scholarly journals Variation in Performance on Common Content Items at UK Medical Schools

Author(s):  
David Hope ◽  
David Kluth ◽  
Matthew Homer ◽  
Avril Dewar ◽  
Richard Fuller ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Due to the diverse approaches to medical school assessment, making meaningful cross-school comparisons on knowledge is difficult. Ahead of the introduction of national licensing assessment in the UK, we evaluate schools on “common content” to compare candidates at different schools and evaluate whether they would pass under different standard setting regimes. Such information can then help develop a cross-school consensus on standard setting shared content. Methods We undertook a cross-sectional study in the academic sessions 2016-17 and 2017-18. Sixty “best of five” multiple choice items were delivered each year, with five used in both years. In 2016-17 30 (of 31 eligible) medical schools undertook a mean of 52.6 items with 7,177 participants. In 2017-18 the same 30 medical schools undertook a mean of 52.8 items with 7,165 participants for a full sample of 14,342 medical students sitting common content prior to graduation. Using mean scores, we compared performance across items and carried out a “like-for-like” comparison of schools who used the same set of items then modelled the impact of different passing standards on these schools. Results Schools varied substantially on candidate total score. Schools differed in their performance with large (Cohen’s d around 1) effects. A passing standard that would see 5% of candidates at high scoring schools fail left low-scoring schools with fail rates of up to 40%, whereas a passing standard that would see 5% of candidates at low scoring schools fail would see virtually no candidates from high scoring schools fail. Conclusions Candidates at different schools exhibited significant differences in scores in two separate sittings. Performance varied by enough that standard setting approaches that produce realistic fail rates in one medical school may produce substantially different pass rates in other medical schools – despite identical content and the candidates being governed by the same regulator. Regardless of which hypothetical standards are “correct” as judged by experts, large institutional gaps in pass rates must be explored and understood by medical educators before shared standards are applied. The study results can assist cross-school groups in developing a consensus on standard setting future licensing assessment.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Hope ◽  
David Kluth ◽  
Matthew Homer ◽  
Avril Dewar ◽  
Richard Fuller ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Due to differing assessment systems across UK medical schools, making meaningful cross-school comparisons on undergraduate students’ performance in knowledge tests is difficult. Ahead of the introduction of a national licensing assessment in the UK, we evaluate schools’ performances on a shared pool of “common content” knowledge test items to compare candidates at different schools and evaluate whether they would pass under different standard setting regimes. Such information can then help develop a cross-school consensus on standard setting shared content. Methods We undertook a cross-sectional study in the academic sessions 2016-17 and 2017-18. Sixty “best of five” multiple choice ‘common content’ items were delivered each year, with five used in both years. In 2016-17 30 (of 31 eligible) medical schools undertook a mean of 52.6 items with 7,177 participants. In 2017-18 the same 30 medical schools undertook a mean of 52.8 items with 7,165 participants, creating a full sample of 14,342 medical students sitting common content prior to graduation. Using mean scores, we compared performance across items and carried out a “like-for-like” comparison of schools who used the same set of items then modelled the impact of different passing standards on these schools. Results Schools varied substantially on candidate total score. Schools differed in their performance with large (Cohen’s d around 1) effects. A passing standard that would see 5 % of candidates at high scoring schools fail left low-scoring schools with fail rates of up to 40 %, whereas a passing standard that would see 5 % of candidates at low scoring schools fail would see virtually no candidates from high scoring schools fail. Conclusions Candidates at different schools exhibited significant differences in scores in two separate sittings. Performance varied by enough that standards that produce realistic fail rates in one medical school may produce substantially different pass rates in other medical schools – despite identical content and the candidates being governed by the same regulator. Regardless of which hypothetical standards are “correct” as judged by experts, large institutional differences in pass rates must be explored and understood by medical educators before shared standards are applied. The study results can assist cross-school groups in developing a consensus on standard setting future licensing assessment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (82) ◽  
pp. 10-14
Author(s):  
Katarina Pavić ◽  
Dragana Milutinović

