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The state of pediatrics residency training: a period of transformation of graduate medical education.

Graduate medical education is in a period of transformation. This article reviews the state of pediatrics residency training by summarizing the changing demographics within training programs, examining the new educational paradigm with an emphasis on competency-based education and continuous professional development, and describing forces influencing the workplace and the focus on work-life balance. Strategies are suggested for leaders in graduate medical education to meet the challenges experienced during this period of transformation.

Career Choice↗

A questionnaire examining learning in general practice.

Vocational training is a key element of professional development in general practice. Learner-centred approaches to teaching bring a need for greater understanding of the individual learning styles and preferences of trainees. This paper reports the findings of a pilot study undertaken to determine factors that may influence learning among general practice trainees. A questionnaire survey of 261 trainees in six regions in the UK was carried out to explore attitudes to a series of themes identified in semi-structured interviews with trainees at the end of their training. Six distinct subscales were identified using principal components analysis. These are named 'Learning from Patients', 'Openness to Criticism', 'Negative Attitudes', 'Desire for Clear Guidelines', 'Peer Support', and 'Academic Approach'. Males scored significantly higher on 'Academic Approach' (P < 0.05). Each of the subscales reflects themes that permeate the atmosphere of general practice training. Further work is required to establish relationships between the subscales and the outcomes of learning and to explore the implications for continuing professional development. The questionnaire is an instrument that may prove useful in the future investigation of learning in general practice.

Family Practice↗

What do clinicians want from us? An evaluation of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust clinical librarian service and its implications for developing future working patterns.

BACKGROUND: The Clinical Librarian (CL) Service at Brighton was established in 2003 with the aim of providing high-quality evidence to designated teams and fostering an evidence-based culture. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the CL service at Brighton and discuss the implication of the findings. METHODS: A combination of internally collected data (n = 167), and an external evaluation of the service by questionnaires (n = 86) of users and non-users and interviews (n = 9) of users. RESULTS: Internal data suggest that the service is valued by its users and that patient care and continuing professional development are the most common uses for searches (confirmed by the external study); that searches generally result in some change in knowledge; and that this knowledge is disseminated. The external study found that visibility of the CL was crucial to the effectiveness of the role and that clinicians used the service mostly to get access to a wider range of resources and/or to save time. Users wanted the CL to include evaluative annotation with the results, and for the CL role to become more embedded in the team. Interview results expanded on the issues of integration of the CL and the need for annotation of results. CONCLUSIONS: To be most effective, CLs would be dedicated to one team, but financial constraints make this unlikely. Alternative working patterns are suggested as a possible compromise.

Access to Information↗

Educational needs and employment status of Scottish dental technicians.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the educational needs and employment status of dental technicians in Scotland. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and fifty dental technicians with postal addresses in Scotland. DESIGN: Structured questionnaire. RESULTS: An 83% response rate was achieved following three mailings. The majority of respondents were employed in commercial dental laboratories largely within the 'central belt' of Scotland, with 96% stating they were in full-time employment. Only 33% of these essential health-care workers were voluntarily registered with the Dental Technicians' Association, suggesting that a significant number had not felt it necessary or beneficial to do so. A lack of educational structure was identified, as was poor remuneration and an absence of opportunity for career progression. Although the prospect of continuing professional development was desirable, many respondents reported that they would be penalised financially for undertaking this and, in addition, may not be given the opportunity to pursue education because of lack of co-operation from their employer. Only 47% had attended an educational event within the preceding year, and of those who had not done this, a period of two-32 years had elapsed since any CPD involvement. Of the respondents, only 34% stated that any financial assistance had been available for educational purposes, with access to education being highlighted as problematic by 68%. A total of 64% of subjects felt they were out-of-date with professional education. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights a number of real and potential problems in the field of education in dental technology. It is apparent that change within the structure of education and professional status, although largely welcomed, may be difficult to implement. The profession, as a whole, must realise that these changes in education and employment are not optional, and should be embraced as a positive step which will hopefully raise the profile and status of dental technicians throughout the UK.

