Evolving from Didactic to Dialogic: How to Improve Faculty Development and Support Faculty Developers by Using Action Research.

Problem: Since competency-based medical education has gained widespread acceptance to guide curricular reforms, faculty development has been regarded as an indispensable element to make these programs successful. Faculty developers have striven to design and deliver myriad of programs or workshops to better prepare faculty members for fulfilling their teaching roles. However, how faculty developers can improve workshop delivery by researching their teaching practices remains underexplored. Intervention: Action research aims to understand real world practices and advocates for formulation of doable plans through cycles of investigations, and ultimately contributes to claims of knowledge and a progression toward the goal of practice improvement. This methodology aligns with the aim of this study to understand how I could improve a faculty development workshop by researching my teaching practices. Context: In 2016, we conducted four cycles of action research in the context of mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (mini-CEX) workshops within a faculty development program aiming for developing teaching and assessment competence in faculty members. We collected multiple sources of qualitative data for thematic analysis, including my reflective journal, field notes taken by a researcher-observer, and post-workshop written reflection and feedback in portfolio from fourteen workshop attendees aiming to develop faculty teaching and assessment competence. Impact: By doing action research, I scrutinized each step as an opportunity for change, enacted adaptive practice and reflection on my teaching practices, and formulated action plans to transform a workshop design through each cycle. In so doing, my workshop evolved from didactic to dialogic with continuous improvement on enhanced engagement, focused discussion and participant empowerment through a collaborative inquiry into feedback practice. Moreover, these processes of action research also supported my growth as a faculty developer. Lessons Learned: The systematic approach of action research serves as a vehicle to enable faculty developers to investigate individual teaching practices as a self-reflective inquiry, to examine, rectify, and transform processes of program delivery, and ultimately introduce themselves as agents for change and improvement.

Striving to thrive or striving to survive: Professional identity constructions of medical trainees in clinical assessment activities.

CONTEXT: Assessment plays a key role in competence development and the shaping of future professionals. Despite its presumed positive impacts on learning, unintended consequences of assessment have drawn increasing attention in the literature. Considering professional identities and how these can be dynamically constructed through social interactions, as in assessment contexts, our study sought to understand how assessment influences the construction of professional identities in medical trainees. METHODS: Within social constructionism, we adopted a discursive, narrative approach to investigate the different positions trainees narrate for themselves and their assessors in clinical assessment contexts and the impact of these positions on their constructed identities. We purposively recruited 28 medical trainees (23 students and five postgraduate trainees), who took part in entry, follow-up and exit interviews of this study and submitted longitudinal audio/written diaries across nine-months of their training programs. Thematic framework and positioning analyses (focusing on how characters are linguistically positioned in narratives) were applied using an interdisciplinary teamwork approach. RESULTS: We identified two key narrative plotlines, striving to thrive and striving to survive, across trainees' assessment narratives from 60 interviews and 133 diaries. Elements of growth, development, and improvement were identified as trainees narrated striving to thrive in assessment. Neglect, oppression and perfunctory narratives were elaborated as trainees narrated striving to survive from assessment. Nine main character tropes adopted by trainees with six key assessor character tropes were identified. Bringing these together we present our analysis of two exemplary narratives with elaboration of their wider social implications. CONCLUSION: Adopting a discursive approach enabled us to better understand not only what identities are constructed by trainees in assessment contexts but also how they are constructed in relation to broader medical education discourses. The findings are informative for educators to reflect on, rectify and reconstruct assessment practices for better facilitating trainee identity construction.

Improving transitional care through online communication skills training.