Introduction: Burnout syndrome is a condition caused by chronic stress at the workplace. Resilience is the ability to cope with the negative situations in life. Purpose: To evaluate the extent of burnout syndrome in nursing teachers at medical high schools and the effect of the level of resilience on burnout syndrome. Material and methods: This cross-sectional study interviewed 101 nursing teachers at four medical schools. Teacher Burnout Scale, The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and socio-demographic questionnaire have been used as instruments of the study. Results: The majority of nursing teachers had moderate symptom of burnout syndrome. The average result on the burnout scale was 56.1. Statistical analyzes showed that there is no statistically significant difference in the manifestation of burnout syndrome in teachers in relation to demographic characteristics (sex, marital status, years of work experience and subjects at medical school). By analysing the results of the two scales, it has been established that there is no statistically significant association between the burnout intensity and the degree of resilience in nursing teachers. Conclusion: The results of the study showed moderate level of burnout in nursing teachers. This may help as an encouragement to develop a strategy for preventing emergence of the burnout syndrome. The results will be useful for further research of burnout syndrome in nursing teachers.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Choi ◽  
Setthasorn Ooi ◽  
Eleanor Carpenter

Abstract Aims: Adequate exposure and teaching of Trauma and Orthopaedics (T&O) to medical students is fundamental in order to obtain sufficient knowledge and sustain their interest in T&O as a career. The primary aim is to assess the exposure and delivery of T&O at all medical schools in the UK. The secondary aim is to determine whether there are any associations between attending a particular medical school and having a strong interest in pursuing a career in T&O. Methods: To explore the primary aim, all 33 UK medical schools were investigated in the study, by means of a questionnaire distributed to medical students. This did not include ‘new’ medical schools, defined as those established from 2014 onwards. To investigate the secondary aim of exploring associations between students’ and alumni’s medical schools and their interest in T&O as a career, British Orthopaedic Training Association (BOTA) members were reviewed, using the General Medical Council register to identify the universities from which members had graduated. The authors have made the assumption that membership of BOTA signified an interest in T&O as a career. Results: Results were obtained for all 33 medical schools. The mean total teaching time specifically for T&O throughout medical school was 18 days, ranging from 3 to 60 days in total. 118 BOTA members were reviewed. No member of BOTA in the study had attended medical school in Keele, Liverpool, Plymouth or Lancashire. These universities taught below the national average number of days in T&O. Conclusions: There is a large national variance in the number of compulsory teaching days provided for T&O. The authors advocate medical schools to aim for at least the national average in duration of T&O of 18 days.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-215
Author(s):  
Zhan H. Ng ◽  
Samantha Downie ◽  
Navnit S. Makaram ◽  
Shivam N. Kolhe ◽  
Samuel P. Mackenzie ◽  
...  

Aims Virtual fracture clinics (VFCs) are advocated by recent British Orthopaedic Association Standards for Trauma and Orthopaedics (BOASTs) to efficiently manage injuries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary aim of this national study is to assess the impact of these standards on patient satisfaction and clinical outcome amid the pandemic. The secondary aims are to determine the impact of the pandemic on the demographic details of injuries presenting to the VFC, and to compare outcomes and satisfaction when the BOAST guidelines were first introduced with a subsequent period when local practice would be familiar with these guidelines. Methods This is a national cross-sectional cohort study comprising centres with VFC services across the UK. All consecutive adult patients assessed in VFC in a two-week period pre-lockdown (6 May 2019 to 19 May 2019) and in the same two-week period at the peak of the first lockdown (4 May 2020 to 17 May 2020), and a randomly selected sample during the ‘second wave’ (October 2020) will be eligible for the study. Data comprising local VFC practice, patient and injury characteristics, unplanned re-attendances, and complications will be collected by local investigators for all time periods. A telephone questionnaire will be used to determine patient satisfaction and patient-reported outcomes for patients who were discharged following VFC assessment without face-to-face consultation. Ethics and dissemination The study results will identify changes in case-mix and numbers of patients managed through VFCs and whether this is safe and associated with patient satisfaction. These data will provide key information for future expert-led consensus on management of trauma injuries through the VFC. The protocol will be disseminated through conferences and peer-reviewed publication. This protocol has been reviewed by the South East Scotland Research Ethics Service and is classified as a multicentre audit. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(3):211–215.