Certification↗

Home Study Course: summer 2006.

OBJECTIVE: The Home Study Course is intended for the practicing colposcopist or practitioner who is seeking to develop or enhance his or her colposcopic skills. The goal of the course is to present colposcopic cases that are unusual or instructive in terms of appearance, presentation, or management, or that demonstrate new and important knowledge in the area of colposcopy or pathology. Participants may benefit from reading and studying the material or from testing their knowledge by answering the questions. ACCME ACCREDITATION: The American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Categorys I Creditt. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. ASCCP also designates their educational activity for 1 Category 1 credit hour of the ASCCP's Program for Continuing Professional Development. Credit is available for those who choose to apply. The Home Study Course is planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME's Essential Areas and Elements. DISCLOSURES: The clinical history and images in the Home Study Course may represent an actual case, but not always. To improve educational quality, some gross, cytological, or histological images may come from photographic libraries. Good teaching cases are often difficult to obtain, and we encourage our readers to submit cases with high-quality images to the Home Study Course editor or executive editor to consider for publication. Lastly, faculty must disclose any significant financial interest or relationship with proprietary entities that may have a direct relationship to the subject matter. For this course, the authors had no such relationship to report.

Adult↗

Primary care research--a blueprint for action for Singapore.

Primary care research, hitherto overshadowed by research in the tertiary institutions, lacks impetus due to image, limitations of resources and poor infrastructure. This article looks into the current state of research development and the barriers. These hurdles can be overcome by a paradigm shift through the initiation of regular research meetings, training, infrastructure support and a collaborative research network to optimize time and resources. This will open the door to a wide field of primary care research, from basic, clinical research to health service and health system analysis and evaluation. Family physicians can tap on this opportunity to sharpen their critical appraisal skills through research, which can form an integral part of their continuous professional development. A network of pro-research family physicians will foster a vibrant research culture and pave the way to a renaissance of primary care research.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Providing specialist clinical skills in soft tissue and intra-articular injection through a postgraduate masters module.

Current philosophy and policy changes in the National Health Service are encouraging healthcare practitioners to extend their clinical skills to create a more patient-centred approach thus allowing patients to be seen in a timely and more appropriate manner. This often requires further development of the practitioners' skills and knowledge. One approach to achieve this is through collaboration between employers and educational providers to ensure that educational experience is not only evidence based but also responsive to the needs of the current and future workforce. A postgraduate module was developed to raise critical and evaluative skills, as well as the technical skills of practitioners using injections in the management of joint and soft tissue pathology, while developing a professional responsibility towards injection practice. The module emphasized learning though experience by contextualizing the theoretical aspects of the module and by its student centred assessments. Further strengths of this module are that it has utilized academic and clinical expertise and knowledge to enable clinicians to gain additional skills and the multidisciplinary approach engendered good working practice Overall the module was evaluated positively by both tutors and students and not only met its aims but also addressed the current professional and policy issues around continuing professional development.

Journal Article↗

Hospital doctors' views of their CPD and its relationship to learning in the organization.

Continuing professional development (CPD) has traditionally been an autonomous, professional concern of doctors in the UK. In a changing educational and service climate, can individualized approaches to CPD be reconciled with adult learning principles and learning that is practice-based and multidisciplinary? A survey of the CPD of consultant and non-consultant career grade staff in Wales (UK) has provided some clues on how doctors perceive their learning needs in relation to those of Trust hospitals. It indicated that these doctors pursued traditional forms of continuing education (reading, lectures and meetings), gained clinical knowledge and changed their practice as a result. The majority saw themselves as accountable for CPD to their college and specialty. Trusts had yet to promote CPD as a clinical governance priority but respondents felt that appraisal helped to mediate individual and organizational perspectives of CPD. Most career-grade doctors believed their CPD activities met the needs of their employing organizations and felt satisfied with a 'traditional' approach to CPD. Doctors and service organizations may need to confront preconceptions regarding education and respective roles in the negotiation of CPD if team-based learning in practice is to become established.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Professional career needs of GPs and registrars working in northwestern NSW.

