A Multidisciplinary Approach: Teaching Medical Spanish to Medical Students Using Role-play

AbstractIntroductionThe Hispanic community is the most rapidly growing minority group in the United States, making up 18.1% of the population, with 40% reporting limited English proficiency. To address this need, many health sciences institutions have implemented medical Spanish courses to increase Spanish proficiency among future healthcare providers. Although interactive courses have shown efficacy in teaching field-related terminology, barriers to medical Spanish curriculum implementation persist. Our study investigated the benefit of role-play, an underutilized teaching modality, in a medical Spanish course.Methods19 second year medical students were recruited to participate. Based on their placement test performance, students were assigned to a beginner or intermediate group and met weekly for one-hour sessions over five consecutive weeks. Students assumed the roles of Spanish-speaking patient, English-speaking provider, and interpreter to practice various medical scenarios. Students completed pre- and post-course examinations to assess Spanish proficiency improvement. Statistical significance was determined using a p-value < 0.05.ResultsSeven students, all members of the intermediate group, completed the course. Attendance among this group was 77.4%. When comparing examination scores, there was statistically significant improvement in oral translation of phrases from Spanish to English (p-value= 0.03).DiscussionStatistically significant improvement in oral translation of phrases from Spanish to English was accomplished through a minimal time requirement of one hour per week utilizing role-play. Given the fact that limited time poses a barrier to implementing medical Spanish curricula, our findings highlight the potential benefit of this teaching methodology and call for further evaluation.

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Evaluation of a community health worker training program in rural Appalachia, USA

International Journal of Medicine ◽

10.14419/ijm.v3i1.4508 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 33

Author(s):

Wayne C. Miller

Keyword(s):

Community Health ◽

Training Program ◽

Health Worker ◽

Community Health Worker ◽

Test Performance ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

The United States ◽

Testing Procedures ◽

Rural Appalachia

Background: Limited support for healthcare services is one reason rural Appalachia is among the unhealthiest regions in the United States.Objective: Evaluate Level 1 of a multi-level community health worker (CHW) training program designed to train CHWs easily so they can affect community health.Methods: 198 CHWs evaluated their training curriculum. CHW activities were tracked for 19 months. Group data were analyzed with t-tests and ANOVA using mean ± SEM comparisons. Correlation coefficients and rank sum difference analyses were used to evaluate ranked variables. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.Results: Excellent or good rankings were given by 100% of CHWs for their instructor’s knowledge, 100% being treated fairly, 99% overall class rating, 97% fairness of exam, 96% course objectives met, and 92% course manual. CHW test performance did not affect any variable. CHWs were only asked one question every two months they could not answer. CHWs talked to four new people each month, two people a month for multiple visits, and three people a month for follow-up visits.Conclusions: No need to change the CHW curriculum, training materials, or testing procedures. A 15-hour CHW training program is adequate enough to provide valid healthcare service support in rural Appalachia, USA.

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Role play, a teaching strategy for psychiatry – students’ comparative perspective versus traditional teaching

Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association ◽

10.47391/jpma.1173 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Tabassum Alvi ◽

Nusrat Zareen ◽

Saira Farhan

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Teaching Strategy ◽

Role Play ◽

Study Groups ◽

Survey Study ◽

Control Group ◽

P Value ◽

Teaching Methodology ◽

Conventional Teaching ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Teaching process is undergoing innovations in medical education. Objective: The current survey study was designed to compare the effectiveness of conventional teaching methodology against role play method, as perceived by medical students. Methods: A questionnaire based survey research was conducted on the final year medical students at Majmah University, KSA in two settings during psychiatry module. First setting was when suicide was being taught and secondly when violence was being covered. At both settings the students were divided in two batches respectively, study and control using simple random technique. The control group was taught with a conventional methodology and the study group taught via role play method primarily. A questionnaire pertaining to students’ level of satisfaction regarding different aspects of learning process was given to the participants at the end of each teaching session. The response of the control and study groups in both settings was analyzed statistically applying chi square test. A p value of 0.05 or less was taken as significant. Results: In both settings the students of the control group significantly rated conventional teaching more interactive as compared to the role play. Also doubts clarification was more in the control group in the setting of suicide theme. Rest of the results, did not show any significant difference between the two modalities. Conclusion: It is concluded that although change in curricula is the need of the time, still students’ feedback is essential. If conventional teaching is adopted with a student centered approach, it can be equally Continuous....

