Development and use of a computerized system to track the competency development of family medicine residents: analysis of the convergence between system proposals and assessor decisions

AbstractIn recent decades, a number of training environments have moved toward program approaches targeting the development of competencies. Because of their complexity, monitoring the development of those competencies is a considerable challenge. Our hypothesis is that a computerized system could help overcome this challenge if it is well accepted by its users. We first summarize the context surrounding the implementation of such approaches. Next, we present a computerized assessment system established in the Family Medicine Residency Program of Laval University (Québec, Canada) that we have developed for tracking the development of residents’ competencies. We then present the analysis of interactions between the system and users and the various proposals that were made to improve the system and longitudinal tracking of the development of the targeted competencies. We consider that this research provides useful guidelines for the computerized monitoring of learners' competencies development and for the design of such systems.

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Validation of a Self-Administered Computerized System to Detect Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults

Journal of Applied Gerontology ◽

10.1177/0733464812455099 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 33 (8) ◽

pp. 942-962 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Samuel D. Brinkman ◽

Robert J. Reese ◽

Larry A. Norsworthy ◽

Donna K. Dellaria ◽

Jacob W. Kinkade ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Temporal Stability ◽

Assessment System ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Computerized Assessment ◽

Wechsler Memory Scale ◽

Assessment Systems ◽

Trail Making ◽

Executive Deficits ◽

Viable Approach ◽

Computerized System

There is increasing interest in the development of economical and accurate approaches to identifying persons in the community who have mild, undetected cognitive impairments. Computerized assessment systems have been suggested as a viable approach to identifying these persons. The validity of a computerized assessment system for identification of memory and executive deficits in older individuals was evaluated in the current study. Volunteers ( N = 235) completed a 3-hr battery of neuropsychological tests and a computerized cognitive assessment system. Participants were classified as impaired ( n = 78) or unimpaired ( n = 157) on the basis of the Mini Mental State Exam, Wechsler Memory Scale-III and the Trail Making Test (TMT), Part B. All six variables (three memory variables and three executive variables) derived from the computerized assessment differed significantly between groups in the expected direction. There was also evidence of temporal stability and concurrent validity. Application of computerized assessment systems for clinical practice and for identification of research participants is discussed in this article.

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RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION OF PATIENTS WHO APPLIED TO THE AMBULATORY OF GENERAL PRACTICE - FAMILY MEDICINE

Wiadomości Lekarskie ◽

10.36740/wlek201905139 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 72 (5) ◽

pp. 938-941

Author(s):

Оlexander Ye. Kononov ◽

Liliana V. Klymenko ◽

Ganna V. Batsiura ◽

Larysa F. Matiukha ◽

Olha V. Protsiuk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Family Medicine ◽

Middle Ages ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Medical Documentation ◽

Aged Patients ◽

Family Doctors ◽

Functional Changes ◽

Medicine Clinic ◽

Leading Role ◽

The Family

Introduction: In today’s realities of health care reform in Ukraine family doctors play a leading role. The aim of our work was to analyze the medical cards of patients who applied for medical care to the family medicine clinic. Materials and methods: It was analyzed outpatient medical cards of 87 patients who applied to the family medicine clinic in the Khotov village, Kyiv region. The study included people aged 18 to 60 years, which corresponded to the groups of young and middle ages according to the WHO classification. Review: Our findings indicate the prevalence of functional changes among young people: somatoform dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system - 9 (37,5%) and the development of organic manifestations at middle-aged patients: arterial hypertension - 32 (62,7%) and coronary artery disease - 17 (33,3%). Conclusions: This study is important for determining the risk groups, early diagnosis and prevention of diseases.