BACKGROUND: As the aging population is increasing significantly, the communication skills training (CST) on transitional care (TC) is insufficient. AIMS: This study aimed to test the effectiveness of an intervention (the online TC CST [OTCCST] and TC) through the perspectives of healthcare providers (HCPs), older patients, and family members. METHODS: A total of 38 HCPs caring for older patients were randomized to the experimental (n = 18) or control groups (n = 20), and 84 pairs of patients and family members were enrolled (experimental: n = 42 vs. control: n = 42). The primary outcome was HCP communication confidence; while secondary outcomes included patient quality of life (QoL), activities of daily living (ADL), rehospitalization counts, and family caregiving burden. Data were collected from HCPs using a scale measuring confidence in communicating with patients. Patient outcomes were assessed using the McGill QoL Questionnaire-Revised and Barthel Index. Family members were assessed with the Caregiver Burden Inventory. Rehospitalization counts were tracked for 3 months post-discharge. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Experimental group HCPs showed a significant improvement in communication confidence over the control group (p = 0.0006). Furthermore, experimental group patients had significantly fewer rehospitalization counts within 3-month post-discharge (p < 0.05). However, no significant group differences were found in patient QoL and ADL nor in family caregiver burden. CONCLUSION: The OTCCST can effectively improve HCP communication confidence, and the combination of OTCCST and TC can reduce rehospitalization counts for older patients. The OTCCST allows HCPs to learn asynchronously at their convenience, ideal for continuing education, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Performance of two frailty screening tools among patients with cancer in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is the gold standard for detecting frailty in elderly patients with cancer. Since CGA is time- and resource-consuming, many alternative frailty screening tools have been developed; however, it remains unknown whether these tools are suitable for older and adult patients with cancer. Therefore, we used the data collected for a large longitudinal study to compare the diagnostic performances of two frailty screening tools (Geriatric 8 [G8] and Flemish version of the Triage Risk Screening Tool [fTRST]) to identify frailty risk profile among patients with cancer. METHODS: Patients aged ≥20 years with newly diagnosed cancer were enrolled. Frailty screening with G8, fTRST, and CGA were performed before anti-cancer treatment. Diagnostic characteristics obtained using G8 and fTRST were analyzed by C-index, and the validity of G8 and fTRST was also determined. RESULTS: 40.9% of the 755 patients with cancer displayed frailty on CGA. Both G8 and fTRST showed high sensitivity (80.6-88.4%) and negative predictive value (81.0-81.2%). The C-index of G8 was higher than that of fTRST (0.77 vs 0.71, p = .01). Moreover, the best G8 and fTRST cut-off points were ≤13 and ≥ 2, respectively. The validities of G8 and fTRST were also confirmed; however, frailty age differences were not observed in our study. CONCLUSION: Frailty is a common problem for patients with cancer, and routine frailty screening is essential for both older and adult patients. G8 and fTRST are simple and useful frailty screening tools, while G8 is more suitable than fTRST for Taiwanese patients with cancer.

Correction: Artichoke leaf extract supplementation lowers hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation and increases multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 in mice fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet.

Correction for 'Artichoke leaf extract supplementation lowers hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation and increases multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 in mice fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet' by Guo-Chen Liao et al., Food Funct., 2021, DOI: 10.1039/D1FO00861G.

How does narrative medicine impact medical trainees' learning of professionalism? A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Narrative medicine (NM) is an approach involving narrative skills and is regarded as a model for medical humanism and effective medical practice. This study aims to explore how NM impacts medical trainees' learning of professionalism during a clerkship in a Taiwanese clinical setting. METHODS: A qualitative interview study adopting a purposive sampling method was undertaken. Thirty medical trainees participated in this study, including five fifth-year medical students (MSs), ten sixth-year MSs, nine seventh-year MSs, and six postgraduate year (PGY) trainees. Thematic framework analysis was applied, and a modified realist evaluation approach was further used to analyse the interview data. RESULTS: We identified self-exploration, reflection, and awareness of professional identity as mechanisms explaining how NM impacted professionalism learning in our participants. Furthermore, empathy, communication, doctor-patient relationship and understanding patients were identified as the outcomes of the NM intervention for trainees' learning of professionalism. CONCLUSIONS: NM facilitates medical trainees' self-exploration, reflection, and awareness of professional identity, thereby affecting their learning of professionalism in clinical settings. Adopting NM as an educational intervention in undergraduate medical education could play an important role in professionalism learning, as trainees can thereby be supported to gradually develop self-exploration and reflection capabilities and heightened awareness of professional identity reflectively through a narrative process.

