The clinical teacher
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The clinical teacher · Oct 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialInstructional video for teaching venepuncture.
Safe venepuncture technique is a critical skill for health care professionals, to avoid accidental occupational injury. This study investigates whether watching an instructional video improves medical students' ability to perform venepuncture safely. ⋯ Students who watched an instructional video performed venepuncture more effectively and reported greater confidence with the technique. Medical students can benefit from having access to an instructional video on venepuncture as an adjunct to the standard curriculum. Safe venepuncture technique is a critical skill for health care professionals.
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The clinical teacher · Dec 2010
Comparative StudyTeaching and learning spinal anaesthesia: anaesthetists' attitudes.
To identify the determinants of learning for one medical procedural skill, spinal anaesthesia, by eliciting the opinions of anaesthetists in Ireland and Hungary. This objective is one component of a research project, Medical Competence Assessment Procedure (MedCAP) funded by the EU Leonardo da Vinci Lifelong Learning Programme. ⋯ Anaesthetists in Ireland and Hungary believe that learning spinal anaesthesia is determined by factors related to the trainee (motivation, knowledge), the trainer (motivation, communication) and the training programme (feedback, demonstration prior to clinical performance). Differences between respondents from the two countries were identified in regard to attitudes towards problem-based learning and self-awareness. These findings can be used to inform the design of training programmes and simulators.
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The clinical teacher · Jun 2010
Facebook and the professional behaviours of undergraduate medical students.
The rapid growth and accessibility of social networking websites has fundamentally changed the way people manage information about their personal and professional lives. In particular, it has been suggested that interaction in virtual communities erodes elements of responsibility, accountability and social trust that build traditionally meaningful communities. The purpose of this study was to investigate how undergraduate medical students use the social network website Facebook, and to identify any unprofessional behaviour displayed online. ⋯ This research highlights the issue of social networking websites and professionalism amongst medical students. Further guidance from the GMC and medical schools should remind students that images and information placed on social networking sites is in the public domain, and could impact upon their professional reputation and identity.
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It has become commonplace for undergraduate medical students to attend lectures alongside 300 or more of their colleagues in large amphitheatres. The Audience Response System (ARS) is a technology that aims to address what has, as a consequence, become an inherently one-way learning environment, where audience participation is greatly impeded. ⋯ The ARS confers benefits to lecturers and students alike. For the lecturers these benefits centre on an immediate awareness of the audience's comprehension of the material, as well as of the progress of individual students. For the students, using clickers to answer questions during lectures appears to enhance their enjoyment, as well as to improve concentration and knowledge retention. Among the drawbacks that we discuss are the monetary cost of the technology, in addition to the training hours required for its implementation.
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Reducing prescribing errors is key to ensuring patient safety. Foundation-year doctors (FYs) have been found to be major contributors to prescribing errors, and often feel poorly prepared for prescribing by their undergraduate education. Numerous studies have reported these findings; however, few studies have introduced meaningful interventions. ⋯ We have introduced an inexpensive and simple prescribing aid, which has been statistically shown to improve prescribing confidence in FY1s. Foundation-year doctors have been found to be major contributors to prescribing errors.