"Figuring it out on our own": exploring family medicine residents' sexual assault and domestic violence training.

Background: Family physicians are uniquely able to provide comprehensive and longitudinal care to those experiencing sexual assault and domestic violence (SADV). To date, we know little about how Canadian family medicine (FM) residents learn about SADV. This study explored SADV teaching in residency from the perspectives of FM residents. Methods: This qualitative study took place in the Western University FM residency program. We conducted semi-structured interviews with first- and second-year FM residents (n = 8). We analyzed data using thematic analysis. Results: We identified three inter-related themes: (1) Inconsistent training for SADV, (2) Attitudes towards SADV and (3) Learner hesitancy. Quality and quantity of SADV learning opportunities were inconsistent across learners, fuelling feelings of incompetence and lack of confidence around providing SADV care.This led to hesitant behaviours by learners when encountering SADV clinically. Conclusions: Understanding FM residents' experiences and ideas regarding SADV education is critical in order to graduate physicians equipped to care for this vulnerable population. This research highlights the relationship among learners' and teachers' experiences, attitudes and behaviours; targeting this behavioural cycle may improve SADV learning.

Contexte: Les médecins de famille sont particulièrement bien places pour fournir des soins complets et longitudinaux aux personnes victimes d'agression sexuelle et de violence familiale (ASVF). À ce jour,nous savons peu de choses sur la façon dont les résidents en medicine familiale (MF) au Canada se familiarisent avec l'ASVF. Cette etude explore la formation sur le sujet dans le cadre de la résidence en MF,du point de vue des résidents eux-mêmes. Méthodes: Cette étude qualitative s'est déroulée dans le cadre du programme de résidence en FM de l'Université Western. Nous avons mené des entretiens semi-structurés avec des résidents en première et deuxième année de médecine familiale (n=8). Les données ont fait l'objet d'une analyse thématique. Résultats: Nous avons relevé trois thèmes interdépendants : (1) Formation inégale en matière d'ASVF, (2) Attitudes envers l'ASVF et (3) Hésitation de la part des apprenants. La qualité et la quantité des occasions d'apprentissage sur le sujet de l'ASVF n'étaient pas uniformes parmi les apprenants, alimentant des sentiments d'incompétence et un manque de confiance dans la prestation de soins liés à l'ASVF. En conséquence, les apprenants sont hésitants lorsqu'ils rencontrent des situations liées à l'ASVF en clinique. Conclusions: Il est essentiel de comprendre les expériences et les idées des résidents en MF concernant la formation sur le sujet de l'ASVF afin de former des médecins qui seront outillés pour s'occuper d'une population vulnérable. Nos travaux mettent en évidence la relation entre les expériences, les attitudes et les comportements des apprenants et des enseignants. On peut améliorer l'apprentissage en matière d'ASVF en ciblant ce cycle comportemental.

In Our Own Time: Medical Students' Informal Social Studying and Learning.

Phenomenon: Social studying and learning (SSL) is any independent, elective, self-directed and self-organized approach to learning that involves students working with their peers for the purposes of study, learning, or revision. While in-class collaborative learning has been relatively well-explored, very little is known about how medical students engage in informal SSL or about the impacts it can have. The purpose of this study was to explore medical students' practices and perceptions regarding SSL, and the ways in which this shaped their overall learning experiences. Approach: A constructivist grounded theory study was conducted at the University of Calgary. Data were collected from 23 semi-structured student interviews, which were audio recorded and transcribed. Data were analyzed using iterative data collection, memo-ing, and focused coding. Findings: Despite SSL being a common part of students' medical school experience and something that was promoted by academic advisors, how students actually engaged with SSL varied substantially, including who made use of SSL, how they made use of it, the size and focus of SSL groups, how these groups functioned, and what individuals sought to get out of them. Some students found SSL helped them to be more efficient and focused in their studying, while others benefited from comparing their knowledge and skills with those of their peers. Not everyone benefited, as some students found SSL stressful, unproductive, or socially uncomfortable. While student engagement in SSL was an enabler of academic success for some it could also be an indicator of social isolation and low self-esteem for others. Insights: Understanding how SSL can influence student experiences has the potential to inform students how and why they might engage in SSL, and it can help educators better support their students, particularly in those schools that actively encourage SSL.

