Beyond "Read More": An Intervention to Improve Faculty Written Feedback to Learners.

BACKGROUND: High-quality feedback is necessary for learners' development. It is most effective when focused on behavior and should also provide learners with specific next steps and desired outcomes. Many faculty struggle to provide this high-quality feedback. OBJECTIVE: To improve the quality of written feedback by faculty in a department of medicine, we conducted a 1-hour session using a novel framework based on education literature, individual review of previously written feedback, and deliberate practice in writing comments. METHODS: Sessions were conducted between August 2015 and June 2018. Participants were faculty members who teach medical students, residents, and/or fellows. To measure the effects of our intervention, we surveyed participants and used an a priori coding scheme to determine how feedback comments changed after the session. RESULTS: Faculty from 7 divisions participated (n = 157). We surveyed 139 participants postsession and 55 (40%) responded. Fifty-three participants (96%) reported learning new information. To more thoroughly assess behavioral changes, we analyzed 5976 feedback comments for students, residents, and fellows written by 22 randomly selected participants before the session and compared these to 5653 comments written by the same participants 1 to 12 months postsession. Analysis demonstrated improved feedback content; comments providing nonspecific next steps decreased, and comments providing specific next steps, reasons why, and outcomes increased. CONCLUSIONS: Combining the learning of a simple feedback framework with an immediate review of written comments that individual faculty members previously provided learners led to measured improvement in written comments.

Development and preliminary evaluation of the resident coordinated-transitional care (RC-TraC) program: A sustainable option for transitional care education.

Older adults often face poor outcomes when transitioning from hospital to home. Although physicians play a key role in overseeing transitions, there is a lack of practice-based educational programs that prepare resident physicians to manage care transitions of older adults. An educational intervention to provide residents with real-life transitional care practice was therefore developed-Resident-coordinated Transitional Care (RC-TraC). RC-TraC adapted the evidence-based Coordinated-Transitional Care (C-TraC) nurse role for residents, providing opportunities to follow patients during the peri-hospital period without additional costs to the residency program. Between July 2010 and June 2013, 31 internal medicine residents participated in RC-TraC, caring for 721 patients. RC-TraC has been a sustainable, low-cost, practice-based education experience that is recognized as transitional care education by residents and continues in operation to this day. RC-TraC is a promising option for geriatric-based transitional care education of resident physicians and could also be adapted for nonphysician learners.

Successful Implementation of a Direct Observation Program in an Ambulatory Block Rotation.

BACKGROUND: Direct observation of clinical skills is a cornerstone of competency-based education and training. Ensuring direct observation in a consistent fashion has been a significant challenge for residency programs. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a novel evaluation system, designed to achieve ongoing direct observation of residents, examine changes in resident observation practices, and understand faculty attitudes toward direct observation and the evaluation system. METHODS: Internal medicine residents on an ambulatory block rotation participated in a new evaluation system, which replaced a single end-of-rotation summative evaluation with 9 formative evaluations based on direct observation. Faculty received training in direct observation and use of the forms, and residents were given responsibility to collect 9 observations per rotation. Faculty members contacted residents at the beginning and middle of the rotation to ensure completion of the observations. Residents and faculty also completed postrotation surveys to gauge the impact of the new system. RESULTS: A total of 507 patient encounters were directly observed, and 52 of 57 (91%) residents completed all 9 observations. Residents reported considerably more direct observation than prior to the intervention, and most reported changes to their clinical skills based on faculty feedback. Faculty reported improvements in their attitudes, increased their use of direct observation, and preferred the new system to the old one. CONCLUSIONS: A novel evaluation system replacing summative evaluations with multiple formative evaluations based on direct observation was successful in achieving high rates of observations, and improving faculty attitudes toward direct observation.

Post-Code PTSD Symptoms in Internal Medicine Residents Who Participate in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Events: A Mixed Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Internal medicine (IM) residents participate in cardiopulmonary resuscitation events (or "codes"), stressful events that involve the death or near death of patients. Experiencing traumatic stress can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). OBJECTIVE: We examined whether IM residents who participate in codes developed PTSD symptoms. METHODS: We conducted this research as a 2-phase, mixed methods study. In the first phase, we analyzed interview transcripts from 25 IM residents at 9 institutions for content relevant to PTSD. In the second phase, we surveyed 82 IM residents at 1 midwestern institution for symptoms reported post-code that are associated with PTSD (post-code PTSD symptoms). RESULTS: A total of 7 of 25 residents (28%) interviewed characterized codes as traumatic or described experiencing PTSD symptoms, including intrusive thoughts about the code, avoidance and emotional numbing, and hyperarousal, irritability, or hypervigilance. Of the 82 residents, 51 (62%) responded to the questionnaire. Of the 42 respondents who had participated in a code, 6 (14%) reported at least 1 PTSD symptom, and 3 (7%) women screened positive for potential PTSD with 2 or more PTSD symptoms. Endorsing any PTSD symptom was associated with residents' perception that code participation negatively affected their work performance. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that some IM residents reported symptoms of PTSD after being involved in a code.

