Communication skills training in psychiatry

SUMMARY Good communication skills are the basis of all effective doctor–patient relationships, and psychiatrists in particular have to manage many types of complex interaction. Research shows the benefits of communication skills training. This article describes strategies for teaching relevant clinical communication skills to trainee psychiatrists on MRCPsych courses and in local centres. The authors set out a sustainable training framework using higher trainees as tutors. There is a need for more widespread teaching of clinical communication skills in psychiatry and at an early stage of specialist training.

To Treat or Not to Treat? Polish Physicians’ Opinions about the Clinical Aspects of Cannabinoids—An Online Survey

Introduction: Medical cannabis’ importance in Poland increased dramatically following its legalization as the 12th country in Europe in 2017. However, no studies have been published to give insight into Polish physicians’ opinions about medical cannabis. Objectives: To investigate physician’s opinions about cannabinoids’ utility in clinical practice, concerns regarding their safety profile, and their clinical experience with cannabinoids. Methods: The survey using a self-developed tool was conducted online; participants were physicians with or without specialist training. Participation was voluntary. Physicians were recruited through personal networks, palliative care courses, and Medical Chambers. Results: From June to October 2020, we recruited 173 physicians from 15/16 voivodeships. The largest age group (43.9%; n = 76) was 30–39 year-olds. A similar proportion declared they never used cannabis and did not receive any training regarding cannabinoids (60% for both). Only 15 (8%) ever prescribed medical cannabis, although about 50% declared knowing suitable patients for such therapy, and 53.8% had at least one patient proactively asking for such treatment in the last 6 mo. The most common indication chosen was pain: chronic cancer-related (n = 128), chronic non-cancer (n = 77), and neuropathic (n = 60). Other commonly chosen conditions were alleviation of cancer treatment side-effects (n = 56) and cachexia (n = 57). The overall safety profile of THC was assessed as similar to most commonly used medications, including opioids; NSAIDs and benzodiazepines were, however, perceived as safer. Conclusions: Polish physicians favored the legalization of medical cannabis. However, it is of concern that a limited number have any experience with prescribing cannabis. The creation of clear guidelines to advise physicians in their routine practice and education about pain management and the risks related to the consumption of recreational cannabis for medical conditions are needed.

Escaping aesthetic control

Spanish pianists, educators, and commentators have relished passing down to following generations the performance practices of their own tradition, with the renowned institution L’escola de música de Barcelona claiming to offer specialist training in “Spanish music”. In this context, Granados’s Goyescas have inevitably become the almost-exclusive domain of native musicians, herding artists’ creativities towards sets of performance instructions familiar to them. That we should continue to consider this repertoire as a specifically separate entity, fully knowable only by local artists or those trained within their tradition, is worthy of attention, as it places anyone outside this educational background and performing tradition as ‘other’ in need of acceptance. While the study of Granados’s output has recently been enriched by analytical investigations, recording projects, and new critical editions, it is the still unfamiliar early-recorded legacy by the composer/pianist that will be the catalyst for insights in this article. His Welte-Mignon roll recordings show a dynamic and flexible artistry, unsurprising in pianists of his generation, together with a lack of highly articulated ornamental inflexions and the rhythmical rigour we might expect in performances of such repertoire. The question that I wish to raise is whether at some point during the twentieth century there was a cultural shift that shaped ‘Spanish music’ to sound as distinctively national as possible. Such a shift would have occurred, in the minds of players, in parallel to wider changes in performance styles taking place throughout the continent. Exploring these aesthetic ideals through the lens of the country’s cultural history during the troubled years across the middle of the last century may hint at the subtle but meaningful ways that defined a canon flavoured with local folklore, both within and without the Spanish borders. The aim throughout is to challenge these orthodox approaches controlling the repertoire, resulting in my own renewed performance of El amor y la muerte; the hope will be that of empowering pianists to make different choices, diversifying performance options in the future.

