Red, yellow and green: What does it mean? How the progress test informs and supports student progress.

OBJECTIVES: Most medical schools using progress tests (PTs) provide feedback by utilizing a traffic-light system of green (satisfactory), yellow (borderline) and red (unsatisfactory) categories. There is little research assessing students' perceptions or usage of this feedback. Therefore this study proposed to determine the effectiveness of formative PTs at informing and supporting student progress.METHODS: A mixed methods study was performed, involving a retrospective analysis of a results database to establish the predictive validity of PT categories and 11 semi-structured interviews to explore students' perceptions of PT feedback in a graduate entry medical programme.RESULTS: Quantitative analysis revealed that students who always scored green performed better in their summative exams and graduated with a higher final degree than those who received a yellow or red category at least once. Qualitative analysis revealed that just over half of the interviewed students perceived the PT as having informed their progress. Most participants agreed that the current feedback is insufficient and doesn't guide their on-going learning.CONCLUSION: While this study demonstrated that the PT is a useful predictive tool for informing student progress, in its current format it's not fulfilling a truly formative role and supporting student progress sufficiently

Sick leave determinants in the healthcare sector (part I): a review of contextual factors

Background: This study aims to describe contextual factors that influence and contribute to sick leave in healthcare, especially in hospital settings. This review would provide a valuable, comprehensive, and evidence-based resource for readers interested in effective human resource management and healthcare or hospital workforce planning. This review referred to studies on the determinants of absenteeism in the healthcare setting.Methods: To ensure that pertinent papers (2004 – 2022) were identified, a literature search was performed searching Google Scholar, Econ Lit, PubMed, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, Emerald Insight, Scopus, Medline, PsychInfo, and Web of Science. All abstracts were screened to identify papers that empirically investigated contextual factors of work absence in healthcare populations. A total of 126 papers were initially identified. These were reduced to 61 papers using pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria.Results: Contextual factors such as nature of work, cultural expectations, economic conditions, and seasonality have moderately strong associations with absence. There is a negative relationship between high psychological demands and work-related absenteeism. The key factors associated with sickness absence in healthcare staff were long hours worked, night shifts, changing rostering patterns, work overload and stress, physically demanding roles, poor social support. Other contextual factors such as cultural norms and expectations that support poor attendance reflected strong association with absence levels. Economic conditions are negatively associated with absenteeism as a result of job security fears. Absenteeism is more pronounced during winter and school holidays.Conclusions: The review concluded that interventions such as screening the prior attendance levels of potential employees would assist greatly in terms of absenteeism rates, while monitoring current absence patterns of existing employees will negate the development of cultural norms in the workplace. Many of the contextual related variables associated with high levels of absenteeism are reducible with the development of screening and monitoring tools.</p

Sick leave determinants in the healthcare sector (part II): a review of organizational-level factors

Background: Organizational level factors may influence and contribute to sick leave in healthcare, and particularly hospital, settings. We utilize relevant publications from recent literature to provide a useful, comprehensive and evidence-based resource for readers interested in effective human resource management and healthcare or hospital workforce planning.Methods: To ensure that pertinent papers (2004 – 2022) were identified, a systematic literature review was performed searching Google Scholar, Econ Lit, PubMed, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, Emerald Insight, Scopus, Medline, PsychInfo, and Web of Science databases. All abstracts were screened to identify papers that empirically investigated organizational level factors relevant to sickness absence in a healthcare population. A total of 452 papers were initially identified. These were reduced to 133 papers using pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Key factors associated with sickness absence in healthcare staff were long hours worked, work overload, working conditions and stress, and the effects of these on personal lives; job control including lack of participation in decision making; poor social support. Other organizational-level factors such as size and type of organization reflected strong association with absence levels. Shorter distance from work and seniority of position are reported to have a strong negative association with absenteeism. Management leadership style and workload were not found to be determinants.Conclusions: Interventions that improved psychological health and levels of sickness absence used training and organizational approaches to increase participation in decision making and problem solving, increase support and feedback, and improve communication. Many of the work-related variables associated with high levels of psychosocial factors are potentially amenable to change.</p