Understanding the lived experiences of medical learners in a narrative medicine course: a phenomenological study.

BACKGROUND: Reflection and various approaches to foster reflection have been regarded as an indispensable element in enhancing professional practice across different disciplines. With its inherent potential to engage learners in reflection and improvement, narrative medicine has been adopted in various settings. However, the relevance and effectiveness of reflection remains underexplored in the context of narrative medicine, specifically in regard to the concern about variability of learner acceptance and the way learners really make sense of these reflective activities. This study aimed to explore what medical learners experience through narrative medicine and the meanings they ascribe to the phenomenon of this narrative-based learning. METHODS: Using a transcendental phenomenology approach, twenty medical learners were interviewed about their lived experiences of taking a narrative medicine course during their internal medicine clerkship rotation. Moustakas' phenomenological analysis procedures were applied to review the interview data. RESULTS: Six themes were identified: feeling hesitation, seeking guidance, shifting roles in narratives, questioning relationships, experiencing transformation, and requesting a safe learning environment. These themes shaped the essence of the phenomenon and illustrated what and how medical learners set out on a reflective journey in narrative medicine. These findings elucidate fundamental elements for educators to consider how narrative approaches can be effectively used to engage learners in reflective learning and practice. CONCLUSION: Adopting Moustakas' transcendental phenomenology approach, a better understanding about the lived experiences of medical learners regarding learning in narrative medicine was identified. Learner hesitancy should be tackled with care by educators so as to support learners with strategies that address guidance, relationship, and learning environment. In so doing, medical learners can be facilitated to develop reflective capabilities for professional and personal growth.

Characterization Of Secondary Metabolites From The Rhizome Of Cynara Scolymus And Their Antioxidant Properties.

The aerial portions of Cynara scolymus commonly have been eaten as vegetables or functional foods by the people lived in Mediterranean region. In preliminary antioxidant screening, the rhizome portions (CSR) of this species showed better potential than leaves ones. However, neither phytochemical nor pharmacology studies of CSR have been reported to date. The purpose of this research was to identify the active components from CSR through bioassay-guided fractionation. The antioxidant properties of secondary metabolites 1-9 were evaluated in this investigation. Compounds 4-6, 8, and 9 showed antioxidant activities based on DPPH free radical scavenging activity with IC50 values of 22.91-147.21 µM. Besides, compound 8 significantly and dose-dependently reduced H2O2-induced ROS levels in keratinocyte HaCaT cells without cytotoxicity toward HaCaT. Overall, our studies demonstrated the rhizome of C. scolymus could be used as a new natural antioxidant like the edible aerial portions and phenolic compounds are the active components.

Alterations of Specific Lymphocytic Subsets with Aging and Age-Related Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases.

To investigate the association of immunosenescence with aged-related morbidity in the elderly, a clinical study was conducted to analyze and compare the alterations in peripheral blood (PB) T-cell subsets among young healthy (YH) controls, elderly healthy (EH) controls, and age-matched elderly patients with metabolic diseases (E-MDs), with cardiovascular diseases (E-CVDs) or with both (E-MDs/E-CVDs). The frequencies of CD3T, CD8T and invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells were decreased in the EH, E-MD and E-CVD cohorts, indicating a decline in defense function. Although CD4T and regulatory T (Treg) cell frequencies tended to increase with aging, they were lower in patients with E-MDs and E-CVDs. Subset analyses of T-cells consistently showed the accumulation of senescent T-cell in aging and in patients with E-MDs and E-CVDs, compared with YH volunteers. These accumulated senescent T-cells were undergoing apoptosis upon stimulation due to the replicative senescence stage of T-cells. In addition, serum levels of cytokines, including interferon (IF)-γ, transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß and growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15, consistently reflected alterations in T-cell subsets. This study demonstrated that T-cell subset changes with paralleled alterations in cytokines were associated with aging and age-related pathogenesis. These altered T-cell subsets and/or cytokines can potentially serve as biomarkers for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of age-related morbidities.