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Appraisal of the communication skills of residents in the Family Medicine Program in Central Saudi Arabia

Saudi Medical Journal ◽

10.15537/smj.2016.7.14335 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (7) ◽

pp. 804-808 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Saad Alsaad ◽

Sulaiman Alshammari ◽

Turki Almogbel

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Family Medicine ◽

Communication Skills ◽

The Family

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Patients’ Perspectives about Lifestyle Behaviors and Health in the Context of Family Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Study in Portugal

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18062981 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 2981

Author(s):

Rosália Páscoa ◽

Andreia Teixeira ◽

Micaela Gregório ◽

Rosa Carvalho ◽

Carlos Martins

Keyword(s):

Family Medicine ◽

Family Doctor ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Demographic Variables ◽

Future Research ◽

Lifestyle Behaviors ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Self Assessment ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Family

Lifestyle interventions are recognized as essential in the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases. Previous studies have shown that Portuguese patients tend to give more importance to diagnostic and laboratory tests than to lifestyle measures, and seem unaware that behavioral risks are the main modifiable risk factors. The study aimed to analyze patients’ perspectives about lifestyle behaviors and health in the context of family medicine in Portugal. A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Portugal (the mainland). A total of 900 Portuguese patients aged ≥20 years, representative of the population, were surveyed using face-to-face questionnaires. Participants were selected by the random route method. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were performed to evaluate differences between the personal beliefs and the personal behavior self-assessment, as well as between the level of importance given to the family doctor to address health behaviors and the reported approach implemented by the family doctor, and its association with bio-demographic variables. The results indicate that the vast majority of this Portuguese cohort has informed beliefs regarding lifestyle behaviors, tends to overestimate their own behavior self-assessment, and strongly agrees that it is important that their family doctor asks/advises on these lifestyle behaviors, although the proportion of those who totally agree that their family doctor usually does this is significantly lower. Differences concerning bio-demographic variables were found. Future research directions should focus on the politics, economics, and policy aspects that may have an impact in this area. It will also be important to understand more broadly the relationships between lifestyle behaviors and clinical, physical, and sociodemographic variables.

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Conference report: Conference on Research on the Family System in Family Medicine, January 13-16, 1985 San Antonio, Texas.

Family Systems Medicine ◽

10.1037/h0090039 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 214-215

Author(s):

Donald C. Ransom

Keyword(s):

Family Medicine ◽

Family System ◽

San Antonio ◽

Conference Report ◽

The Family

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Effect of diabetes self-management education on glycaemic control among type 2 diabetic patients at a family medicine clinic in Kenya: A randomised controlled trial

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine ◽

10.4102/phcfm.v10i1.1762 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Catherine W. Gathu ◽

Jacob Shabani ◽

Nancy Kunyiha ◽

Riaz Ratansi

Keyword(s):

Family Medicine ◽

Usual Care ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Self Management ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Educational Approach ◽

Medicine Clinic ◽

The Family

Background: Diabetes self-management education (DSME) is a key component of diabetes care aimed at delaying complications. Unlike usual care, DSME is a more structured educational approach provided by trained, certified diabetes educators (CDE). In Kenya, many diabetic patients are yet to receive this integral component of care. At the family medicine clinic of the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Nairobi, the case is no different; most patients lack education by CDE.Aim: This study sought to assess effects of DSME in comparison to usual diabetes care by family physicians.Setting: Family Medicine Clinic, AKUH, Nairobi.Methods: Non-blinded randomised clinical trial among sub-optimally controlled (glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 8%) type 2 diabetes patients. The intervention was DSME by CDE plus usual care versus usual care from family physicians. Primary outcome was mean difference in HbA1c after six months of follow-up. Secondary outcomes included blood pressure and body mass index.Results: A total of 220 diabetes patients were screened out of which 140 met the eligibility criteria and were randomised. Around 96 patients (69%) completed the study; 55 (79%) in the DSME group and 41 (59%) in the usual care group. The baseline mean age and HbA1c of all patients were 48.8 (standard deviation [SD]: 9.8) years and 9.9% (SD: 1.76%), respectively. After a 6-month follow-up, no significant difference was noted in the primary outcome (HbA1c) between the two groups, with a mean difference of 0.37 (95% confidence interval: -0.45 to 1.19; p = 0.37). DSME also made no remarkable change in any of the secondary outcome measures.Conclusion: From this study, short-term biomedical benefits of a structured educational approach seemed to be limited. This suggested that offering a short, intensified education programme might have limited additional benefit above and beyond the family physicians’ comprehensive approach in managing chronic conditions like diabetes.

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