Career satisfaction of German human genetics residents

Objectives The aim of this survey was to investigate the career satisfaction of human genetics residents in Germany and to analyse the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Methods We developed an online survey for the evaluation of a broad range of factors concerning the situation of human genetics residents in Germany using validated questionnaires and adding human genetics specific items to them. Human genetics residents working at institutions with an authorization for specialist training were asked to participate in the online survey. To analyse the situation of specialist training in human genetics and the influence of multiple factors on career satisfaction, descriptive statistics, mean descriptive statistics and comparisons of mean values as well as multiple linear regression analyses were carried out. Results Of the 71 institutions contacted, 41 (58 %) provided feedback and reported the number of 114 residents in human genetics. In total, 58 residents completed the questionnaire (50.9 %). Overall career satisfaction was high with a mean score of 30.8 (scale ranging from 8–40). Factors significantly influencing career satisfaction were general life satisfaction, occupational self-efficacy expectations and content with the doctors entitled to the specialty training. Except for the reduced perception to achieve their professional goals expressed by women with children, career satisfaction was influenced by neither gender nor parental status, other sociodemographic factors, variables concerning the personal professional life and the residency in general, the subjective perceived workload nor the site of specialist training. Participation in research activities differed significantly between male and female residents. The residents’ assessment of their own professional prospects and the prospects of the subject were consistently positive, even though residents consider the current requirement planning by the GB-A for human geneticists as inappropriate and believe that human genetics is not yet firmly anchored as a specialist discipline in the consciousness of other medical colleagues and the general public. Conclusions Career satisfaction of German human genetics residents is generally high and mainly influenced by life satisfaction, occupational self-efficacy expectations and quality of the specialist training. In contrast to other specialties career satisfaction seems to be independent from gender or parental status even though male residents were significantly more often involved in research activities. In order to keep human genetics residents in the specialty, measures that enable balanced professional and care work as well as continuous improvement of specialist education, e. g. through the implementation of structured curricula and continuing education of the doctors entitled to specialist training, is of great importance.

Networking of educational institutions and commercial enterprises

Currently, in Russia there is a systemic gap between the educational service market and employers’ requirements for a university graduate. Employers are not satisfied with the educational system, which cannot close this gap on its own. This situation requires access to an open educational system, which implies involvement in the training of both the educational institution and employer. As part of the research, a hypothesis about the greater efficiency of future specialist training in the format of network interaction between educational institutions and commercial companies was put forward. The purpose of the research is to prove that future specialist training in the format of networking between educational institutions and for-profit companies is more effective than the classical student training programme in Russia. As part of the research, with the case method, the essence of network interaction between educational institutions and for-profit entities and their optimal format were discovered by the example of communication between the Far Eastern State University of Communications and Russian Railways JSC. In addition, an experiment to confirm or refute the hypothesis put forward was conducted. As a result of the research, the essence of networking between educational institutions and for-profit entities. The experiment carried out confirmed the hypothesis about the greater efficiency of future specialist training for the railway sector in the format of networking between educational institutions and the Russian Railways company.

Analysis of MOOC on Programming for IT Specialist Training

The article provides a quantitative analysis of online programming courses on such platforms as Alison, Udemy, Edx, Coursera, Udacity, Codecademy as of July 2021. The authors analyzed the number of courses that can be found either in thematic sections or by automatic keyword search. It was found that students can find 6,979 online programming courses on the analyzed platforms with the help of thematic sections. The Udemy platform provides the largest number of programming courses. Popular programming languages which have the largest number of online courses turned out to be Python, JavaScript and Java.

Palliative medicine trainees be should learn about frailty: meta-synthesis and Delphi study to establish curriculum content

ObjectivesFrailty is common and highly associated with morbidity and mortality, a fact that has been highlighted by COVID-19. Understanding how to provide palliative care for frail individuals is an international priority, despite receiving limited mention in Palliative Medicine curricula or examinations worldwide. This study aimed to synthesise evidence and establish expert consensus on what should be included in a Palliative-Medicine Specialist Training Curriculum for frailty.MethodsLiterature Meta-synthesis conducted by palliative medicine, frailty and education experts produced a draft curriculum with Bologna based Learning-Outcomes. A Delphi study asked experts to rate the importance of Learning-Outcomes for specialist-training completion and propose additional Learning-Outcomes. This process was repeated until 70% consensus was achieved for over 90% of Learning-Outcomes. Experts divided Learning-Outcomes into specific (for inclusion in a frailty subsection) or generic (applicable to other palliative conditions). The Delphi panel was Subject Matter Experts: Palliative-Medicine Consultants (n=14) and Trainees (n=10), representing hospital, community, hospice and care home services and including committee members of key national training organisations. A final reviewing panel of Geriatric Medicine Specialists including experts in research methodology, national training requirements and frailty were selected.ResultsThe meta-synthesis produced 114 Learning-Outcomes. The Delphi Study and Review by Geriatric Medicine experts resulted in 46 essential and 33 desirable Learning-Outcomes.ConclusionsThis frailty curriculum is applicable internationally and highlights the complex and unique palliative needs of frail patients. Future research is required to inform implementation, educational delivery and service provision.