Clinical Significance of Vulnerability Assessment in Patients with Primary Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing Definitive Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify vulnerable patients with head and neck cancer undergoing concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) who are susceptible to higher treatment-related adverse effects and have poorer treatment tolerance. This study also aimed to determine whether comprehensive geriatric assessment, developed in the geriatric population, can predict vulnerability to treatment-related adverse events and survival even in nongeriatric patients with head and neck cancer, as well as the prevalence of vulnerability and its effect on toxicities and survival among these patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This prospective cohort study examined 461 patients with primary head and neck cancer who underwent definitive CCRT during 2016 to 2017 at 3 medical centers across Taiwan. Vulnerability is defined as susceptibility to cancer- and treatment-related adverse events that result in poor treatment tolerance and unexpected emergent medical needs, such as hospitalization and emergency room visits. Vulnerability was assessed as impairment with ≥2 dimensions on comprehensive geriatric assessment, 7 days before CCRT. The association of vulnerability with treatment-related adverse events and survival was analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of vulnerability was 22.2%, 27.3%, 30.2%, and 27.9% among patients aged 20 to 34, 35 to 49, 50 to 64, and >65 years, respectively. Survival was poorer in vulnerable patients than in nonvulnerable patients (hazard ratio, 1.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-3.07; P = .003). Vulnerable patients showed a higher tendency toward CCRT incompletion (19.5% vs 6.1%, P < .001), hospitalization (34.6% vs 23.5%, P = .020), need for tubal feeding (29.3% vs 11.8%, P < .001), and longer length of hospital stay (8.1 days vs 4.0 days, P = .004) than nonvulnerable patients. Hematologic and nonhematologic toxicities were more severe in vulnerable patients than in nonvulnerable patients. CONCLUSIONS: Vulnerability, which is an urgent concern when it presents among patients with head and neck cancer, was independently associated with poorer survival and severe treatment-related complications. Vulnerability assessment should be routinely evaluated in all patients with primary head and neck cancer who are undergoing definitive CCRT, not only in such patients who are geriatric.

Different perceptions of narrative medicine between Western and Chinese medicine students.

BACKGROUND: Western medicine is an evidence-based science, whereas Chinese medicine is more of a healing art. To date, there has been no research that has examined whether students of Western and Chinese medicine differentially engage in, or benefit from, educational activities for narrative medicine. This study fills a gap in current literature with the aim of evaluating and comparing Western and Chinese Medicine students' perceptions of narrative medicine as an approach to learning empathy and professionalism. METHODS: An initial 10-item questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale was developed to assess fifth-year Western medical (MS) and traditional Chinese medical (TCMS) students' perceptions of a 4-activity narrative medicine program during a 13-week internal medicine clerkship. Exploratory factor analysis was undertaken. RESULTS: The response rate was 88.6% (412/465), including 270 (65.5%) MSs and 142 (34.5%) TCMSs, with a large reliability (Cronbach alpha = 0.934). Three factors were extracted from 9 items: personal attitude, self-development/reflection, and emotional benefit, more favorable in terms of enhancement of self-development/reflection. The perceptions of narrative medicine by scores between the two groups were significantly higher in TCMSs than MSs in all 9-item questionnaire and 3 extracted factors. CONCLUSIONS: Given the different learning cultures of medical education in which these student groups engage, this suggests that undertaking a course in Chinese medicine might enhance one's acceptance to, and benefit from, a medical humanities course. Alternatively, Chinese medicine programmes might attract more humanities-focused students.

