Urology boot camp for medical students: Using virtual technology to enhance undergraduate education.

Objectives: The study aims to describe the methodology of converting the urology boot camp for medical students into a virtual course with key take home points for a successful conversion and to present quantitative and qualitative data demonstrating the impact of the boot camp on improving delegates' knowledge and clinical acumen. Materials and methods: The face-to-face boot camp was converted to a virtual format employing a variety of techniques including; utilizing an online platform to deliver live screened lectures, using online polling software to foster an interactive learning environment and displaying pre-recorded videos to teach practical skills. Validated Multiple Choice Questionnaires (MCQs) were used prior to and after the course. This enabled the assessment of delegates' knowledge of urology according to the national undergraduate curriculum, and paired t tests were used to quantify the level of improvement. Thematic analysis was carried out on post-course delegate feedback to identify highlights of the course and ways of improving future iterations. Results: In total, 131 delegates took part in the pilot virtual course. Of these, 105 delegates completed the pre- and post-course MCQs. There was a statistically significant improvement in the assessment following the course (p = <0.001) with mean score increasing from 47.5% pre-course to 65.8% post-course. All delegates who attended the most recent implementation of the virtual course (n = 31) felt it improved their knowledge and confidence in urology. Twenty delegates (64.5%) felt that it prepared them for both final year medical school examinations and working as a foundation year doctor. Positive themes in feedback were identified, which included the interactive nature of the course, the quality of teaching, the level and content of information provided and the high yield, concise organization of the teaching schedule. Conclusion: Using virtual technology and innovative educational frameworks, we have demonstrated the successful conversion of the urology boot camp for medical students to a virtual format. At a national level, with support from the British Association of Urological Surgeons, the face-to-face component of the course will continue to run in parallel with the virtual course with the aim of standardizing and improving UK undergraduate urological education. The virtual course has been implemented on an international scale, and this has already shown promising results.

Surveying, shoring, strengthening: rebuilding medical morale from its foundations .

Significant uncertainty surrounds the sustainability of healthcare services in which junior doctors work. It is essential that student and foundation doctors (SFDs) are actively engaged if workforce morale is rebuilt. This narrative review explores the evidence driving the individual work-streams of the Royal College of Physicians' newly formed Student and Foundation Doctor Network. Undergraduate and postgraduate training reform has coincided with concerning feedback from newly qualified doctors. System-level efforts to address this include a focus on extra-contractual matters, where small, sustainable changes could address training and work issues.Fewer foundation year-2 doctors are entering specialty training immediately after the foundation programme. Providing dedicated careers guidance and highlighting opportunities within traditional placements and other career paths can support doctors who undertake non-traditional career routes, including those who take time out of programme.Disseminating these resources through an effective peer-to-peer framework and a well-established mentoring scheme could be the most appropriate way to spread good practice.

Trend in outcome and financial impact of subdural hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Little current data exists regarding outcome, cost, and length of stay (LOS) after subdural hemorrhage (SDH). We sought to examine predictors of discharge disposition, ICU and hospital LOS and direct, indirect, ICU, surgical, and diagnostic costs for SDH. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of 216 SDH patients, aged >18 years admitted to our hospital between 1/2001 and 12/2008. Discharge disposition was characterized as dead, poor or good. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of disposition, LOS, and cost. RESULTS: Of 216 SDH patients, the median age was 74 (19-95), and the median admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was 14 (3-15). The SDH was characterized as acute in 14%, subacute in 44%, chronic in 12%, and mixed in 30%. Surgical evacuation was performed in 139 (64%) patients. Death occurred in 29 (13%) patients and poor disposition in 43 (20%). Significant predictors of death included age, admission GCS, and hospital LOS (P < 0.05). Longer hospital LOS was associated with poor disposition, while shorter ICU LOS was associated with good disposition (P < 0.01). Median hospital LOS was 8 (1-99) days. Median total direct costs for hospitalization were $10,670 ($907-238,856). ICU and hospital LOS were significant predictors of all measures of cost (P < 0.05). SDH size, chronicity, and surgical intervention were not predictors of any outcome. There was no significant change in any outcome variable between 2001 and 2008. CONCLUSIONS: Despite good admission neurological status, death or poor discharge disposition is common after SDH. LOS and costs remain high and have not improved in the last decade.

Recurrent vasospasm after endovascular treatment in subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: the frequency and predictors of recurrent symptomatic and angiographic vasospasm after angioplasty or intra-arterial chemical vasodilatation (IACV) in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are not well characterized. METHODS: a retrospective review of serial clinical and angiographic data was conducted between 7/2001-6/2008 on spontaneous SAH patients who underwent endovascular therapy for symptomatic vasospasm. RESULTS: of 318 SAH patients, symptomatic vasospasm occurred in 80 (25%) and endovascular intervention was performed on 69 (22%) patients. Of these 69 patients, all received IACV in 274 vessels and 33 also underwent angioplasty in a total of 76 vessels. Recurrent angiographic vasospasm occurred in the same vessel segment in 9/23 (39%) patients who received both angioplasty + IACV compared to 40/49 (82%) of patients who received IACV alone (P < 0.001). Recurrent symptomatic vasospasm occurred in 10/26 (38%) angioplasty + IACV patients compared to 28/37 (76%) patients who received IACV alone (P = 0.003). The modified-Fisher Score, A1 spasm, distal and multi-vessel vasospasm predicted recurrent angiographic spasm after IACV alone (P < 0.05). Procedural complications occurred in 4% of IACV alone patients and 6% of angioplasty + IACV patients (P = 0.599). CONCLUSIONS: recurrent angiographic or symptomatic vasospasm is not uncommon after angioplasty + IACV, but appears to occur significantly less than after IACV alone, without any increase in procedural complications.