MODERN APPROACH AND GERIATRIC ASPECTS OF TEACHING GERONTOSTOMATOLOGY IN TRAINING SPECIALISTS UNDER THE SPECIALTY PROGRAM

Стратегия стоматологического обслуживания лиц старших возрастных групп исходит не только из приоритетов, определяемых демографической ситуацией, руководствуется ее развитием, эпидемиологически обоснованной потребностью в стоматологической помощи, но и ее эффективностью, которая должна обусловливаться и базироваться на результатах доказательной медицины и персонифицированного подхода, в реализации которых важную роль играет компетентностный подход в процессе преподавания обучающимся геронтостоматологии в медицинском вузе. Целью работы являлось создание современной методической основы для преподавания раздела «Геронтостоматология» согласно современной учебной программе специалитета медицинского вуза. На основании изучения научных работ, посвященных различным аспектам геронтостоматологии, в статье представлены методические основы для современного преподавания раздела «Геронтостоматология» на специалитете медицинского вуза по основным направлениям подготовки специалиста с учетом современной учебной программы в области кариесологии, некариозных поражений зубов, эндодонтии, пародонтологии, заболеваний слизистой оболочки полости рта и основ оказания ортопедической стоматологической помощи лицам пожилого и старческого возраста. The strategy of dental care for older age groups is based not only on the priorities determined by the demographic situation, guided by its development, epidemiologically justified need for dental care, but also by its effectiveness, which should be conditioned and based on the results of evidence-based medicine and a personalized approach, in the implementation of which it is important a competence-based approach plays a role in the process of teaching gerontostomatology students at a medical university. The aim of the work was to create a modern methodological basis for teaching the section of gerontostomatology in accordance with the modern curriculum of a specialist in a medical university. Based on the study of scientific works devoted to various aspects of gerontostomatology, the work presents the methodological foundations for modern teaching of the section of gerontostomatology on a specialist in a medical university in the main areas of specialist training, taking into account the modern curriculum in the field of cariesology, non-carious dental lesions, endodontics, periodontology, diseases of the mucous membrane of the cavity and the basics of providing orthopedic dental care to elderly and senile people.

Computer-based music production: Specifics of professional training

Introduction. The process of professional training in most economic sectors is now thoroughly developed and regulated by global science. Today, the exception is the creative directions of professional activity, which play an important role in society. Therefore, there is a reasonable request for the professional training in creative industries. However, in science and practice, it is still not clear how professional training in creative industries should be carried out. An educational model, based on modern approaches and principles of learning, can be an effective solution to this problem.Aim. The present research aimed to disclose the content and results of approbation of the model of professional training in computer-based music production.Methodology and research methods. The research methodological framework is based on the concepts of competency-based, activity-based, technological and personality-oriented approaches to education; research papers on the problems of using computer music technologies in education; theory and practice of teaching models application in higher education.The leading method was the modelling of the educational process in specialised training in the field of computer-based music production. An experimental research study was carried out with the participation of students and teachers of higher education (n = 83 people). The authors employed the following methods: a questionnaire survey, testing, practical assignments, measurement of motivation for educational computer-based music production, the Fisher’s method.Results and scientific novelty. The current research paper presents the authors’ model of specialised computer-based musical instruction, which includes four main units: motivational-targeted, content-logical, activity-technological and diagnostic (evaluative-productive). The novelty of the model is determined by the implementation of the leading innovative educational activity of students, which is characterised by the production, processing and reproduction of musical material using musical computer technologies. An important component of the model is a complex of pedagogical technologies, which is a part of the activity-technological unit and includes the following technologies: interactive, design, research, modelling technologies, individualisation of training, computer and information technologies. The effectiveness of the content of the proposed educational model is confirmed by the results of the experimental research study on the implementation of this model in the conditions of student mastery of computer-based music production disciplines in the real educational process of a pedagogical university. The data obtained revealed a high (sufficient and advanced) level of formation of computer-based musical competencies among students.Practical significance. The model for specialist training can become a separate element of the educational programme, which provides training for specialists in computer-based music production. The research materials may have implications for the further development of educational science and the practice of specialist training in other creative industries.