2022 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 238212052110727
Author(s):  
Sarah Choi ◽  
Setthasorn Ooi ◽  
Eleanor Carpenter

INTRODUCTION Adequate exposure and teaching of Trauma and Orthopaedics (T&O) to medical students is fundamental in order to obtain sufficient knowledge and sustain their interest in T&O as a career. The primary aim is to assess the exposure and delivery of T&O at all medical schools in the UK. The secondary aim is to determine whether there are any associations between attending a particular medical school and having a strong interest in pursuing a career in T&O. METHODS To explore the primary aim, all 33 UK medical schools were investigated in the study, by means of a questionnaire distributed to medical students. This did not include ‘new’ medical schools, defined as those established from 2014 onwards. To investigate the secondary aim of exploring associations between students’ and alumni's medical schools and their interest in T&O as a career, British Orthopaedic Training Association (BOTA) members were reviewed, using the General Medical Council register to identify the universities from which members had graduated. The authors have made the assumption that membership of BOTA signified an interest in T&O as a career. RESULTS Results were obtained for all 33 medical schools. The mean total teaching time specifically for T&O throughout medical school was 18 days, ranging from 3 to 60 days in total. 118 BOTA members were reviewed. No member of BOTA in the study had attended medical school in Keele, Liverpool, Plymouth or Lancashire. These universities taught below the national average number of days in T&O. DISUCSSION There is a large national variance in the number of compulsory teaching days provided for T&O. The authors advocate medical schools to aim for at least the national average in duration of T&O of 18 days.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽  
Author(s):  
S M Choi ◽  
S Z Y Ooi ◽  
E C Carpenter

Abstract Aim Research has shown exposure to specialities as a medical student can have a great influence in choice of career. Exposure to potential mentors during this time also has an additive effect on career shaping of medical students. It is important to encourage interest in trauma and orthopaedics (T&O) to ensure the best candidates are selected. Our aim was to establish the compulsory duration of T&O teaching provided by all (non-new) medical schools. This study also aims to identify which other specialities were taught alongside T&O. Method Surveys were distributed to medical students in all 33 (non-new) medical schools, through surgical societies and colleagues met through courses, between June 2019- February 2020. The survey asked the total length of compulsory teaching of T&O in days, and how this was divided into pre-clinical or clinical teaching. Results Data for all 33 UK medical schools were collected. Only 7 medical schools taught T&O as a standalone subject. The other 26 medical schools combined T&O with other specialities, most commonly with Rheumatology (n = 16). The average total length of days of T&O teaching across medical school was 17 days (range 3-60). Majority of this teaching was given in the clinical years of medical school (n = 30). Conclusions Research has shown medical students require enough exposure to increase their interest in pursuing a particular speciality. Currently there is a huge variance on the number of compulsory teaching days for T&O.


2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 880-887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate L Mandeville ◽  
Rose-Marie Satherley ◽  
Jennifer A Hall ◽  
Shailen Sutaria ◽  
Chris Willott ◽  
...  

BackgroundLittle is known about the political views of doctors in the UK despite doctors' importance in the functioning of the National Health Service (NHS).MethodsThis is a survey-based, cross-sectional study in which we asked questions about voting behaviour in 2015 and 2017 UK general elections and 2016 referendum on leaving the European Union (EU) (Brexit), and questions relating to recent health policies.Results1172 doctors (45.1% women) from 1295 responded to an online survey. 60.5% described their political views as ‘left-wing’ and 62.2% described themselves as ‘liberal’. 79.4% of respondents voted to remain in the EU in the 2016 referendum compared with 48.1% of voters as a whole (χ2=819.8, p<0.001). 98.6% of respondents agreed that EU nationals working in the NHS should be able to remain in the UK after Brexit. The median score for the impact of Brexit on the NHS on a scale of 0 (worst impact) to 10 (best impact) was 2 (IQR=1–4). Most respondents agreed with the introduction of minimum alcohol pricing in the UK (73.9%), charging patients who are not eligible for NHS treatment for non-urgent care (70.6%) and protecting a portion of national spending for the NHS (87.1%). 65.8% thought there was too much use of NHS-funded private sector provision in their medical practice. Specialty, income and grade were associated with divergent opinions.ConclusionsUK doctors are left-leaning and liberal in general, which is reflected in their opinions on topical health policy issues. Doctors in the UK voted differently from the general electorate in recent polls.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 1200-1204
Author(s):  
U. Amen ◽  
Z. Rajwani ◽  
U. Sumayya ◽  
R. Haroon ◽  
N. Mushtaq ◽  
...  

