39 research outputs found
Teaching geriatric medicine through gamification: a tool for enhancing postgraduate education in geriatric medicine
Background
Polypharmacy is becoming increasingly common and all doctors must be prepared to manage it competently.
Aims
The aim of this project is to evaluate the feasibility and use of a novel gamification-based teaching intervention on polypharmacy among doctors undergoing advanced geriatric training. Among others, one of the learning goals for the students was to be able to describe the adherence to medication.
Methods
Electronic questionnaire sent to students of the third session “evidence-based medicine in geriatrics” of advanced postgraduate course in geriatrics of the European Academy for Medicine of Ageing.
Results
Most students reported issues with forgetting doses and remembering sufficiently to establish a medication routine due to busy schedules as well as social influences around medication taking. Reflecting on the challenges of the game, most students reported that their own prescribing practice was likely to change.
Discussion and conclusion
The current model of learning appears to be a feasible approach for postgraduate medical education or in other areas of healthcare such as nursing or physiotherapy. Learning through action and reflection promotes deeper thinking and can lead to behavioral change, in this case thus enhancing the attitudes and understanding regarding pharmacological issues associated with ageing. Recommendations for future research in medical education about medication adherence are outlined.publishedVersio
Nutritional interventions to improve muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in older people: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
peer reviewedContext: Sarcopenia is a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder associated
with an increased risk of adverse outcomes such as falls, disability, and
death. The Belgian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics has developed evidencebased
guidelines for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. This umbrella review
presents the results of the Working Group on Nutritional Interventions.
Objective: The aim of this umbrella review was to provide an evidence-based overview
of nutritional interventions targeting sarcopenia or at least 1 of the 3 sarcopenia
criteria (ie, muscle mass, muscle strength, or physical performance) in persons
aged 65 years. Data sources: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, the PubMed and Web of Science
databases were searched for systematic reviews and meta-analyses reporting the
effect of nutritional supplementation on sarcopenia or muscle mass, strength, or
physical performance. Data extraction: Two authors extracted data on the key
characteristics of the reviews, including participants, treatment, and outcomes.
Methodological quality of the reviews was assessed using the product A
Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews. Three authors synthesized the
extracted data and generated recommendations on the basis of an overall synthesis
of the effects of each intervention. Quality of evidence was rated with the
Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.
Data analysis: A total of 15 systematic reviews were included. The following
supplements were examined: proteins, essential amino acids, leucine, b-hydroxy-b-methylbutyrate, creatine, and multinutrient supplementation (with or
without physical exercise). Because of both the low amount and the low to moderate
quality of the reviews, the level of evidence supporting most recommendations
was low to moderate. Conclusions: Best evidence is available to recommend
leucine, because it has a significant effect on muscle mass in elderly people with
sarcopenia. Protein supplementation on top of resistance training is recommended
to increase muscle mass and strength, in particular for obese persons and for
>=24weeks. Effects on sarcopenia as a construct were not reported in the included
reviews
Self-assembly of gas-phase synthesized magnesium nanoparticles on room temperature substrates
Magnesium nanoparticles (NPs) with initial size in the 10\u201350 nm range were synthesized by inert gas
condensation under helium flow and deposited on room temperature substrates. The morphology
and crystal structure of the NPs ensemble were investigated as a function of the deposition time by
complementary electron microscopy techniques, including high resolution imaging and chemical
mapping. With increasing amount of material, strong coarsening phenomena were observed at room
temperature: small NPs disappeared while large faceted NPs developed, leading to a 5-fold increase of
the average NPs size within a few minutes. The extent of coarsening and the final morphology depended
also on the nature of the substrate. Furthermore, large single-crystal NPs were seen to arise from
the self-organization of primary NPs units, providing a mechanism for crystal growth. The dynamics
of the self-assembly process involves the basic steps of NPs sticking, diffusion on substrate, coordinated
rotation and attachment/coalescence. Key features are the surface energy anisotropy, reflected
by the faceted shape of the NPs, and the low melting point of the material. The observed phenomena
have strong implications in relation to the synthesis and stability of nanostructures based on Mg or
other elements with similar features