scholarly journals The Utility of Online Information Sessions for Medical Student Recruitment in Plastic Surgery: A New Paradigm Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 229255032110485
Author(s):  
Yehuda Chocron ◽  
Victoria Sebag ◽  
Dino Zammit ◽  
Stephanie Thibaudeau

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased barriers for medical students seeking to engage with plastic surgery. Traditional approaches such as pursuing clinical electives broadly are no longer feasible and medical students are seeking innovative approaches for engagement. The current study evaluated the efficacy of online information sessions on medical student perception and proposed a timeline for longitudinal medical student recruitment. Methods: The McGill Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery residency program held an online information session for medical students focusing on a wide array of topics related to plastic surgery and residency. Following the session, an anonymous survey was sent to participants gauging their satisfaction with the event and potential effects it had on career planning. Results: Thirty-four participants completed the survey, comprising more than 60% of annual applicants to Canadian plastic surgery programs. 94% of participants stated that their view of McGill’s training program improved and reported a desire for additional sessions from other training programs. 68% of respondents reported being more likely to consider training at McGill and 100% agreed that such sessions could influence their decision to pursue a given training program. Social media was the most common resource used by participants to gain information on training programs. Conclusion: Online information sessions are valuable tools for medical student recruitment and can directly influence their views of a specific training program and affect career planning. Investing in generating high quality content through online forms of communication is paramount as most medical students are turning to these platforms amidst the pandemic.

Author(s):  
Daniel C. Sasson ◽  
Nikhil D. Shah ◽  
Selcen S. Yuksel ◽  
Sarah A. Applebaum ◽  
Arun K. Gosain

2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (3) ◽  
pp. 848-854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Lubelski ◽  
Roy Xiao ◽  
Debraj Mukherjee ◽  
William W. Ashley ◽  
Timothy Witham ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVENeurosurgery seeks to attract the best and brightest medical students; however, there is often a lack of early exposure to the field, among other possible barriers. The authors sought to identify successful practices that can be implemented to improve medical student recruitment to neurosurgery.METHODSUnited States neurosurgery residency program directors were surveyed to determine the number of medical student rotators and medical students matching into a neurosurgery residency from their programs between 2010 and 2016. Program directors were asked about the ways their respective institutions integrated medical students into departmental clinical and research activities.RESULTSComplete responses were received from 30/110 institutions. Fifty-two percent of the institutions had neurosurgery didactic lectures for 1st- and 2nd-year medical students (MS1/2), and 87% had didactics for MS3/4. Seventy-seven percent of departments had a neurosurgery interest group, which was the most common method used to integrate medical students into the department. Other forms of outreach included formal mentorship programs (53%), lecture series (57%), and neurosurgery anatomy labs (40%). Seventy-three percent of programs provided research opportunities to medical students, and 57% indicated that the schools had a formal research requirement. On average, 3 medical students did a rotation in each neurosurgery department and 1 matched into neurosurgery each year. However, there was substantial variability among programs. Over the 2010–2016 period, the responding institutions matched as many as 4% of the graduating class into neurosurgery per year, whereas others matched 0%–1%. Departments that matched a greater (≥ 1% per year) number of medical students into neurosurgery were significantly more likely to have a neurosurgery interest group and formal research requirements. A greater percentage of high-matching programs had neurosurgery mentorship programs, lecture series, and cadaver training opportunities compared to the other institutions.CONCLUSIONSIn recent decades, the number of applicants to neurosurgery has decreased. A major deterrent may be the delayed exposure of medical students to neurosurgery. Institutions with early preclinical exposure, active neurosurgery interest groups, research opportunities, and strong mentorship recruit and match more students into neurosurgery. Implementing such initiatives on a national level may increase the number of highly qualified medical students pursuing neurosurgery.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Fraser ◽  
S. Al Youha ◽  
P. J. Rasmussen ◽  
J. G. Williams

Background: Plastic surgery as a discipline is poorly understood by many, including primary care physicians, nurses, medical students, and the public. These misconceptions affect the specialty in a number of ways, including referral patterns and recruitment of medical students into residency programs. The reason for these commonly held misconceptions has not yet been addressed in the plastic surgery literature. As such, we assessed medical students’ knowledge and perceptions of plastic surgery as a discipline and explored factors influencing these opinions. Methods: To assess medical students’ knowledge and perceptions of plastic surgery, we conducted an online survey. A total of 231 medical students responded. Interviews were then conducted with 2 focus groups, in which we explored the survey results and reasons behind these misconceptions. Results: As with previous studies, medical students showed a gap in knowledge with respect to plastic surgery. Although they were generally aware that plastic surgeons perform cosmetic procedures and treat burns, they were largely unaware that plastic surgeons perform hand and craniofacial surgeries. Focus groups revealed that television plays a large role in shaping their ideas of plastic surgery. Conclusion: Medical students have a skewed perception of the discipline of plastic surgery, and this is largely influenced by television. Interventions aimed at educating medical students on the matter are recommended, including a greater presence in the preclerkship medical school curriculum.