Can we improve the efficiency of care in patients with colorectal cancer from the time of their initial referral for colonoscopy to surgical resection?

Summary: Delays in the diagnosis and treatment of colon adenocarcinoma are distressing to patients and clinicians alike. Of 224 patients with resected colon cancer identified via a province-wide administrative database, 170 (76%) received their colonoscopy from a gastroenterologist (GI). Patients waited significantly longer between their colonoscopy and surgical resection when the colonoscopy was performed by a GI within an urban city (43 v. 27 d; p = 0.02). The total time from family practice referral to colonoscopy to surgical resection was shorter when a surgeon performed colonoscopy within an urban setting (105 v. 114 d; p = 0.03). In community settings, there were no significant differences in any interval, regardless of which service performed the colonoscopy.

Comparison of the Impact of Wikipedia, UpToDate, and a Digital Textbook on Short-Term Knowledge Acquisition Among Medical Students: Randomized Controlled Trial of Three Web-Based Resources.

BACKGROUND: Web-based resources are commonly used by medical students to supplement curricular material. Three commonly used resources are UpToDate (Wolters Kluwer Inc), digital textbooks, and Wikipedia; there are concerns, however, regarding Wikipedia's reliability and accuracy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Wikipedia use on medical students' short-term knowledge acquisition compared with UpToDate and a digital textbook. METHODS: This was a prospective, nonblinded, three-arm randomized trial. The study was conducted from April 2014 to December 2016. Preclerkship medical students were recruited from four Canadian medical schools. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants through word of mouth, social media, and email. Participants must have been enrolled in their first or second year of medical school at a Canadian medical school. After recruitment, participants were randomized to one of the three Web-based resources: Wikipedia, UpToDate, or a digital textbook. During testing, participants first completed a multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ) of 25 questions emulating a Canadian medical licensing examination. During the MCQ, participants took notes on topics to research. Then, participants researched topics and took written notes using their assigned resource. They completed the same MCQ again while referencing their notes. Participants also rated the importance and availability of five factors pertinent to Web-based resources. The primary outcome measure was knowledge acquisition as measured by posttest scores. The secondary outcome measures were participants' perceptions of importance and availability of each resource factor. RESULTS: A total of 116 medical students were recruited. Analysis of variance of the MCQ scores demonstrated a significant interaction between time and group effects (P<.001, ηg2=0.03), with the Wikipedia group scoring higher on the MCQ posttest compared with the textbook group (P<.001, d=0.86). Access to hyperlinks, search functions, and open-source editing were rated significantly higher by the Wikipedia group compared with the textbook group (P<.001). Additionally, the Wikipedia group rated open access editing significantly higher than the UpToDate group; expert editing and references were rated significantly higher by the UpToDate group compared with the Wikipedia group (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Medical students who used Wikipedia had superior short-term knowledge acquisition compared with those who used a digital textbook. Additionally, the Wikipedia group trended toward better posttest performance compared with the UpToDate group, though this difference was not significant. There were no significant differences between the UpToDate group and the digital textbook group. This study challenges the view that Wikipedia should be discouraged among medical students, instead suggesting a potential role in medical education.

Social studying and learning among medical students: a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Medical students study in social groups, which influence their learning, but few studies have investigated the characteristics of study groups and the impacts they have on students' learning. A scoping review was conducted on the topic of informal social studying and learning within medical education with the aim of appraising what is known regarding medical student attitudes to group study, the impact of group study on participants, and the methods that have been employed to study this. METHODS: Using Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review principles, MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL were searched, along with hand-searching and a targeted search of the grey literature; 18 peer reviewed and 17 grey literature records were included. RESULTS: Thematic conceptual analysis identified a number of themes, including: the nature of group study; the utility and value of group studying including social learning facilitating student engagement, social learning as a source of motivation and accountability, and social learning as a source of wellbeing; and student preferences related to group studying, including its homophilic nature, transgressiveness, and effectiveness. Despite these emerging factors, the evidence base for this phenomenon is small. DISCUSSION: The findings in this scoping review demonstrate a clear role for social interaction outside of the classroom, and encourage us to consider the factors in student networking, and the implications of this on medical students' academics. We also highlight areas in need of future research to allow us to better situate informal social learning within medical education and to enable educators to support this phenomenon.