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Biomedical subjects

Hossam Hamdy

Publications and source records attributed to Hossam Hamdy.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

BEME systematic review: predictive values of measurements obtained in medical schools and future performance in medical practice.

BACKGROUND: Effectiveness of medical education programs is most meaningfully measured as performance of its graduates. OBJECTIVES: To assess the value of measurements obtained in medical schools in predicting future performance in medical practice. METHODS SEARCH STRATEGY: The English literature from 1955 to 2004 was searched using MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane's EPOC (Effective Practice and Organization of Care Group), Controlled Trial databases, ERIC, British Education Index, Psych Info, Timelit, Web of Science and hand searching of medical education journals. INCLUSION & EXCLUSIONS: Selected studies included students assessed or followed up to internship, residency and/or practice after postgraduate training. Assessment systems and instruments studied (Predictors) were the National Board Medical Examinations (NBME) I and II, preclinical and clerkship grade-point average, Observed Standardized Clinical Examination scores and Undergraduate Dean's rankings and honors society. Outcome measures were residency supervisor ratings, NBME III, residency in-training examinations, American Specialty Board examination scores, and on-the-job practice performance. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted by using a modification of the BEME data extraction form study objectives, design, sample variables, statistical analysis and results. All included studies are summarized in a tabular form. DATA ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS: Quantitative meta-analysis and qualitative approaches were used for data analysis and synthesis including the methodological quality of the studies included. RESULTS: Of 569 studies retrieved with our search strategy, 175 full text studies were reviewed. A total of 38 studies met our inclusion criteria and 19 had sufficient data to be included in a meta-analysis of correlation coefficients. The highest correlation between predictor and outcome was NBME Part II and NBME Part III, r = 0.72, 95% CI 0.30-0.49 and the lowest between NBME I and supervisor rating during residency, r = 0.22, 95% CI 0.13-0.30. The approach to studying the predictive value of assessment tools varied widely between studies and no consistent approach could be identified. Overall, undergraduate grades and rankings were moderately correlated with internship and residency performance. Performance on similar instruments was more closely correlated. Studies assessing practice performance beyond postgraduate training programs were few. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for a more consistent and systematic approach to studies of the effectiveness of undergraduate assessment systems and tools and their predictive value. Although existing tools do appear to have low to moderate correlation with postgraduate training performance, little is known about their relationship to longer-term practice patterns and outcomes.

Clinical Competence↗

Teaching styles of tutors in a problem-based curriculum: students' and tutors' perception.

This study compared the self-rated with student-rated teaching styles of PBL tutors. We also examined the relationship between teaching styles of tutors' and students' evaluation of tutor effectiveness in tutorials. The study included 48 tutors and 276 medical students. Tutors, and students' were given a teaching style inventory with a 5-point scale consisting of 21 items that comprise four domains of teaching styles (facilitative, collaborative, suggestive and assertive). In addition, quantitative and qualitative evaluations of tutor effectiveness by students were analyzed. Tutors perceived themselves in the facilitative-collaborative end of the spectrum of styles In contrast, students perceived tutors as less 'facilitative-collaborative' and more 'suggestive-assertive' than tutors self-ratings (p < 0.001). In addition, the difference in perception between students and tutors ratings in the facilitative-collaborative domains was more evident as students progressed in the PBL curriculum. The students' ratings of the effectiveness of tutors correlated more strongly with facilitative-collaborative than with suggestive-assertive domains of teaching styles. However, other tutor attributes such as establishing rapport with students, providing academic help for them and having content expertise were considered important criteria of an effective tutor. We conclude that there is a mismatch between students' and tutors' perceptions about teaching styles of tutor. Tutor attributes other than teaching styles are important determinants of an effective tutor.

Communication↗

The Arabian Gulf University College of Medicine and Medical Sciences: a successful model of a multinational medical school.

In the late 1970s, leaders of the Arabian [corrected] Gulf countries proposed a novel idea of a joint educational and cultural venture: establishing a new regional university based in the Kingdom of Bahrain that would be managed as a multinational consortium of Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain. It was intended to promote higher education and research in the Gulf region; to serve the development needs of the region; to reflect the unique economic, social, and cultural attributes of the Gulf communities and their environments; and to respond to the health care needs of the member countries. Since its inception in 1982, the College of Medicine and Medical Sciences (CMMS) at Arabian Gulf University (AGU) has adopted the educational philosophy of problem-based learning (PBL) and self-directed, student-centered education. The curriculum is integrated, with early introduction of education to foster clinical skills and professional competencies. The strategic alliance with the health care systems in Bahrain and other Gulf regions has created a successful model of efficient and effective initialization of health care resources in the community. The experience that has accumulated at the AGU-CMMS from introducing innovative medical education has allowed it to take a leadership position in medical education in the Gulf region. The original goals of this unique experiment have been realized along with unanticipated outcomes of spearheading changes in medical education in the Gulf region. Old and new medical schools have adopted several characteristics of the AGU educational program. Several elements contributed to its success: a clear vision of providing quality medical education and realizing and sustaining this vision by a supportive leadership at the university and college levels; an alliance with the regional health care systems; a dedicated faculty who have been able to work as a team while continually developing themselves; proper student selection and the creation of a culture of student/faculty partnerships in education and in building an international reputation and credibility by cooperating with reputable international universities and organizations.

