scholarly journals Evaluation of a Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Workshop in the Family Medicine Clerkship

2022 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-57
Author(s):  
Megan L. Ferderber ◽  
Kaitlyn Vann ◽  
Athanasios Tzaras ◽  
Noam Hadadi ◽  
Rebecca M. Gilbird

Background and Objectives: The family medicine (FM) clerkship is appropriate for incorporating musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSKUS) education, as many outpatient visits in primary care occur for musculoskeletal (MSK) concerns. Despite rising popularity of point-of-care imaging in primary care, ultrasound (US) training in medical education is limited due to lack of resources and time. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of an MSKUS workshop in the FM clerkship through student self-evaluations. Methods: Seventy-five medical students enrolled in the FM clerkship during the 2019-2020 academic year participated in hands-on MSKUS workshops staffed by faculty, residents, and a fellow. Workshops coincided with FM residency didactic teaching, allowing for protected time to host US training. Of workshop participants, 98.6% completed both pre- and postworkshop evaluations assessing confidence and acceptability of the workshop (rated on a 0-10 Likert scale, where higher scores represent more confidence or greater benefit, respectively). Results: Students noted increased confidence with use of ultrasound, recognition of MSK structures, and performance of landmark-guided procedures (preworkshop 2.6±1.6; postworkshop 7.4±1.1). Students endorsed high levels of agreement in the benefit of the workshop to their education (9.4±1.3) and MSK understanding (9.4±1.2). Conclusions: This study demonstrates the benefit of an MSKUS workshop as part of the FM clerkship and addresses previously identified challenges to providing US education. Results suggest a short-term benefit from an MSKUS workshop in confidence in MSKUS knowledge and satisfaction with the curriculum.

PRiMER ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maribeth P. Williams ◽  
Denny Fe Agana ◽  
Benjamin J. Rooks ◽  
Grant Harrell ◽  
Rosemary A. Klassen ◽  
...  

Introduction: With the estimated future shortage of primary care physicians there is a need to recruit more medical students into family medicine. Longitudinal programs or primary care tracks in medical schools have been shown to successfully recruit students into primary care. The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of primary care tracks in departments of family medicine.  Methods: Data were collected as part of the 2016 CERA Family Medicine Clerkship Director Survey. The survey included questions regarding the presence and description of available primary care tracks as well as the clerkship director’s perception of impact. The survey was distributed via email to 125 US and 16 Canadian family medicine clerkship directors.  Results: The response rate was 86%. Thirty-five respondents (29%) reported offering a longitudinal primary care track. The majority of tracks select students on a competitive basis, are directed by family medicine educators, and include a wide variety of activities. Longitudinal experience in primary care ambulatory settings and primary care faculty mentorship were the most common activities. Almost 70% of clerkship directors believe there is a positive impact on students entering primary care.  Conclusions: The current tracks are diverse in what they offer and could be tailored to the missions of individual medical schools. The majority of clerkship directors reported that they do have a positive impact on students entering primary care.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 215013271984051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory M. Garrison ◽  
Rachel L. Keuseman ◽  
Christopher L. Boswell ◽  
Jennifer L. Horn ◽  
Nathaniel T. Nielsen ◽  
...  