Development and implementation of a mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (mini-CEX) program to assess the clinical competencies of internal medicine residents: from faculty development to curriculum evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The mini-CEX is a valid and reliable method to assess the clinical competencies of trainees. Its data could be useful for educators to redesign curriculum as a process of quality improvement. The aim of this study was to evaluate a mini-CEX assessment program in our internal medicine residency training. We investigated the impact of mini-CEX workshops as a faculty development program on the acquisition of cognitive knowledge and the difference of practice behaviors among faculty members used the mini-CEX to assess residents' performance at work. METHODS: We designed an observational, two-phase study. In the faculty development program, we started a mini-CEX workshop for trainers in 2010, and the short-term outcome of the program was evaluated by comparing the pretest and posttest results to demonstrate the improvement in cognitive knowledge on mini-CEX. From September 2010 to August 2011, we implemented a monthly mini-CEX assessment program in our internal medicine residency training. The data of these mini-CEX assessment forms were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: In the group of 49 mini-CEX workshop attendees, there was a statistically significant improvement in cognitive knowledge by comparing the pretest and posttest results (67.35 ± 15.25 versus 81.22 ± 10.34, p < 0.001). Among the 863 clinical encounters of mini-CEX, which involved 97 residents and 139 evaluators, 229 (26.5%), 326 (37.8%), and 308 (35.7%) evaluations were completed by the first-year, second-year, and third- year residents separately. We found a statistically significant interaction between level of training and score in dimensions of mini-CEX. The scores in all dimensions measured were better for senior residents. Participation in mini-CEX workshops as a faculty development program strengthened the adherence of trainers to the principles of mini-CEX as a formative assessment in regard to provision of feedback. However, a deficiency in engaging residents' reflection was found. CONCLUSIONS: Faculty development is a prerequisite to train evaluators in order to implement a successful mini-CEX assessment program. We demonstrated the effectiveness of our mini-CEX workshops in terms of knowledge acquisition and enhancement of giving feedback when the faculty members used the tool. Further programs on providing effective feedback should be conducted to increase the impact of the mini-CEX as a formative assessment.

Association between the metabolic syndrome and its components with falls in community-dwelling older adults.

BACKGROUND: The metabolic syndrome and falls are both serious and common health problems in older adults. However, little is known about whether the metabolic syndrome contributes to falls. We investigated the relationship between the metabolic syndrome and its components with falls in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: We designed and conducted a cross-sectional study. A total of 1165 community-dwelling older adults who received a geriatric health examination, including interviewer-administered questionnaires and physical and biochemical examinations, were retrospectively enrolled from 2008 to 2010 and specifically asked about the history of falls in the preceding year. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 74.9 ± 6.7 years, and 54.3% were women. The overall prevalence of falls and metabolic syndrome were 17.9% and 27.3%, respectively. Compared with those who did not fall, the participants who fell had a higher prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (45.7% versus 23.3%, P<0.001) and four of its five components, namely, abdominal obesity (51.2% versus 40.2 %, P=0.004), hypertriglyceridemia (32.2% versus 21.8%, P=0.001), hypertension (60.0% versus 50.0%, P=0.009), and impaired glucose tolerance (28.4 % versus 16.0%, P<0.001). After adjusting for age, female sex, the Karnofsky Performance Scale, and the five-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale, the metabolic syndrome was a significant independent risk factor for falls in community-dwelling older adults (odds ratio=2.56, 95% confidence interval 1.86-3.51). Because falling is a multifactorial geriatric syndrome, many potential confounders, such as visual abnormalities, obesity, arthritis, and polypharmacy, were not considered in this study. CONCLUSION: The metabolic syndrome is an independent risk factor for falls in community-dwelling older adults and should be addressed with regard to prevention of falls.

Associated factors for falls among the community-dwelling older people assessed by annual geriatric health examinations.