Bahrain↗

Student-led tutorials in problem-based learning: educational outcomes and students' perceptions.

The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of using students as tutors in a problem-based learning (PBL) medical curriculum. Ninety-one third-year medical students were divided into ten tutorial groups. The groups were randomly allocated into student-led tutorials (SLT) (five groups, n = 44 students) and faculty-led tutorials (FLT) (five groups, n = 47 students). Outcome measurements included assessment of students' performance in tutorials individually and as a group, end-unit examinations scores, assessment of tutoring skills and identifying students' perceptions about peer tutoring. Student tutors were perceived better in providing feedback and in understanding the difficulties students face in tutorials. Tutorial atmosphere, decision-making and support for the group leader were better in SLT compared with FLT groups. Self-assessment of student performance in SLT was not different from FLT. Student scores in the written and practical examinations were comparable in both groups. However, SLT groups found difficulties in analysis of problems presented in the first tutorial session. We conclude that the impact of peer tutoring on student performance in tutorials, group dynamics, and student achievement in examinations is positive overall. However, student tutors require special training before adopting this approach in PBL programs.

Attitude↗

Gender-related differences in learning in student-led PBL tutorials.

CONTEXT: Male and female students behave differently in problem-based learning (PBL) tutorials. However, these differences could be partly attributed to faculty tutor behavior in male and female tutorials. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to examine the gender differences in learning outcomes between medical students when peer tutors facilitate PBL tutorials. METHODS: A questionnaire-based study conducted in single-gender student-led (SLT) and faculty-led (FLT) tutorials. The study involved third year medical students (n = 91) divided into ten groups (five groups each). The SLT groups consisted of 16 male and 28 female students, while the FLT group consisted of 20 male and 27 female students. Students evaluated their individual and group performance in tutorials and also skills of tutors. Student performance in end-unit examinations and their perceptions about peer tutoring were also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 290 questionnaires (response rate = 63.7%) were collected over the five-week period of the study. Although individual performance in tutorials and achievement in examinations were comparable in both groups, there was significantly higher group performance in female compared with male student-led tutorials (p < 0.01). This difference between male and female groups was not attributed to improvement in the performance of female groups, but rather to a decline in performance of the male SLT groups. In addition, both male and female students expressed facing difficulties in discussion and analysis of the problem in the first tutorial session. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the gender differences in the group behavior in student-led tutorials is important for PBL programs adopting this approach.

Bahrain↗

Reliability and validity of the direct observation clinical encounter examination (DOCEE).

CONTEXT: The College of Medicine and Medical Sciences at the Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain, replaced the traditional long case/short case clinical examination on the final MD examination with a direct observation clinical encounter examination (DOCEE). Each student encountered four real patients. Two pairs of examiners from different disciplines observed the students taking history and conducting physical examinations and jointly assessed their clinical competence. OBJECTIVES: To determine the reliability and validity of the DOCEE by investigating whether examiners agree when scoring, ranking and classifying students; to determine the number of cases and examiners necessary to produce a reliable examination, and to establish whether the examination has content and concurrent validity. SUBJECTS: Fifty-six final year medical students and 22 examiners (in pairs) participated in the DOCEE in 2001. METHODS: Generalisability theory, intraclass correlation, Pearson correlation and kappa were used to study reliability and agreement between the examiners. Case content and Pearson correlation between DOCEE and other examination components were used to study validity. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha for DOCEE was 0.85. The intraclass and Pearson correlation of scores given by specialists and non-specialists ranged from 0.82 to 0.93. Kappa scores ranged from 0.56 to 1.00. The overall intraclass correlation of students' scores was 0.86. The generalisability coefficient with four cases and two raters was 0.84. Decision studies showed that increasing the cases from one to four improved reliability to above 0.8. However, increasing the number of raters had little impact on reliability. The use of a pre-examination blueprint for selecting the cases improved the content validity. The disattenuated Pearson correlations between DOCEE and other performance measures as a measure of concurrent validity ranged from 0.67 to 0.79. CONCLUSIONS: The DOCEE was shown to have good reliability and interrater agreement between two independent specialist and non-specialist examiners on the scoring, ranking and pass/fail classification of student performance. It has adequate content and concurrent validity and provides unique information about students' clinical competence.

Bahrain↗