An Open Source Solution for “Hands-on” teaching of PET/CT to Medical Students under the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Biermann ◽  
Salim Kanoun ◽  
Trond Davidsen ◽  
Robert Gray

Abstract Aims Since 2017, medical students at the University of Bergen were taught PET/CT “hands-on” by viewing PET/CT cases in native format on diagnostic workstations in the hospital. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students were barred access. This prompted us to launch and evaluate a new freeware PET/CT viewing system hosted in the university network. Methods We asked our students to install the multiplatform Fiji viewer with Beth Israel PET/CT plugin (http://petctviewer.org) on their personal computers and connect to a central image database in the university network based on the public domain orthanc server (https://orthanc-server.com). At the end of course, we conducted an anonymous student survey. Results The new system was online within eight days, including regulatory approval. All 76 students (100 %) in the fifth year completed their course work, reading five anonymized PET/CT cases as planned. 41 (53 %) students answered the survey. Fiji was challenging to install with a mean score of 1.8 on a 5-point Likert scale (5 = easy, 1 = difficult). Fiji was more difficult to use (score 3.0) than the previously used diagnostic workstations in the hospital (score 4.1; p < 0.001, paired t-test). Despite the technical challenge, 47 % of students reported having learnt much (scores 4 and 5); only 11 % were negative (scores 1 and 2). 51 % found the PET/CT tasks engaging (scores 4 and 5) while 20 % and 5 % returned scores 2 and 1, respectively. Conclusion Despite the initial technical challenge, “hands-on” learning of PET/CT based on the freeware Fiji/orthanc PET/CT-viewer was associated with a high degree of student satisfaction. We plan to continue running the system to give students permanent access to PET/CT cases in native format regardless of time or location.

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Sophie R. Mintz ◽  
Chantal A. Low ◽  
Ian J. McCurry ◽  
Terri H. Lipman

The Community Champions program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing provides motivated nursing students with opportunities to partner with the greater Philadelphia community and engage in hands-on learning. With several thriving initiatives, students participate in service learning outside of the classroom, which ultimately strengthens their nursing and leadership skills. Students work to improve health and health education for people of all ages. These experiences help nursing students better understand the social determinants of health and how they impact community members. Dedicated faculty members assist in guiding the students, who work collaboratively to exchange ideas and methods. This program not only has an effect on the community, but also has a profound impact on the students that participate.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albina Fejza ◽  
Fatjeta Maraj ◽  
Hajrullah Fejza

Background: Smoking is a common habit among the population in Kosovo. In the country, smoking occurs in public places, health and educational institutions despite being prohibited by law. Our objective was to describe smoking habits, knowledge and attitudes among medical students from all departments in the University of Prishtina, Faculty of Medicine. Methods: The present study followed the Global Health Professions Student Survey (GHPSS) standardized methodology including data processing procedures. A self-administered questionnaire used was derived from the GHPSS. A total of 600 students were invited in the study while 470 returned questionnaires and participated in the study. Descriptive statistics were used to present the data. The Fisher’s exact test was used to test the significance and a p-value<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The prevalence rate of smoking among students was 16.9% (95% CI 13.2-20). Current smokers were 79 students, 28.2 % males, and 7.7 % females. The study showed that 55.5% of students smoke less than a pack of cigarettes per day. Almost half of them (47.6%) who smoke reported to have a smoker inside the family.  This study also revealed that 74.7% of respondents smoke in the presence of non-smokers on daily bases. Conclusion: Despite threating their own health, smokers also cause noxiousness to the society and medical students should be role models for the others by not smoking. Even though the percentage doesn’t show a high rate of smokers in Medical University of Prishtina, still we need to pay attention to bad smoking habits and try to lower even more the percentage of smokers.


Author(s):  
Anne P. George ◽  
Elise E. Ewens

In the age of COVID19, the ultimate question in healthcare became who was essential and who was not. Basically, who could be cut from the roster in patient care? Unfortunately, as medical students, many of us did not make that cut, and as rotations were continually evolving and changing, students from even the same institution had varying experiences. Third-year clerkships are defined by the direct patient care and hands-on learning students get, but in the age of COVID19, “hands-on learning” has been a bit hard to come by. Hence, COVID has caused many changes in the way medicine is being taught and practiced. This article will detail the experiences of two medical students from the same institution, working in different locations for their third-year clerkships. We contrast our rural and urban experiences as students in the time of COVID and display the varying experiences students are having during this time. We touch on the potential ramifications for these wide varieties of experiences from students across the U.S. and how this will affect sub-internships and residency applications. 