Women's Health Fellowships: Examining the Potential Benefits and Harms of Accreditation.

This commentary responds to the assertions by Foreman et al. that credentialing of women's health (WH) fellows by the American Board of Medical Subspecialties and accreditation of current and future WH fellowships by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education would improve the health and healthcare of women by increasing the number of primary care providers competent to meet a growing clinical need. They speculate that such accreditation would raise the status of WH fellowships, increase the number of applicants, and result in more academic leaders in WH. They assert that curricular deficiencies in WH exist in physician training and that WH fellowships are the preferred means of training physicians to care for midlife women. We review the evidence to support or refute these claims and conclude that accrediting WH fellowships would not have the forecasted outcomes and would jeopardize the success of current WH fellowships.

Republished original article: Resident-initiated interventions to improve inpatient heart-failure management.

BACKGROUND: Third-year internal medicine residents participating in a quality improvement rotation identified gaps between the Joint Commission's ORYX quality guidelines and clinical practices for the inpatient management of heart failure (HF) at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital. Residents focused on the performance metrics associated with tobacco-cessation counselling documentation, ejection fraction assessment and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker prescriptions. METHODS: After analysing data collected by the External Peer Review Program, residents reviewed the institution's admissions and discharge processes with the aim of improving quality and compliance. In redesigning these processes, residents created an admissions template and a discharge face sheet, and compared specific ORYX measure compliance rates before and after institution-wide implementation. RESULTS: Following implementation of the tobacco-cessation admissions template, 100% of HF patients who used tobacco received documented cessation counselling, compared with 59% prior to intervention (p<0.01, n=32). Following implementation of the mandatory discharge face sheet, 97% of HF patients (compared with 92% preintervention, p>0.05) received comprehensive discharge instruction; LV function assessment went from 98% to 100% (p>0.05); and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker prescription for left ventricular systolic dysfunction at discharge (or documentation of a contra-indication) went from 82% to 100% (p<0.01, n=48). DISCUSSION: By implementing a standardised admissions template and a mandatory discharge face sheet, the hospital improved its processes of documentation and increased adherence to quality-performance measures. By strengthening residents' learning and commitment to quality improvement, the hospital created a foundation for future changes in the systems that affect patient care.

Resident-initiated interventions to improve inpatient heart-failure management.

BACKGROUND: Third-year internal medicine residents participating in a quality improvement rotation identified gaps between the Joint Commission's ORYX quality guidelines and clinical practices for the inpatient management of heart failure (HF) at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital. Residents focused on the performance metrics associated with tobacco-cessation counselling documentation, ejection fraction assessment and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker prescriptions. METHODS: After analysing data collected by the External Peer Review Program, residents reviewed the institution's admissions and discharge processes with the aim of improving quality and compliance. In redesigning these processes, residents created an admissions template and a discharge face sheet, and compared specific ORYX measure compliance rates before and after institution-wide implementation. RESULTS: Following implementation of the tobacco-cessation admissions template, 100% of HF patients who used tobacco received documented cessation counselling, compared with 59% prior to intervention (p<0.01, n=32). Following implementation of the mandatory discharge face sheet, 97% of HF patients (compared with 92% preintervention, p>0.05) received comprehensive discharge instruction; LV function assessment went from 98% to 100% (p>0.05); and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker prescription for left ventricular systolic dysfunction at discharge (or documentation of a contra-indication) went from 82% to 100% (p<0.01, n=48). DISCUSSION: By implementing a standardised admissions template and a mandatory discharge face sheet, the hospital improved its processes of documentation and increased adherence to quality-performance measures. By strengthening residents' learning and commitment to quality improvement, the hospital created a foundation for future changes in the systems that affect patient care.

Evidence-based medicine training during residency: a randomized controlled trial of efficacy.

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has been widely integrated into residency curricula, although results of randomized controlled trials and long term outcomes of EBM educational interventions are lacking. We sought to determine if an EBM workshop improved internal medicine residents' EBM knowledge and skills and use of secondary evidence resources. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial included 48 internal medicine residents at an academic medical center. Twenty-three residents were randomized to attend a 4-hour interactive workshop in their PGY-2 year. All residents completed a 25-item EBM knowledge and skills test and a self-reported survey of literature searching and resource usage in their PGY-1, PGY-2, and PGY-3 years. RESULTS: There was no difference in mean EBM test scores between the workshop and control groups at PGY-2 or PGY-3. However, mean EBM test scores significantly increased over time for both groups in PGY-2 and PGY-3. Literature searches, and resource usage also increased significantly in both groups after the PGY-1 year. CONCLUSIONS: We were unable to detect a difference in EBM knowledge between residents who did and did not participate in our workshop. Significant improvement over time in EBM scores, however, suggests EBM skills were learned during residency. Future rigorous studies should determine the best methods for improving residents' EBM skills as well as their ability to apply evidence during clinical practice.