Background: Globally Corona virus (COVID-19) has become a huge challenge for all of the population. In South Asia, country Pakistan city Karachi the 1st case of this breakdown was identified on 26th February 2020 (Waris et al., 2020). This disease has developed psychological distress among all the population. COVID virus is one of the leading threats to all the healthcare organizations and due to increase rate of patients day by day, it has given enormous burden to all healthcare workers especially nurses the front line fighters who are always ready to give care towards the patient whom they encountered so it’s very crucial part to assess the impact of COVID -19 on the mental health of the nurses. Objective: The objective of the study is to identify the frequency level of stress, anxiety and depression among nurses while dealing with those patients who were admitted in various hospitals in Karachi for treatment of COVID-19. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 20th November to 31st December 2020 from different hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan. Those Registered nurses who were assigned in isolation ward of Covid-19 were the part of the study. For data collection survey form was designed based on Depression Anxiety Stress scale (DASS-21) scale (Lovibond & Lovibond 1995). Results: The total mean score of depression among nurses was 50 (68%), Anxiety was 32 (43%) and stress was 34 (46%). 50 nurses suffered from moderate depression, 24 nurses reported from extremely severe anxiety and 50 nurses suffered from moderate stress level. From 74 participants 41(55.4%) were females and 33 (44.6%) were males. Furthermore, it shows that 25 (76%) males and 25 (61%) females suffered from moderate depression, 32 nurses 14 (42%) male and 18(43.90%) females reported from extremely severe anxiety. Conclusion: This pandemic is highly complex, contagious and vulnerable. The study results portrait that nurses working with COVID-19 patients have affected a lot of various psychological distress such as anxiety, stress, and depression. It is very vital for higher management to take major steps and take preventive intervention which would be beneficial towards their mental health in decreasing negative psychological outcomes, because they all are working under pressure environment. Key Words: Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Pandemic, Registered Nurse


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. e027752
Author(s):  
Hirotaka Ochiai ◽  
Takako Shirasawa ◽  
Takahiko Yoshimoto ◽  
Satsue Nagahama ◽  
Mariko Kobayashi ◽  
...  

ObjectivesWeight gain after 20 years of age is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the impact of weight gain on CKD might differ by current obesity status. We investigated the association of the combination of weight gain after 20 years of age and current obesity with CKD among adults in Japan.DesignA cross-sectional study.Setting and participantsWe analysed data from 94 822 adults aged 40–64 years who had an annual health check-up in Japan from April 2013 to March 2014.Primary outcome measureCKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2and/or proteinuria.ResultsBoth weight gain ≥10 kg after 20 years of age plus obesity (OR 2.21, 95% CI 2.07 to 2.36) and weight gain of ≥10 kg plus non-obesity (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.42) significantly increased the OR for CKD when compared with weight gain <10 kg plus non-obesity in men. In women, weight gain ≥10 kg plus obesity (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.84 to 2.25) and weight gain ≥10 kg plus non-obesity (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.36 to 1.72) significantly increased the OR for CKD compared with weight gain <10 kg plus non-obesity. These results persisted even after adjustment for age, lifestyle factors, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes.ConclusionsWeight gain ≥10 kg after 20 years of age was significantly associated with CKD in both obese and non-obese subjects. Moreover, the influence of weight gain ≥10 kg plus obesity on CKD was greater than that of weight gain ≥10 kg plus non-obesity on CKD. The present study results suggest that it is important to consider weight gain after maturity in both obese and non-obese subjects to prevent CKD among Japanese middle-aged adults.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 46-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sônia Rodrigues Dutra ◽  
Henrique Pretti ◽  
Milene Torres Martins ◽  
Cristiane Baccin Bendo ◽  
Miriam Pimenta Vale

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to assess the impact of malocclusion on the quality of life of children aged 8 to 10 years attending public elementary schools in Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods: The Brazilian version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire 8-10 (CPQ8-10) was used to evaluate oral health-related quality of life. The children were examined for the diagnosis of malocclusion using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). The data were analyzed by bivariate and multivariate descriptive statistics using Poisson regression at a 5% significance level. A total of 270 children participated in the study. Results: Children with normal occlusion or mild malocclusion (DAI ≤ 25) were 56% less likely (95%CI: 0.258-0.758; p= 0.003) to have their quality of life affected compared with children diagnosed with extremely severe malocclusion (DAI ≥ 36). Children with a maxillary anterior overjet ≥ 3 mm had higher CPQ8-10 mean scores (19.4; SD = 17.1) than those with an overjet < 3 mm (13.6; SD = 11.7; p= 0.038). Conclusions: Extremely severe malocclusion and pronounced maxillary anterior overjet were associated with a negative impact on quality of life.


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