2002 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 860-866 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.B. Piccoli ◽  
M. Burdese ◽  
D. Bergamo ◽  
E. Mezza ◽  
G. Soragna ◽  
...  

Background Dialysis is often neglected in academic teaching. At the University of Torino, Italy, teaching Nephrology (4th year of Medical School) consists of 21 hours of formal lessons, 10 hours/student of interactive lessons (4/10 dedicated to dialysis) and 10 optional lessons (3 regarding dialysis). Interactive and optional lessons widely employ computer assisted teaching. Aim of the study was to evaluate student satisfaction on this approach. Methods Student satisfaction was assessed on 4 sample lessons (166 students), by two short dedicated questionnaires (0–10 scale, open questions). Results High scores were given to the dialysis lessons (median 8/10). Computer assisted interface (median 8/10, range 6–10) was of help in check of knowledge in real time (86%), enhancing participation (61%); 62% suggest extending this experience to selected courses, 38% to all. Conclusions Medical students consider dialysis an important part of the academic teaching of Nephrology; new interfaces may help to enhance student satisfaction.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabiola Stollar ◽  
Bernard Cerutti ◽  
Susanne Aujesky ◽  
Daniel Scherly ◽  
Mathieu Nendaz ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Controversy remains about how successfully e-learning can improve clinical skills and knowledge acquisition. Our study's main objective was to compare the effects of e-learning versus traditional education on medical students' reasoning and how they applied their knowledge to clinical skills by evaluating their performance in a pediatrics exam based on key features. Our secondary objectives were to assess the factors associated with e-learning that might influence exam scores and to evaluate medical students' satisfaction with these two learning methods. Methods: Prospective observational study of two pediatric clerkship cohorts (2016–17 and 2017–18) of fourth-year medical students at the University of Geneva's Faculty of Medicine, Switzerland. All students participated in a standardized program of traditional seminars and e-learning using case-based scenarios. To compare the two learning methods, we taught two subjects using traditional seminars in 2016–17 and then using e-learning modules in 2017–18. To evaluate factors that might have influenced e-learning's effects, we monitored the use of all the e-learning modules studied in the months preceding the pediatric exam. Student satisfaction was evaluated using a questionnaire of four-point Likert scale-like items. Results: We included 299 medical students. Students using interactive e-learning modules had the same median scores for exam questions associated with e-learning as students who attended traditional seminars (median 80%, IQR 67%–100% vs. median 80%, IQR 67%–100%; p=0.975). A linear regression model showed an association between the scores for exam questions associated with e-learning and the number of quizzes taken and sex. Even though the overall satisfaction with the two learning methods was similar, students claimed that they learned more in e-learning than in traditional seminars, that learning objectives were better explained in e-learning modules, and that traditional seminars were better integrated into the curriculum.Conclusions: We found no evidence of a difference in students’ reasoning and how they applied their knowledge to clinical skills between e-learning and traditional seminar-based methods. The number of quizzes taken and being a female student were factors associated with better scores. Overall, students were satisfied with both learning methods, but they claimed that they learned more with e-learning.


Author(s):  
Carol Hulls ◽  
Chris Rennick ◽  
Mary Robinson ◽  
William Melek ◽  
Sanjeev Bedi

In Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo, a joint project involving small, inexpensive fuel cells cars was introduced to show how courses in the first term relate to one another. Additionally, the project was designed to provide the students with hands on learning, to give the students a taste of what to expect in later years, and to start incorporating many of the CEAB's graduate attributes at an introductory level. The fuel cell car consists of two low-voltage cells, a low power microcontroller and several sensors mounted on a motorised platform. Students employed concepts from chemistry, programming and mechatronics systems throughout the project, submitting reports at key milestones. during the projet, students needed to make decision in a team environment on which strageties to implement to meet the goals of the project. The project culminated in a final competition and report. Students were surveyed at the start, and end, and the term to measure any changes in attitude with regards to the courses as well as their satisfaction with the project. The project was well recieved by students but significant challenges remain to be solved.