BACKGROUND: The Australian general practice workforce increasingly comprises international medical graduates. These doctors come from a range of professional backgrounds. AIM: This project aimed to document the current education, training and support needs of the general practice workforce, including international medical graduates, who currently train and/or practise in northwestern New South Wales. METHOD: Cross sectional survey of all 66 registrars and all 149 GPs who work in this area. RESULTS: Irrespective of doctors' origin or gender, priority information needs were related to indigenous health, rural health, and key community issues. Training and pre-employment opportunities, and continuing professional development were high priority areas for all participants. DISCUSSION: Educational initiatives are best targeted at identified groups but not necessarily reserved for international medical graduates only. Supporting the professional careers of doctors in a region requires the provision of integrated educational programs that focus on specific information and skills deficits, as well as requested programs.

Adult↗

Community paediatrics: soft science or firm foundations?

Community paediatrics strives to integrate the biology of health into the social and psychological worlds within which children grow and develop. Consumer demand for limited community paediatric clinical services is increasing and medico-legal pressures escalate professional and personal concern. Meanwhile, the profession, through training and professional support, has struggled to keep up. Research into community paediatrics and its integration into policy and clinical practice remains limited, raising the perception that it is a 'soft' science. Our viewpoint is that necessary progress in this field requires leadership, apprenticeship and research. We argue that to build firm foundations for the future requires structures to enable clinical specialisation and continuing professional development in this area.

Australia↗

Clinical governance: its effect on surgery and the surgeon.

Audit is the process by which clinical staff collectively review, evaluate and improve their clinical practice with the common aim of improving standards. Modern audit has developed from the initial concept promoted in the 1980s and is now part of the concept of clinical governance. Clinical governance is a framework through which health service organizations are accountable for continuously improving the quality of their services. Clinicians have always been accountable for maintaining high quality care; clinical governance merely imposes structure in this and makes it explicit. The features of this are: (i) full participation in audit by all hospital doctors; (ii) support and use evidence-based practice, including risk management, quality assurance and clinical effectiveness; and (iii) continuing professional development.

Employee Performance Appraisal↗

Accessing the literature: using bibliographic databases to find journal articles. Part 2.

Research in primary dental care, recertification, continuing professional development, lifelong learning, peer review and quality healthcare are all informed by the published literature. Dental practitioners can find out about reliable and up-to-date information available in the published literature by searching bibliographic databases. This concluding article alerts readers to some of the limitations and pitfalls of data-base-searching.

Certification↗

Food aid in emergencies: a case for wheat?

As disasters and conflict increase, a higher proportion of total food aid is given as humanitarian aid. Most food aid is in the form of cereals, primarily wheat. The main donors are the USA and the EU, but there is an increase in the numbers of donors, including non-governmental organizations, buying food rather than using surpluses. Alongside the greater diversity and complexity of food aid, there is more controversy about policy and practice. If disasters are development failures, emergency food aid must be a step in the continuum from relief to rehabilitation. Comparisons of the seventeen countries that were major recipients of food aid (> 10,000 t) in 1997, show diversity in social development, dietary pattern, number of refugees, relative food inadequacy and wasting (i.e. % standard weight-for-height > 2 SD). In the absence of information of consistent quality, what influences the scale of emergency aid is unclear and susceptible to politicization, so that need and supply may not be matched. Local considerations seem to be as important as external food aid for the nutrition of the recipients. Challenges for the future include assuring the nutritional quality of rations to solve deficiency problems. The implications for the professional public health nutritionist working on emergency food provision include continuing professional development to enhance the technical expertise necessary to design appropriate feeds or rations. These public health nutritionists, more than others, require a grounding in social science theories that underpin management, ethics of professionalism and the politics of food aid.

Disasters↗

Can a postgraduate course for general practitioners deliver perceived benefit for learners, patients and the NHS?: a qualitative study.