Creating champions for health care quality and safety.

Patient safety and quality of care are public concerns that demand personal responsibility at all levels of the health care organization. Senior residents in our graduate medical education program took responsibility for a capstone quality improvement project designed to transform them into champions for health care quality. Residents (n = 26) participated alone or in pairs in a 1-month faculty-mentored rotation at the Veterans Administration Hospital during the 2007-2008 academic year. They completed a Web-based curriculum, identified a quality-of-care issue, applied Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, authored a report, and engaged colleagues in their innovations during a department-wide presentation. Results indicated that residents demonstrated significantly enhanced knowledge and attitudes about patient safety and quality improvement and provided consistently positive faculty and rotation evaluations. In addition, residents generated 20 quality improvement project proposals with a 50% rate of hospital-wide implementation, leading to meaningful changes in the systems that affect patient care.

Resident self-assessment and self-reflection: University of Wisconsin-Madison's Five-Year Study.

BACKGROUND: Chart review represents a critical cornerstone for practice-based learning and improvement in our internal medicine residency program. OBJECTIVE: To document residents' performance monitoring and improvement skills in their continuity clinics, their satisfaction with practice-based learning and improvement, and their ability to self-reflect on their performance. DESIGN: Retrospective longitudinal design with repeated measures. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty Internal Medicine residents abstracted data for 3 consecutive years from the medical records of their 4,390 patients in the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) Hospital and Clinics and William S. Middleton Veterans Administration (VA) outpatient clinics. MEASUREMENT: Logistic modeling was used to determine the effect of postgraduate year, resident sex, graduation cohort, and clinic setting on residents' "compliance rate" on 17 nationally recognized health screening and chronic disease management parameters from 2003 to 2007. RESULTS: Residents' adherence to national preventive and chronic disease standards increased significantly from intern to subsequent years for administering immunizations, screening for diabetes, cholesterol, cancer, and behavioral risks, and for management of diabetes. Of the residents, 92% found the chart review exercise beneficial, with 63% reporting gains in understanding about their medical practices, 26% reflecting on specific gaps in their practices, and 8% taking critical action to improve their patient outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This paper provides support for the feasibility and practicality of this limited-cost method of chart review. It also directs our residency program's attention in the continuity clinic to a key area important to internal medicine training programs by highlighting the potential benefit of enhancing residents' self-reflection skills.

Estudo comparativo cego com cefuroxima e cefaclor no tratamento das infecçöes das vias respiratórias inferiores / Blind comparative study with cefuroxime and ceflacor in the treatment of the inferior duct respiratory infections

A acetil cefuroxima foi comparada ao cefaclor no tratamento de infecçöes das vias respiratórias inferiores. Sessenta e um paciente foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em três grupos e se submeteram aos seguintes esquemas pososlógicos: (1) axetil cefuroxima, 250 mg por via oral cada 12 horas (21 pacientes); (2) axetil cefuroxima, 500 mg por via oral cada 12 horas (21 pacientes); 3 (3) cefaclor, 500 mg por via oral cada oito horas (19 pacientes). Desses 61 pacientes, 80 por cento eram homens, com idade média de 59,5 anos; 56 por cento apresentavam pneumonia aguda enquanto o restante tinha bronquite aguda. Os patógenos causais incluíram patógenos típicos do trato respiratório. Em suma 23 de 27 pacientes com bronquite estavam clinicamente curados ao se concluído o tratamento. Trinta e um dos 34 casos de pneumonia foram clinicamente curados ou melhoraram ao término da terapia; as três falhas terapêuticas em pacientes com pneumonia ocorreram nos grupos tratados com a menor dose cefuroxima (n=2) e de cefaclor (n=1). De modo geral, houve cura bacteriológica em 86 por cento dos pacientes tratados com 500mg de axetil cefuroxima em comparaçäo com 60 por cento dos pacientes que receberam tratamento com cefaclor. Os efeitos adversos foram raros. Baseando-se neste estudo, concluiu-se que a axetil cefuroxima, administrada cada 12 horas, é pelo menos, täo eficaz quanto o cefaclor em termos clínicos; trata-se de uma nova cefalosporina oral que, em comparaçäo com muitos outros agentes mais antigos, apresenta vantagens farmacológicas e de espectro antibacteriano