Introduction: Hospitalists have been shown to have shorter lengths of stays than physicians with concurrent outpatient practices. However, hospitalists at academic medical centers may be less aware of local resources that can support the hospital to home transition for local primary care patients. We hypothesized that local family medicine patients admitted to a family medicine inpatient service have shorter length of stay than those admitted to general hospitalist services which also care for tertiary patients at an academic medical center. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at an academic medical center with a department of family medicine providing primary care to over 80 000 local patients. A total of 3100 consecutive family medicine patients admitted to either the family medicine inpatient service or a general medicine inpatient service over 3 years were studied. The primary outcome was length of stay, which was adjusted using multivariate linear regression for demographics, prior utilization, diagnosis, and disease severity. Results: Adjusted length of stay was 33% longer (95% CI 24%-44%) for local family medicine patients admitted to general medicine inpatient services as compared with the family medicine inpatient service. Readmission rates within 30 days were not different (19% vs 16%, P = .14). Conclusions: Local primary care patients were safely discharged from the hospital sooner on the family medicine inpatient service than on general medicine inpatient services. This is likely because the family physicians staffing their inpatient service are more familiar with outpatient resources that can be effectively marshaled to help local patients with the transition from hospital to home.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. P. Lee ◽  
C. Wong ◽  
D. Chan ◽  
K. Kung ◽  
L. Luk ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Postgraduate vocational training in family medicine (FM) is essential for physicians to build capacity and develop quality primary care. Inadequate standards in training and curriculum development can contribute to poor recruitment and retention of doctors in primary care. This study aimed to investigate: 1) the satisfaction level of doctors regarding vocational training in family medicine and associated demographics; and 2) the satisfaction level of doctors regarding their family medicine career and associated factors. Method This is a cross sectional study of all family medicine physicians across all government-funded primary care clinics (GOPCs). The study questionnaire consisted of items from a standardized and validated physician survey named the Physician Worklife Survey (PWS) (Konrad et al., Med Care, 1999). We selected three scales (7 items) relating to global job satisfaction, global career satisfaction and global specialty (family medicine) satisfaction with additional items on training and demographics. All significant variables in bivariate analyses were further examined using stepwise logistic regression. Results Out of 424 eligible family medicine physicians, 368 physicians successfully completed the questionnaire. The response rate was 86.8%. Most participants were male (52.6%), were aged between 35 and 44 years (55.5%), were FM specialists (42.4%), graduated locally (86.2%), and had postgraduate qualifications. Eighty-two percent (82%) of participants were satisfied with their training. Having autonomy and protected time for training were associated with satisfaction with FM training. Satisfaction with family medicine as a career was correlated with physicians’ satisfaction with their current job. Doctors who did not enroll in training (p < 0.001) and physicians who were older (p = 0.023) were significantly less satisfied. Stepwise multivariate regression showed that doctors who subjectively believed their training as “broad and in depth’ had higher career satisfaction (p < 0.001). Conclusion Overall, the satisfaction level of physicians on current family medicine training in Hong Kong was high. Having autonomy and protected time for training is associated with higher training satisfaction levels. Perceiving FM training as “broad and in-depth” is associated with higher family medicine career satisfaction.


2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 815-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonny L. Dickinson ◽  
Kristi VanDerKolk ◽  
Timothy Bauler ◽  
Shanna Cole

2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-126
Author(s):  
Kelly M. Everard ◽  
Kimberly Zoberi Schiel

Background and Objectives: With younger generations of learners and readily available technology, medical educators are challenged to include active learning methods that may be better for student learning than traditional lecture. Some of these methods, like online modules, can also reduce the demands on clerkship faculty time. We examined how content delivered via interactive, online module compared to traditional lecture for student learning and satisfaction. Methods: Third-year family medicine clerkship students completed questionnaires following either an online module or lecture on orofacial pain. We conducted the study over four consecutive rotations, alternating who received the content via classroom lecture or interactive online module. Students completed a questionnaire comprised of six multiple-choice knowledge questions, five questions with a clinical vignette format to assess application of knowledge, and six questions to assess satisfaction with elements of the course. The Centers of Excellence in Pain Education developed the online module and questionnaire. Results: We found no differences in knowledge between the in-person lecture and the online module. However, students who completed the online module performed better on the application questions. Students in the lecture group reported greater satisfaction with the course than students in the online group. Conclusions: Lecture resulted in adequate knowledge recall, but the interactive method resulted in better scores on applying knowledge to new situations. Providing an online module where students can practice applying knowledge is important for higher levels of learning, but it should be noted that satisfaction ratings may decline.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 680-684
Author(s):  
Maribeth Porter ◽  
Denny Fe Agana ◽  
Robert Hatch ◽  
Susmita Datta ◽  
Peter J Carek

Abstract Background The culture at a medical school and the positive experiences in primary care clerkships influence student specialty choice. This choice is significant if the demand for primary care physicians is to be met. The aim of this study was to examine family medicine clerkship directors’ perceptions of the medical school environment. Methods Data were collected as part of the 2015 Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance Family Medicine Clerkship Director survey. Questions asked included how clerkship directors perceived the environment of their medical school towards family medicine, has the environment towards family medicine changed between 2010 and 2015, do they take action to influence student attitudes towards family medicine and whether faculty members in other departments make negative comments about family medicine. Results The response rate was 79.4%. While most respondents indicated the environment of their medical school has become more positive towards family medicine, a majority of clerkship directors perceived the environment to be either very much against, slightly against or indifferent towards family medicine. Nearly one-half (41.4%) of the clerkship directors were notified more than once a year that a faculty member of another department made a negative comment about family medicine. Results varied among regions of the USA and between schools located in the USA and Canada. Conclusion Family medicine clerkship directors often perceived negativity towards family medicine, a finding that may limit the effectiveness of academic health centres in their mission to better serve their community and profession.


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