BACKGROUND: Falls are very common among the older people. Nearly one-third older people living in a community fall each year. However, few studies have examined factors associated with falls in a community-dwelling population of older Taiwanese adults. OBJECTIVES: To identify the associated factors for falls during the previous 12 months among the community-dwelling Taiwanese older people receiving annual geriatric health examinations. PARTICIPANTS: People aged sixty-five years or older, living in the community, assessed by annual geriatric health examinations METHODS: 1377 community-dwellers aged ≥65 years who received annual geriatric health examinations at one hospital in northern Taiwan between March and November of 2008. They were asked about their history of falls during the year prior to their most recent health examination. RESULTS: The average age of the 1377 participants was 74.9±6.8 years, 48.9% of which were women. Three-hundred and thirteen of the participants (22.7%) had at least one fall during the previous year. Multivariate analysis showed that odds ratio for the risk of falling was 1.94 (95% CI 1.36-2.76) when the female gender group is compared with the male gender group. The adjusted odds ratios of age and waist circumference were 1.03 (95% CI 1.00-1.06) and 1.03 (95% CI 1.01-1.05) respectively. The adjusted odds ratios of visual acuity, Karnofsky scale, and serum albumin level were 0.34 (95% CI 0.15-0.76), 0.94 (95% CI 0.89-0.98), and 0.37 (95% CI 0.18-0.76) respectively. Larger waist circumference, older age, female gender, poorer visual acuity, lower score on the Karnofsky Performance Scale, and lower serum albumin level were the independent associated factors for falls. CONCLUSION: In addition to other associated factors, waist circumference should be included as a novel risk factor for falls.

Associations between body mass index and serum levels of C-reactive protein.

BACKGROUND: Obesity leads to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and glucose intolerance, which are phenomena of chronic inflammation. This study was performed to determine whether a higher body mass index (BMI) and central obesity are associated with low-grade inflammation. METHODS: An analysis of 8 453 adults aged > or =20 years was performed. Every subject completed a household interview and a questionnaire regarding personal health, and their BMI and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level were measured. The BMI data were divided into quintiles, using multiple linear regression to estimate the relationship between CRP level and BMI quintiles. An extended-model approach was used for covariate adjustment. The association between central obesity and CRP level was examined by this method as well. RESULTS: After controlling for demographics, chronic diseases, health behaviours and levels of folate and vitamin B12, the beta coefficient (which represents the change of natural-log-transformed levels of CRP for each kg/m2 increase in BMI) was 0.078 (p < 0.001). The CRP levels also increased across increasing quintiles of BMI (p for trend <0.001). The beta coefficient, representing the change of natural-log-transformed levels of CRP comparing subjects with central obesity to those without, was 0.876 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Higher BMIs as well as central obesity are independently associated with higher levels of CRP.

Relationship of homocysteine levels to quadriceps strength, gait speed, and late-life disability in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Elevated homocysteine, causing tissue injury by such mechanisms as oxidative stress, endothelial damage, and protein homocysteinylation, is associated with multiple age-related problems including cardiovascular diseases, dementia, and osteoporotic fracture. Disability is one of the most common features in older adults. However, little is known about the role of homocysteine in physical disability among older adults. METHODS: Participants (>60 years, N = 1677) were from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002. Nineteen questionnaires in five major domains were administered to assess the level of difficulty in performing various tasks: activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL (IADL), leisure and social activities (LSA), lower extremity mobility (LEM), and general physical activities (GPA). Peak quadriceps strength was obtained by using an isokinetic dynamometer. Habitual gait speed was obtained from a 20-foot timed walk. Homocysteine levels were measured by the Abbott homocysteine assay, an automated fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). RESULTS: Elevated homocysteine was associated with disability in ADL, IADL, LSA, and GPA after multivariate adjustment. The odds ratios (ORs) for disability in these domains comparing participants in the highest quartile of homocysteine to those in the lowest were 2.18 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32-3.59) for ADL; 1.62 (95% CI, 1.02-2.57) for IADL; 2.00 (95% CI, 1.14-3.51) for LSA; and 1.52 (95% CI, 1.05-2.21) for GPA. The strength of associations weakened somewhat after additional adjustment of quadriceps strength and/or gait speed, suggesting a mediating role of quadriceps strength and gait speed in the association between homocysteine and disability. Homocysteine had an inverse relationship to quadriceps strength and gait speed. Likewise, quadriceps strength seemed to mediate the inverse association between homocysteine and gait speed. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated homocysteine is associated with multiple domains of disability mediated in part by muscle strength and gait speed. The results suggest that homocysteine levels may be important indicators of performance status in older adults.