quantitative analysis of the frequency, duration and quality of mindfulness meditation practice and changes in stress, self-compassion, mindfulness and study engagement is currently being conducted. Preliminary qualitative results reveal that participants experienced increased self-awareness, more mindfulness of their day-to-day activities, improved emotional regulation and increased productivity, while also facing difficulties with making time for their mindfulness practice. CONCLUSIONWe anticipate that this study will demonstrate that an online mindfulness training program tailored to reach rurally located medical students is feasible and effective in modifying their stress levels and psychological wellbeing.

Analysis of the Present Situation of the Cultivation of Scientific Research and Innovation Ability in Medical Students and Exploration of the Scientific Research Training Mode

Background: This study aims to investigate, from different perspectives, the problems faced and the countermeasures suggested by five-year clinical medical students in an entrepreneurship training programme for medical students to promote medical teaching reforms. Methods: A total of 600 five-year clinical medicine majors (grades 16-18) at Bengbu Medical College (including those who did and did not participate in large-scale entrepreneurship programmes) were studied by means of internet questionnaires and interviews. Statistical analysis was used to analyse the results of 568 questionnaires. Results: Students generally hope for improvements in the quality and mode of scientific research instruction; they have a strong interest in scientific research and hope to receive training in scientific research in their spare time and that does not interfere with their studies. Moreover, students desire improvements in incentive policies for innovation, the introduction of liberal laboratory opening policies and the optimization of funding for scientific research. Conclusions: Clinical medical students in our hospital attach great importance to the cultivation of scientific research ability. The results clarify the problems faced by medical undergraduates participating in entrepreneurship programmes and provide specific quantitative data for the reform of medical education modes to cultivate the innovation capacity of medical students.

Overcoming the language barrier: a novel curriculum for training medical students as volunteer medical interpreters

BackgroundOver 41 million people in the United States speak Spanish as their primary language, of which 16 million have limited English proficiency (LEP). It is well-established that language barriers contribute to health disparities and that the use of ad-hoc interpretation by untrained family members results in substandard care. We developed a novel interpreter training program for medical students to serve as in-person interpreters at a charitable, resident continuity clinic so as to overcome the language barrier in the delivery of healthcare to LEP patients.MethodsThe Medical Student Interpreter Training Program (MSITP) consists of three steps. First, fluent Spanish-speaking students shadowed a licensed interpreter. Second, students took a standardized phone exam to demonstrate language proficiency. Finally, students completed a three-hour training on the methodology and ethics of interpreting conducted by the Department of Interpreter Services.ResultsPre- and post-tests were administered to assess students’ familiarity with the Interpreter Code of Ethics and interpreter skills. Familiarity with the Interpreter Code of Ethics increased significantly with all students reporting feeling comfortable (47%) or very comfortable (53%) after training. The pre- and post-tests included free response questions, which were administered to assess competence in the methodology and ethics of interpreting. The cohort’s aggregate score increased by 35% after the training (Wilcoxon signed rank z-score = 2.53; p = .01).ConclusionsImplementing the MSITP resulted in an increased number of trained, Spanish-speaking interpreters available to provide their services to LEP patients at an affiliated charitable clinic and throughout the university hospital. Unlike other program models which are time and resource-intensive, this program is replicable and easily managed by volunteers. The MSITP is an effective model for training students as medical interpreters to ensure the delivery of quality healthcare for LEP patients.