2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
S. Glover Takahashi ◽  
M. Alameddine ◽  
D. Martin ◽  
S. Verma ◽  
S. Edwards

This paper is describes the design, development, implementation and evaluation of a preparatory training program for international medical trainees. The program was offered for one week full time shortly before they begin their residency training programs. First the paper reports on the survey and focus groups that guided the learning objectives and the course content. Next the paper describes the curriculum development phase and reports on the topical themes, session goals and objectives and learning materials. Three main themes emerged when developing the program: understanding the educational, health and practice systems in Canada; development of communication skills; and supporting personal success in residency training including self assessment, reflection and personal wellness. Sample lesson plans and handouts from each of the theme areas are illustrated. The comprehensive evaluation of the sessions and the overall program is then also described. The paper then summarizes the identified key issues and challenges in the design and implementation of a preparatory training program for international medical trainees before they begin their residency training programs. Allan GM, Manca D, Szafran O, Korownyk C. Workforce issues in general surgery. Am Surg. 2007 Feb; 73(2):100-8. Dauphinee, WD. The circle game: understanding physician migration patterns within Canada. Acad Med. 2006 (Dec); 81(12 Suppl):S49-54. Spike NA. International medical graduates: the Australian perspective. Academic Medicine. 2006 (Sept); 81(9):842-6.


2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
I. Rigby ◽  
I. Walker ◽  
T. Donnon ◽  
D. Howes ◽  
J. Lord

We sought to assess the impact of procedural skills simulation training on residents’ competence in performing critical resuscitation skills. Our study was a prospective, cross-sectional study of residents from three residency training programs (Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine) at the University of Calgary. Participants completed a survey measuring competence in the performance of the procedural skills required to manage hemodynamic instability. The study intervention was an 8 hour simulation based training program focused on resuscitation procedure psychomotor skill acquisition. Competence was criterion validated at the Right Internal Jugular Central Venous Catheter Insertion station by an expert observer using a standardized checklist (Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) format). At the completion of the simulation course participants repeated the self-assessment survey. Descriptive Statistics, Cronbach’s alpha, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Paired Sample t-test statistical tools were applied to the analyze the data. Thirty-five of 37 residents (9 FRCPC Emergency Medicine, 4 CCFP-Emergency Medicine, 17 CCFP, and 5 Internal Medicine) completed both survey instruments and the eight hour course. Seventy-two percent of participants were PGY-1 or 2. Mean age was 30.7 years of age. Cronbach’s alpha for the survey instrument was 0.944. Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient was 0.69 (p < 0.001) for relationship between Expert Assessment and Self-Assessment. The mean improvement in competence score pre- to post-intervention was 6.77 (p < 0.01, 95% CI 5.23-8.32). Residents from a variety of training programs (Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine) demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in competence with critical resuscitation procedural skills following an intensive simulation based training program. Self-assessment of competence was validated using correlation data based on expert assessments. Dawson S. Procedural simulation: a primer. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2006; 17(2.1):205-13. Vozenilek J, Huff JS, Reznek M, Gordon JA. See one, do one, teach one: advanced technology in medical education. Acad Emerg Med. 2004; 11(11):1149-54. Ziv A, Wolpe PR, Small SD, Glick S. Simulation-based medical education: an ethical imperative. Acad Med. 2003; 78(8):783-8.


Author(s):  
Nguyen Van Dung ◽  
Giang Khac Binh

As developing programs is the core in fostering knowledge on ethnic work for cadres and civil servants under Decision No. 402/QD-TTg dated 14/3/2016 of the Prime Minister, it is urgent to build training program on ethnic minority affairs for 04 target groups in the political system from central to local by 2020 with a vision to 2030. The article highlighted basic issues of practical basis to design training program of ethnic minority affairs in the past years; suggested solutions to build the training programs in integration and globalization period.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer S Mascaro ◽  
Sean Kelley ◽  
Alana Darcher ◽  
Lobsang Negi ◽  
Carol Worthman ◽  
...  