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Pre-clinical versus clinical medical students’ attitudes towards the poor in the United States

Journal of Educational Evaluation for Health Professions ◽

10.3352/jeehp.2015.12.52 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 52 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Danial Jilani ◽

Ashley Fernandes ◽

Nicole Borges

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Clinical Training ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

The United States ◽

Clinical Group ◽

The Poor ◽

Students First ◽

Group A ◽

Fourth Year Medical Students ◽

Students Attitudes

This study assessed the poverty-related attitudes of pre-clinical medical students (first and second years) versus clinical medical students (third and fourth years). First through fourth year medical students voluntarily completed the Attitude Towards Poverty scale. First and second year students were classified together in the preclinical group and third and fourth year students together in the clinical group. A total of 297 students participated (67% response rate). Statistically significant differences were noted between pre-clinical and clinical students for scores on the subscales personal deficiency (P<0.001), stigma (P=0.023), and for total scores (P=0.016). Scores across these subscales and for total scores were all higher in the clinical group. The only subscale which did not show statistical significance between pre-clinical and clinical students was the structural perspective. Medical students in their clinical training have a less favorable attitude towards the poor than their preclinical counterparts.

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Feasibility of a Smartphone-Based Tobacco Treatment for HIV-Infected Smokers

Nicotine & Tobacco Research ◽

10.1093/ntr/nty208 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 398-407 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jonathan Shuter ◽

Ryung S Kim ◽

Lawrence C An ◽

Lorien C Abroms

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Cigarette Smoking ◽

Standard Care ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Minority Group ◽

The United States ◽

Response Options ◽

Quit Smoking ◽

Tobacco Treatment ◽

Persons Living With Hiv

Abstract Background Cigarette smoking is common among persons living with HIV (PLWH) in the United States. It is the leading cause of mortality in this group, and efforts to promote cessation have been largely unsuccessful. Methods From 2015 to 2017, we performed a randomized controlled trial of Positively Smoke Free–Mobile (PSF-M) versus standard care. PSF-M is a mobile Web site that offers a 42-day text message-based quit-smoking program with smartphone features including quit-day selection/calendar, educational/motivational videos, and HELP button for cravings. Results One hundred individuals enrolled, 48 were randomized to PSF-M (mean age = 45 years, 54% male, 81% black, 31% Latino) and 52 to the standard care condition. All participants were offered a 3-month supply of nicotine patches. Participants randomized to the mobile intervention visited the PSF-M home page a mean of 83 times, viewed 5.6/8 videos, logged in on 13 of 42 possible days, and received 131 texts. Among them, 77% tapped HELP for cravings, and craving response options were used by the following proportions: phone-a-friend, 58%; play-a-game, 29%; play-a-song, 4%. Older age and nonblack race were both associated with higher levels of engagement with the site. Of participants, 61% rated PSF-M very or extremely helpful, and 98% would recommend PSF-M to PLWH family or friends. Abstinence at 3 months, quit attempts, and daily cigarette intake all favored PSF-M over standard care but did not achieve statistical significance in our pilot sample. Conclusions Smartphone-based tobacco treatment for PLWH was feasible and achieved moderate–high rates of engagement and satisfaction in a middle-aged, ethnic or racial minority group in the poorest urban community in the United States. Implications Cigarette smoking has emerged as the leading killer of PLWH. Behavioral interventions have achieved only limited success in promoting cessation in this population. In this study, we explore the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a multimodal, Web-based, quit-smoking intervention delivered to PLWH smokers via their smartphones.