Sick leave determinants in the healthcare sector (part III): a review of individual-level factors

Background: The objective of this review is to describe individual-level factors that influence and contribute to sick leave in healthcare, and especially hospital, settings. In doing so, to utilize relevant publications from the period 2004 – 2022 in order to provide a comprehensive and evidence-based resource for readers interested in effective human resource management and healthcare or hospital workforce planning. The review referred to studies on the determinants of absenteeism in the healthcare setting.Methods: To ensure that pertinent papers (2004 – 2022) were identified, a systematic literature review was performed searching Google Scholar, Econ Lit, PubMed, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, Emerald Insight, Scopus, Medline, PsychInfo, and Web of Science. All abstracts were screened to identify papers that empirically investigated factors at individual level that are relevant to sickness absence in a healthcare population. A total of 494 papers were initially identified. These were reduced to 123 papers using pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria.Results: Individual-level factors such as age, gender, health, marital status, personality, tenure and job satisfaction have moderately strong associations with absence. There is a negative relationship between ageing, health status and absenteeism.Conclusions: The review concludes that consideration by administrators of the impact of ageing and life phases will assist greatly in strategic workforce planning in the healthcare sector. There are marked differences in rates of absenteeism by gender, specifically by life phase that should be considered in staffing decisions.</p

'Soft and fluffy': Medical students' attitudes towards psychology in medical education

Psychology is viewed by medical students in a negative light. In order to understand this phenomenon, we interviewed 19 medical students about their experiences of psychology in medical education. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Four main themes were generated: attitudes, teaching culture, curriculum factors and future career path; negative attitudes were transmitted by teachers to students and psychology was associated with students opting for a career in general practice. In summary, appreciation of psychology in medical education will only happen if all educators involved in medical education value and respect each other's speciality and expertise

Mindfulness based stress reduction for medical students: optimising student satisfaction and engagement

Background: Medical practitioners and students are at increased risk of a number of personal and psychological problems. Stress and anxiety due to work-load and study requirements are common and self-care methods are important in maintaining well-being. The current study examines perceptions of and satisfaction ratings with a mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) programme for 1st year (compulsory) and 2nd year (optional) Graduate Entry Medical School students. Methods: A mixed method pre and post study of Year 1 (n = 140) and Year 2 (n = 88) medical students completing a 7 week MBSR course compared student satisfaction ratings. Thematic analysis of feedback from the students on their perception of the course was also carried out. Results: Year 1 students (compulsory course) were less satisfied with content and learning outcomes than Year 2 students (optional course) (p < .0005). Thematic analysis of year 1 student feedback identified themes including great concept, poorly executed; and less discussion, more practice. Year 2 themes included session environment and satisfaction with tutors. Conclusions: The MBSR course was associated with high levels of satisfaction and positive feedback when delivered on an optional basis. Catering for the individual needs of the participant and promoting a safe environment are core elements of a successful self-care programme

What can we learn from problem-based learning tutors at a graduate entry medical school? A mixed method approach

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was adopted, utilising two surveys and follow-up focus groups to fully understand the tutor experience. Thirty-three tutors took part in two online surveys with a response rate of 89%. Thirteen tutors participated in two focus groups. Descriptive analysis was completed on survey data and thematic analysis on focus group discussions which highlighted five main themes. Results: Tutors reported challenges with managing group dynamics, development of confidence in tutoring with experience and a willingness to learn from peers to improve practice. Findings are in keeping with previously published work. Results also identified several less commonly discussed issues impacting student engagement in PBL including the use of mobile device technology, unauthorised access to learning objectives and PBL cases, and the importance and need for professional development amongst tutors, including the impact of tutoring on clinical practice. This study revealed that experienced tutors spend considerable time preparing for PBL tutorials in the basic sciences and that this input is rewarded by the benefits it brings to their clinical practice. Conclusions: Understanding PBL from the tutor’s perspective reveals valuable insights which can inform ongoing tutor development and support. Limited research exists in the area of PBL tutor’s experiences which may be of interest to medical educators, clinicians and the wider medical community. Findings highlight the value of shared tutor experiences as a resource that can be capitalised on to benefit both novice and experienced tutors

