Peer Assessment in the Context of Team-Based Learning in Undergraduate Education: How Far Can We Go?

In medical education, the team-based learning method (TBL) is a teaching strategy used to intensify interactive learning in small groups, in which the student is given the role of evaluating his/her peers - peer assessment (PA). To investigate the interference of the students' interpersonal relationships in awarding their peers grades (''halo effect''). A qualitative and quantitative retrospective study. The study participants were 78 first-year medical students, divided into 17 teams for the TBL. The final grade of the PA for each member was calculated by the average of the grades received from their peers. Results: The comparison between the average of the evaluations in the TBL method (MTBLs) and the PA showed that 17.64% of the teams showed a significant difference between the grades, thus having the “halo effect”. In the qualitative analysis, the “halo effect” was evidenced in only one of these teams. Although many studies corroborate the idea that using PA in the formative assessment is appropriate, advancing in the use of PA in the summative assessment is necessary, integrating it into the institution's evaluation system. Data presented here can help in continuing its use and in increasing its reliability

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: Data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population