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Smoke and Mirrors: One Case for Ethical Obligations of the Physician as Public Role Model

Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics ◽

10.1017/s0963180108090142 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 95-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

JACOB M. APPEL

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Medical Students ◽

Role Model ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

The United States ◽

Healthcare Organizations ◽

The Public ◽

Public Role ◽

Quit Smoking ◽

Clean Air

As a result of workplace clean air regulations and strict guidelines imposed by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations in 1993, most hospitals in the United States are now virtually smoke free. Although evidence suggests that these restrictions both cause smoking employees to consume fewer cigarettes per day and induce some employees to quit smoking entirely, the policies have also driven many healthcare providers—including physicians—onto the public sidewalks for their cigarette breaks. Patients entering many hospitals pass white-coated medical students and residents puffing away at the curbside.

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Interprofessional Education and Collaboration in Healthcare: An Exploratory Study of the Perspectives of Medical Students in the United States

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare7040117 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 117 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Sunitha Zechariah ◽

Benjamin E. Ansa ◽

Stephanie W. Johnson ◽

Amy M. Gates ◽

Gianluca De Leo

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Interprofessional Education ◽

Online Survey ◽

Interprofessional Collaboration ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Opportunity To Learn ◽

The United States ◽

Working Environment ◽

Prior Exposure ◽

Clinical Case Studies

Qualified and competent healthcare professionals working in a collaborative team environment is a prerequisite for high quality patient care. In order to be successful in the healthcare working environment, medical students need to be exposed to interprofessional learning early in their education. A single stage online survey was administered to medical students to evaluate their attitudes and perceptions of interprofessional education (IPE) and whether prior exposure to IPE increased their appreciation for interprofessional collaboration. The results suggest that irrespective of prior exposure to IPE, medical students appreciated the importance of interprofessional education and collaboration. Medical students showed a strong interest in attending interprofessional courses in other disciplines. Time constraints, scheduling conflicts, and communication emerged as barriers to IPE. Medical students embraced IPE and welcomed the opportunity to learn with other disciplines. Clinical case studies and simulations were identified as potential methods to integrate with other healthcare disciplines. The positive attitude and perceptions of the medical students toward interprofessional education and collaboration warrants the inclusion of related courses in medical curricula, as this may further increase students’ potentials in becoming effective healthcare providers.

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

BMC Medical Education ◽

10.1186/s12909-021-03081-0 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Erik S Carlson ◽

Tatiana M Barriga ◽

Dale Lobo ◽

Guadalupe Garcia ◽

Dayana Sanchez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Training Program ◽

Limited English Proficiency ◽

Code Of Ethics ◽

The United States ◽

Language Barrier ◽

University Hospital ◽

Spanish Speaking ◽

Medical Interpreters ◽

Interpreter Training

Abstract Background Over 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. Methods The 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. Results Pre- 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). Conclusions Implementing 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.

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Trend of Regular Voluntary Blood Donation and its Associated Factors in Karachi - A Comparative Analysis of Medical and Non-medical Undergraduate Students

Pakistan Journal of Medicine and Dentistry ◽

10.36283/pjmd9-2/017 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nazish Jaffar

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Blood Donation ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Study Groups ◽

Medical Group ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Blood Donations ◽