2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Passoneau ◽  
Michele Christian

What can researchers do when they want to transform a traditional lecture into a collaborative, hands-on learning experience? How can participants learn and become empowered to construct and maintain historical records that reflect their experiences? An archivist can lecture students about basic archival practices and the students can learn a few skills, but hands-on activities for record creation and maintenance that facilitate participants’ learning will create collaborators with basic, but important, archival skills.At Iowa State University (ISU), the University Archivist and the Assessment Librarian partnered to create an educational outreach program with Greek (fraternity and sorority) students and alumni.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-63
Author(s):  
Andy Lalka ◽  
Ryan Caldwell ◽  
Andrew Black ◽  
Frank A Scott

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders are common medical problems encountered by physicians and affected 126.6 million Americans in 2012.  Musculoskeletal education has inadequate in United States medical schools. Objective: To determine the musculoskeletal competency of third year medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional 25-question nationally validated musculoskeletal competency exam was given to the third year medical students.  A survey was given to second and third year medical students to assess students’ level of interest in musculoskeletal medicine and their feedback regarding the curriculum. Results:  The mean score of the competency exam was 69.0%.  There was 48/107 (44.9%) students’ who reached the minimum passing score of 70%.  Free-response feedback from both classes featured themes of more hands-on learning, a longer clinical block, and more small-group learning sessions. Conclusions:  Third year medical students scored relatively well on the exam.  Student feedback suggests the 2-week musculoskeletal block is useful and relevant to their future careers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marwa Saad Yahya ◽  
Ali Abdulridha Abutiheen ◽  
Amer Fadhil Al- Haidary

Abstract Background Burnout is prevalent among medical students. Throughout their training, medical students face many psychosocial stresses that, if not managed, might cause burnout syndrome. Burnout could negatively impact students’ life and their academic performance. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of burnout among medical students at the College of Medicine, University of Kerbala, and assess factors associated with it. An analytic cross-sectional study. A sample of 424 students from all academic years from the College of Medicine, University of Kerbala, was approached. Data collection was conducted from June 11 to July 3, 2020, through a self-administered online questionnaire based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory Student Survey (MBI-SS). The MBI-SS included 15 questions with a 7-point rating ranging from 0 (never) to 6 (always). The tool measures three subscales: emotional exhaustion (5 questions), Cynicism (4 questions), and professional efficacy (6 questions). Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program version 24 was used for data analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the association between burnout and students̓ variables, P value of a level < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results The prevalence of burnout syndrome among medical students was 38.2%. About 85.6% of students had high emotional exhaustion, 77.8% had high cynicism, and 32.5% exhibited low professional efficacy. Female gender, regular use of legal substances, and family history of mental diseases were associated with significantly high rates of burnout. Conclusions Burnout is prevalent among medical students of the University of Kerbala with quite high levels of emotional exhaustion and cynicism and lower professional efficacy levels. Faculties of medicine need to consider burnout among their students and works to reduce unnecessary stresses by modifying and upgrading the educational and clinical environments.


Author(s):  
Stephanie Elaine Burnett

Online courses in horticulture increase the breadth of students who may be able to enroll. However, it is challenging to create hands-on learning experiences in online classes that are valuable for student learning. In an online introduction to horticulture class at the University of Maine, we created a hands-on project that is appropriate for students to work on independently at home. Students built an environmental monitoring system using a relatively inexpensive Raspberry Pi microcomputer and sensors for monitoring environmental factors that impact plant growth with a particular focus on monitoring temperature and humidity. They monitored the growing environment in their homes while growing house plants and used the information from their environmental monitoring system to determine whether their home environment was suitable for growing plants. Students were asked to use a pre-existing computer program in the Python language to monitor the environment. They also learned about how components of the code function and changed some simple parts of the code. A majority of students working on this project felt moderately confident, somewhat more confident, or very confident about their ability to use a Raspberry Pi microcomputer in the future. This project provides students with valuable hands-on experience in building environmental monitoring systems and provides them with a deeper understanding of the impact of the environment on plant growth.


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