Studying medicine – a cross-sectional questionnaire-based analysis of the motivational factors which influence graduate and undergraduate entrants in Ireland

Objectives: The number of places available in Ireland for graduate entry to medical school has steadily increased since 2006. Few studies have, however, characterized the motivational factors underlying decision to study medicine via this route. We compared the factors motivating graduate entrants versus undergraduate entry (UGE) students to choose medicine as a course of study. Design: The present study was a quantitative cross-sectional questionnaire-based investigation. Setting: The study was conducted in University College Cork and University of Limerick, Ireland. Participants: It involved 185 graduate entry (GE) and 120 UGE students. Outcome measures: Questionnaires were distributed to students addressing the following areas: demographic/academic characteristics; factors influencing the selection of academic institution and motivation to study medicine; and the role of career guidance in choice of study. Results: When asked to list reasons for selecting medicine, both groups listed a wish to help and work with people, and a desire to prevent and cure disease. UGE students were significantly more motivated by intellectual satisfaction, encouragement by family/friends, financial reasons, and professional independence. Approximately half of GE students selected their first degree with a view to potentially studying medicine in the future. GE and UGE students differed significantly with respect to sources consulted for career guidance and source of study information. Conclusions: This study is the first systematic examination of study and career motivation in GE medical students since the programme was offered by Irish universities and provides insight into the reasons why graduate entrants in Ireland choose to study medicine via this route

Barriers and solutions to online learning in medical education – an integrative review

Background: The aim of this study is to review the literature on known barriers and solutions that face educators when developing and implementing online learning programs for medical students and postgraduate trainees. Methods: An integrative review was conducted over a three-month period by an inter-institutional research team. The search included ScienceDirect, Scopus, BioMedical, PubMed, Medline (EBSCO & Ovid), ERIC, LISA, EBSCO, Google Scholar, ProQuest A&I, ProQuest UK & Ireland, UL Institutional Repository (IR), UCDIR and the All Aboard Report. Search terms included online learning, medical educators, development, barriers, solutions and digital literacy. The search was carried out by two reviewers. Titles and abstracts were screened independently and reviewed with inclusion/exclusion criteria. A consensus was drawn on which articles were included. Data appraisal was performed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) Qualitative Research Checklist and NHMRC Appraisal Evidence Matrix. Data extraction was completed using the Cochrane Data Extraction Form and a modified extraction tool. Results: Of the 3101 abstracts identified from the search, ten full-text papers met the inclusion criteria. Data extraction was completed on seven papers of high methodological quality and on three lower quality papers. Findings suggest that the key barriers which affect the development and implementation of online learning in medical education include time constraints, poor technical skills, inadequate infrastructure, absence of institutional strategies and support and negative attitudes of all involved. Solutions to these include improved educator skills, incentives and reward for the time involved with development and delivery of online content, improved institutional strategies and support and positive attitude amongst all those involved in the development and delivery of online content. Conclusion: This review has identified barriers and solutions amongst medical educators to the implementation of online learning in medical education. Results can be used to inform institutional and educator practice in the development of further online learning

Optical fibre pressure sensors in medical applications

This article is focused on reviewing the current state-of-the-art of optical fibre pressure sensors for medical applications. Optical fibres have inherent advantages due to their small size, immunity to electromagnetic interferences and their suitability for remote monitoring and multiplexing. The small dimensions of optical fibre-based pressure sensors, together with being lightweight and flexible, mean that they are minimally invasive for many medical applications and, thus, particularly suited to in vivo measurement. This means that the sensor can be placed directly inside a patient, e.g., for urodynamic and cardiovascular assessment. This paper presents an overview of the recent developments in optical fibre-based pressure measurements with particular reference to these application areas