Comparing In Vivo versus Simulation Training for Transnasal Endoscopy Skills

Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluations of swallowing (FEES) is as important of a swallowing evaluation as the videoflouroscopic swallow study, but far fewer speech-language pathologists are competent in its use (Ambika, Datta, Manjula, Warawantkar, & Thomas, 2019; Brady & Donzelli, 2013; Pisegna & Langmore, 2016). One hurdle in FEES training is the necessity of practicing transnasal endoscopy on volunteers. The primary aim of this study was to compare the learning effectiveness of practicing transnasal endoscopy via simulation with practice in vivo for a student’s first passes of the endoscope. The end goal of this study was to determine the most cost-effective and feasible means of teaching transnasal endoscopy to graduate clinicians. Twenty-one graduate students practiced transnasal endoscopy in one of three conditions: in vivo, high-fidelity lifelike simulation, low-fidelity non-lifelike simulation. The learning outcomes assessed were speed of endoscopy, student confidence, and simulated patients’ comfort and perception of student skill. There were no significant differences between conditions found for any of these measures. Students in all conditions became more confident after practicing endoscopy, and that confidence was predictive of procedure time. The results of this study indicate that practice with simulation may be an important first step in teaching endoscopy

The Utility of Peer-to-Peer Practice for Teaching Speech-Language Pathology Students Transnasal Endoscopy

Introduction: Transnasal flexible endoscopy (TNFE) is necessary for multiple assessments in speech-language pathology (SLP), but it is generally considered an advanced practice technique to be learned during clinical practice. As such, there is no standardized way that it is taught in training programs, leading to a substantial knowledge gap for new graduates. Though peer-to-peer practice has been discussed as an important step in training, it is not clear whether it confers additional benefits above and beyond simulation. This study sought to answer that question in the areas of student confidence, endoscopy speed, and motivation to pursue further TNFE experiences. Methods: Thirty-six SLP graduate students completed TNFE training and one of two practice conditions: simulation only or simulation with additional peer-to-peer practice. Outcome measures included confidence and comfort surveys, intrinsic motivation to complete an additional TNFE experience, and speed of TNFE. Results: No significant differences were found between the two groups for any measure, and consistently low effect sizes indicated there was little difference between groups. Conclusions: These results indicate that teaching TNFE through simulation may provide similar outcomes to peer-to-peer practice during the initial training that an SLP graduate program can provide. This adds to the literature indicating that TNFE simulation is a worthwhile addition to SLP programs

A Look at Public Health

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Comparison of Two Hair Snares for Raccoons

Author Institution: National Parks Service, Pictured Rocks Science CenterWe developed two types of snares incorporating barbed wire for obtaining hair samples from raccoons (Procyon lotor) suitable for DNA analyses. The hair snares were a wood box with a single strand of barbed wire positioned 20 cm above the lower edge of the entrance and a 5 gallon bucket with 2 strands of barbed wire in an inverted ‘V’ position. Snares were placed from August to November 2005 along forested roads in the central Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Both hair snares collected samples suitable for DNA analyses; however, the number of hair samples collected/100 snare nights was greater (P < 0.001) for bucket snares (n = 36) than for wood box snares (n = 5). Capture efficacy was also greater (P = 0.013) for bucket snares (91%, n = 35) than for box snares (68%, n = 44). The overall number of hairs collected at bucket snares was greater (P = 0.021) than the number of hairs collected at wood box snares. Barbed wire was an effective medium for obtaining hair samples from free-ranging raccoons. Because of greater performance, low cost, and ease of construction, we recommend use of bucket snares over wood box snares

Sensory-motor performance in seven-year-old children born extremely preterm

Background: Children born preterm are prone to motor problems. Research on their motor performance has, however, rarely been integrated with sensory processing. Aim: To examine sensory-motor performance in children born extremely preterm (EPT). Method: In a longitudinal prospective cohort study, 49 EPT (born <28 gestational weeks; 32 boys and 17 girls) and 33 term-born (16 boys and 17 girls) children were assessed with six individual subtests from the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests at the age of 7.0 to 7.3 years. Results: The rate of test z-scores indicating dysfunction [from - 2 standard deviations (SD) to <-1 SD for mild and <- 2 SD for moderate-to-severe] was significantly higher in EPT children than in term-born children in all the subtests. When comparing mean performance adjusted for gender and mother's education, EPT children performed worse than term-born children in Design Copying (z-score difference - 0.83; 95% confidence interval -1.32 to - 0.34), Motor Accuracy (- 0.82; -1.26 to - 0.38), Postural Praxis (- 0.95; -1.45 to - 0.45), Manual Form Perception (- 0.59; -1.12 to - 0.06), and Finger Identification (- 0.88; -1.45 to - 0.31). Additional adjustment for Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient rendered difference in Manual Form Perception non-significant. Conclusion: Seven-year-old EPT children perform worse than their term-born peers in tests for visual-motor, somatosensory, and motor planning performance.Peer reviewe

Psychological Abuse, Mental Health, and Acceptance of Dating Violence Among Adolescents

Purpose Existing literature indicates that acceptance of dating violence is a significant and robust risk factor for psychological dating abuse perpetration. Past work also indicates a significant relationship between psychological dating abuse perpetration and poor mental health. However, no known research has examined the relationship between acceptance of dating violence, perpetration of dating abuse, and mental health. In addition to exploring this complex relationship, the present study examines whether psychological abuse perpetration mediates the relationship between acceptance of dating violence and mental health (i.e., internalizing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and hostility). Methods Three waves of longitudinal data were obtained from 1,042 ethnically diverse high school students in Texas. Participants completed assessments of psychological dating abuse perpetration, acceptance of dating violence, and internalizing symptoms (hostility and symptoms of anxiety and depression). Results As predicted, results indicated that perpetration of psychological abuse was significantly associated with acceptance of dating violence and all internalizing symptoms. Furthermore, psychological abuse mediated the relationship between acceptance of dating violence and internalizing symptoms. Conclusions Findings from the present study suggest that acceptance of dating violence is an important target for the prevention of dating violence and related emotional distress

Medial Temporal Lobe BOLD Activity at Rest Predicts Individual Differences in Memory Ability in Hhealthy Young Adults

Human beings differ in their ability to form and retrieve lasting long-term memories. To explore the source of these individual differences, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) activity in healthy young adults (n = 50) during periods of resting fixation that were interleaved with periods of simple cognitive tasks. We report that medial temporal lobe BOLD activity during periods of rest predicts individual differences in memory ability. Specifically, individuals who exhibited greater magnitudes of task-induced deactivations in medial temporal lobe BOLD signal (as compared to periods of rest) demonstrated superior memory during offline testing. This relationship was independent of differences in general cognitive function and persisted across different control tasks (i.e., number judgment versus checkerboard detection) and experimental designs (i.e., blocked versus event-related). These results offer a neurophysiological basis for the variability in mnemonic ability that is present amongst healthy young adults and may help to guide strategies aimed at early detection and intervention of neurological and mnemonic impairment