Medical Undergraduate ◽

Donated Blood

Background: Regular voluntary unpaid blood donation assures safe blood supply in association with minimum infection transmission. The purpose of this study was to identify the frequency of regular voluntary blood donation and to evaluate the causes of donating blood as well as factors impeding blood donations among the medical and nonmedical students of Karachi. Methods: A comparative cross sectional study was conducted among medical and nonmedical students of JSMU and NED University respectively from May to October 2018. Sample size was 272 including 137 medical and 135 non-medical students. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Chi-square test of independence/ Fischer’s exact test were applied to assess statistical significance. Result: In medical group 5/21(23.8%) voluntary regular donors were recorded. In non-medical group, voluntary regular donors were found to be 8/30 (26.6%) (p>0.00). Medical students most commonly 15/21 (71.4%) donated blood voluntarily in a camp while non-medical participants frequently donated blood as replacement donors 13/30 (43.3%) (p>0.00). Major hindering factor for blood donation in both study groups was non-participation in blood donation derives i.e. 66/116 (56.8%) in medical and 53/105 (50.4%) in non-medical groups respectively. Anemia, 20/116 (17.2%) in medical and 15/105 (14.2%) in nonmedical students was the second major cause of not donating blood. Conclusion: The frequency of regular voluntary blood donations is very low among undergraduates. However, comparatively, the trend is slightly higher among non-medical group. The major hindrance in not donating blood was non-participation in blood donating derives.

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Capturing the surge of public interest towards Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin and BCG vaccine during COVID-19 Pandemic (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.19482 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shabbir Syed-Abdul ◽

Shwetambara Malwade ◽

Sim-Mei Choo

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Preventive Measures ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Specific Treatment ◽

Drug Effects ◽

The United States ◽

Bcg Vaccine ◽

Public Interests ◽

Treatment Regimes ◽

Appropriate Treatment

UNSTRUCTURED The outbreak of COVID-19 that started in December 2019, was declared a pandemic in March 2020. Currently, there is no specific treatment recommended and healthcare providers are struggling to find appropriate treatment regimes. Medication misinformation spread through social media has caused panic situations and self-prescription leading to harmful drug effects. The situation worsened following false propaganda via social media, leading to shortage of some medications. Our study shows the frequency of search for the medications Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), Azithromycin and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine in Google Trends, across 6 countries. Public interests from the United States, Italy and Spain leaned towards HCQ, whereas those from Taiwan, Japan and South Korea were keen towards learning about the BCG vaccine. Our article aimed to inform the general public of the adverse drug reactions to avoid self-prescription or yield to the assumptions of leaders and unanimous social media posts. Proactive participation and preventive measures such as social distancing, use of face masks and hand sanitizers are recommended to help curb COVID-19 and other infections.

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Medical Student Attitudes Toward Blood Donation in Times of Increased Need

The American Surgeon ◽

10.1177/00031348211011083 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 000313482110110

Author(s):

Rahima Khatun ◽

Banan W. Otaibi ◽

Anna Ssentongo ◽

Joshua P. Hazelton ◽

AmandaB. Cooper

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Student Attitudes ◽

Response Rate ◽

Blood Donation ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

The United States ◽

Mass Casualty ◽

Academic Institution ◽

Donor Pool ◽

Willingness To Donate

Background In situations of increased need, such as mass casualty incidents (MCIs) and COVID-19, donated blood products are in shortage across the United States. Medical students are a potential pool for blood donors. The aim of this study was to determine overall attitudes of medical students at a single academic institution toward blood donation during times of increased need. Methods Three anonymous REDCap surveys were administered to all medical students at a rural academic institution. Surveys 1 and 2 were administered preceding and after an institution-wide MCI drill, in September and November 2019, respectively. Survey 3 was administered following a student-organized COVID-19 blood drive in June 2020. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine if factors, ie, experience with MCI drills and emergency medical services (EMS) training, were associated with willingness to donate blood. Furthermore, barriers to donation among those not willing to donate were assessed. Results Overall response rate for MCI surveys (surveys 1 and 2) was 38% (mean age 25.2 years and 50% women). 91% (n = 210) of respondents were willing to donate blood. Previous participation in MCI drills and EMS training was not associated with higher willingness to donate blood. Response rate for survey 3 was 15.6% (59.4% women), and 30 (31.3%) respondents indicated they did not volunteer to donate blood during the COVID-19 drive. Most common reasons for not donating were “other,” medical concerns, and being out-of-town. Conclusions Majority of medical students are willing to donate blood during times of increased need and offer a possible solution to increase blood donor pool.

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