Effectiveness of an interprofessional education program using team-based learning for medical students: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: To respond to increasingly complicated healthcare needs in primary care settings, all health and medical welfare professionals are required to collaborate with multiprofessionals, namely via "interprofessional work" (IPW). Interprofessional education (IPE) is essential for effective IPW, especially for medical students. This study aimed to determine whether participation in IPE can increase medical students' readiness for interprofessional learning. METHOD: We examined the difference in readiness of medical students for interprofessional learning before and after an IPE program that used team-based learning (TBL). Each student was assigned to either a uniprofessional or multiprofessional group. They were evaluated using the Japanese version of the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS). Program participants were 126 second-year medical students and 18 students of healthcare professions other than medical doctor who participated in a combined IPE program conducted by two universities. Medical students were allocated to 12 uniprofessional and nine multiprofessional groups at random. RESULTS: One hundred and twelve medical students who replied to the questionnaire both before and after the program (valid response rate, 88.9%) were eligible for analysis. Of these, 42 were assigned to uniprofessional groups and 70 to multiprofessional groups. After the program, the RIPLS total score increased to a greater extent in the multiprofessional groups than in the uniprofessional groups (difference 3.17, 95% confidence interval 0.47-5.88, P = .022). Multiple regression analysis showed the same result. CONCLUSIONS: Learning in multiprofessional groups increased medical students' readiness for interprofessional learning in an IPE program using TBL.

The Analysis of Medical Adverse Events Related to Electronic Health Records in Nursing Services.

This pilot study investigated problems of electronic health records (EHR), which have been used by nurses as a clinical decision tool. The investigation was conducted based on case records retrieved from the national database of medical adverse events. Detailed data related to nursing services must continue to be collected to establish a clearer linkage of EHR data and scholary information.

A model for nurses seeking information using a scholarly information map.

Nurses are required to obtain highly sophisticated scholarly information to contribute to the health of medical consumers through evidence-based practice (EBP). However, it is often difficult to constantly find appropriate information resources and conduct searches to obtain desired and useful information. Therefore, a system that can be used to find reliable information to satisfy the needs of clinical nurses is required. This study aimed to support nurses seeking information to aid their practice. We propose a model to support the information seeking of nurses using 2 scholarly information maps: a "Resource Map" and an "Individual Map." The Resource Map contains comprehensive information of special fields for nurses. Meanwhile, the Individual Map contains elements of case reports that help nurses to accurately specify a patient's condition. This model can help nurses develop a habit of using these maps for advancements in nursing.

Magnetic resonance imaging in late-onset ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency.

We examined brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a cohort of seven patients with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD), and correlated MRI findings with clinical manifestations. Seven patients with OTCD, aged 3-27 years, all with a missense mutation, were involved in the study. We classified the OTCD patients clinically into four stages. MR study was performed with a 1.5-T superconducting magnet during asymptomatic periods. MRI revealed white matter lesions in two patients with an advanced clinical stage, i.e. T1 and T2 prolongated round lesions in the deep white matter and posterolateral angle of the lateral ventricle in one patient; small foci of T2 and T1 prolongation in the subcortical white matter in another. Parenchymal lesions, and cerebral and cerebellar atrophy were not found in the other five patients. MRI might be normal in the early stage of the disease, and progress in proportion to the clinical stage of OTCD. OTCD should be considered as a differential diagnosis of small foci in the white matter in children.