Increasing data suggest that for medical school students the stress of academic and psychologicaldemands can impair social emotions that are a core aspect of compassion and ultimately physiciancompetence. Few interventions have proven successful for enhancing physician compassion inways that persist in the face of suffering and that enable sustained caretaker well-being. To addressthis issue, the current study was designed to (1) investigate the feasibility of cognitively-basedcompassion training (CBCT) for second-year medical students, and (2) test whether CBCT decreasesdepression, enhances compassion, and improves daily functioning in medical students. Comparedto the wait-list group, students randomized to CBCT reported increased compassion, and decreasedloneliness and depression. Changes in compassion were most robust in individuals reporting highlevels of depression at baseline, suggesting that CBCT may benefit those most in need by breakingthe link between personal suffering and a concomitant drop in compassion


e-CliniC ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Alberth Lallo ◽  
L. F. Joyce Kandou ◽  
Herdy Munayang

Abstrak: Kecemasan dialami oleh hampir semua orang di dunia, termasuk mahasiswa baru kedokteran. Mahasiswa baru kedokteran memiliki banyak stressor termasuk ujian yang menimbulkan kecemasan dan dapat mempengaruhi hasil ujian mereka. Sampai saat ini, hanya sedikit penyelidikan yang ditemukan menyelidiki fenomena ini. Di Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Sam Ratulangi, tidak ada yang meneliti fenomena tersebut. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menilai hubungan antara kecemasan dan hasil ujian semester 1 (UAS-1) mahasiswa baru program studi kedokteran umum tahun akademik 2012/2013 di Universitas Sam Ratulangi. Ini merupakan penelitian analitik potong lintang dengan metode survei dan sensus sebagai cara dalam pengambilan sampel. Sampel penelitian yang telah memenuhi kriteria inklusi dan ekslusi didapatkan berjumlah 298 orang dari 319 mahasiswa baru program studi kedokteran umum tahun akademik 2012/2013 di Universitas Sam Ratulangi. Populasi tersebut kemudian diberi informed consent, kuesioner data sosiodemografi, dan dinilai kecemasannya menggunakan Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS). Tidak ada hubungan yang signifikan antara kecemasan dan hasil UAS-1 (p=0,602>0,05). Ada hubungan yang signifikan antara jenis kelamin dan kecemasan (p=0,005<0,05) with odds ratio 2,91. 267 dari 298 mahasiswa (89,6%) mengalami kecemasan dengan kecemasan ringan sebagai tingkat kecemasan yang paling banyak ditemukan, berjumlah 177 orang (59,4%). Semua mahasiswa baru program studi kedokteran umum tahun akademik 2012/2013 di Universitas Sam Ratulangi mengalami kecemasan, terutama kecemasan ringan. Tidak terdapat hubungan antara kecemasan dengan hasil UAS-1 mereka, tetapi terdapat hubungan antara jenis kelamin dan kecemasan dengan kecenderuang hampir 3 kali bagi mahasiswa baru perempuan untuk mengalami kecemasan dibandingkan dengan mahasiswa baru laki-laki. Dibutuhkan penelitian lebih lanjut terkait coping strategies dan defense mechanism yang dilakukan mahasiswa untuk menganggulangi kecemasan mereka. Kata Kunci: Kecemasan, Ujian, Mahasiswa kedokteran.   Abstract: Anxiety is experienced by almost all people around the world including new medical students. New medical student experiences a lot of stressor include examination which cause anxiety to occur and may affect their exam results. Somehow, there are a few study found to date that has investigate this phenomenon. In Sam Ratulangi University, which is the nearest medical faculty, there is no research for such phenomenon. This study aims to investigate the relationship between anxiety and new medical student’s achievement on their last exam in Medical Faculty of Sam Ratulangi University. This is an analytic research using a survey method with census as the option of sampling. However, the research samples are who meet inclusion category and not in the exclusion category. The nearest samples are in Sam Ratulangi University who are given questioners to measure their anxiety by using Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) before their exam and to collect their sosiodemograpic data as well. There is no significant relationship between anxiety and their last exam results (p=0,602>0,05), but there is a significant relationship between gender and anxiety (p=0,005<0,05) with odds ratio 2,91. According to anxiety test results, 267 of 298 grade-1 medical students (89,6%) present an anxiety and the most prevalence anxiety level is mild anxiety with total 177 people (59,4%). In conclusion, almost all grade-1 new medical students in Medical Faculty of Sam Ratulangi University experienced anxiety with mild anxiety as the most prevalence anxiety level. There is no significant relationship between anxiety and their last exam results, but there is a significant relationship between gender and anxiety with almost 3 times for new female medical students experiencing anxiety than new male medical students. Further research is needed to investigate coping strategies and defense mechanisms which may be used to cope with their anxiety. Keywords: Anxiety, Exam, Medical Student


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