The focus of continuing professional development in general practice is shifting towards professional development and away from following personal areas of interest. Previous work has suggested that much CPD has not had an obvious impact in the three areas of professional development: the needs of individual doctors, patients and the needs of the NHS. We report on the results of a programme of study where developments in all three were perceived as being achieved. This outcome was realized by basing learning around real problems course members encountered in their daily work, using these real situations to identify theory, then reinforcing this learning through practical application.

Clinical Competence↗

[Continuing should be a part of the clinical reality. Courage is required to see both the strong and the weak sides of the professional situation].

Continuing professional development (CPD) is a joint responsibility of the individual physician and the employer. CPD should focus on identification and documentation of the learning needs of the individual, based on professional demands. Reflection, feedback and evaluation of the results are central elements of the process. Efficient learning demands active participation; modern information technology is now becoming more widely available.

Curriculum↗

Non-consultant career grade doctors in genitourinary medicine: as revalidation approaches, are some jobs at risk?

The Genitourinary Medicine Non-Consultant Career Grade Group (GUM NCCG Group) was established for the purpose of looking at training and contractual issues for this heterogeneous group of doctors. In June 2003, 700 questionnaires were posted to NCCG doctors in the UK to enquire about various aspects of working conditions. A summary of the 244 replies (35% response) is presented. Eighty-four (34%) had a job plan and 81 (33%) had had an appraisal. Just over one-third (38%) had time allocated for continuing medical education (CME), audit and administration. The response of employers to attempts by NCCGs to upgrade was poor. In all, 195 (80%) said they were registered for the purpose of continuing professional development (CPD), 43 (18%) were not and six people did not know whether they were registered or not. These results give cause for real concern at this point regarding revalidation pathways. Our survey highlights that NCCGs are disadvantaged in terms of appraisal, CPD and career progression and some jobs will be at risk as revalidation approaches.

Accreditation↗

Nurse prescribers: who are they and how do they perceive their role?

AIMS: This paper reports a study to elicit background data from recently qualified nurse prescribers and explore aspects of their work. BACKGROUND: Nurse prescribing has been introduced quite recently in the United Kingdom. Although a certain amount of information is available about the characteristics of nurse prescribers, relatively little is known about their professional backgrounds, their reasons for choosing to become nurse prescribers and their perceptions of their emerging role. More information is needed to inform the selection, education and support of nurse prescribers. METHOD: All nurses who undertook a nurse prescribing course in one university in the West Midlands during 2003-2004 were invited to participate in the study. A 40-item questionnaire was used to gather data on demographics, expectations of nurse prescribing, personal and professional development and perceived education needs. FINDINGS: Respondents considered that, despite initial problems, the nurse prescribing initiative would ultimately prove to be a cornerstone of improved service delivery for service users. The majority of nurses were already heavily involved in prescribing 'by proxy' and the course merely formalized what they were currently doing. Potentially, prescribing could advance the professional development of nurses, improve communication between professionals and patients, and make the experience of patients more beneficial. However, some concerns were expressed about how supportive the current climate in health care could be, given the multiple demands on time and energy required by so many other innovations. CONCLUSIONS: Respondents appeared balanced in their perceptions of this innovation and what it could realistically achieve. They were not indifferent to the many short and long-term problems that need to be resolved before it can be claimed to have become embedded in practice. The success of non-medical prescribing may depend on organizational support, coupled with a robust continuing professional development strategy for all nurse prescribers.

Adult↗

Self directed learning.

The ability to acquire skills in self directed learning may be the key link between undergraduate education, postgraduate training, and continuing professional development. If future and current practitioners are to adopt an ongoing reflective and critical approach to practice, we should aim to provide learning opportunities that promote self confidence, question asking and reflection, openness and risk taking, uncertainty and surprise. Teaching techniques that encourage these skills are being introduced widely and have been shown to be at least as effective as traditional methods of education while promoting more enjoyment and enthusiasm among both staff and students.

Education, Medical, Continuing↗