Postgraduate medical journal
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Red blood cell (RBC) indices such as RBC count and RBC distribution width (RDW) are associated with heart failure and coronary artery disease, but the relationship between RBC indices and coronary artery calcification (CAC) is unclear. This study aimed to investigate RBC indices' correlation with, and predictive value for, the presence and severity of CAC. ⋯ RBC indices were significantly associated with the presence and severity of CAC, indicating that these RBC indices have the potential to be predictors of CAC.
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Hepatojugular reflux is an important, prognostic clinical sign in the field of medicine. The majority of medical students or clinicians may attempt to elicit this sign during abdominal or cardiovascular examinations. However, some individuals may incorrectly call it the hepatojugular 'reflex' rather than a 'reflux'. In the first instance, that may not pose a problem to either patient or clinician-however, it may reflect a lack of basic understanding of how the human body works.
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Simulation via Instant Messaging-Birmingham Advance (SIMBA) delivers simulation-based learning through WhatsApp and Zoom, helping to sustain continuing medical education (CME) for postgraduate healthcare professionals otherwise disrupted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to assess whether SIMBA helped to improve clinical knowledge and if this improvement in knowledge was sustained over time. ⋯ SIMBA increased participants' clinical knowledge on simulated cases and this improvement was retained up to 6-12 weeks after the session. Further studies are required to explore long-term retention and whether it translates to improved real-world clinical practice.
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Opioids are often required for acute inpatient pain relief but lack of knowledge about common and less common long-term side effects can lead to inappropriate discharge prescribing. There are few validated educational tools available for junior prescribers on hospital wards. Education around opioid prescribing and deprescribing remains limited in the undergraduate curriculum and yet almost all controlled drug prescribing in hospitals is done by junior doctors. ⋯ This short educational video improved knowledge of safe opioid prescribing and could be incorporated within wider opioid education in UK healthcare.
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Excellence, although variably conceptualized, is commonly used in medicine and the resident excellence literature is limited. Both cognitive attributes (CAs) and non-cognitive attributes (NCAs) are essential for academic and clinical performance; however, the latter are difficult to evaluate. Undergirded by an inclusive and non-competitive approach and utilizing CAs and NCAs, we propose a criterion-referenced behavioral framework of resident excellence. ⋯ Resident excellence is posited as a pursuit. The attributes are non-competitive, inclusionary, potentially achievable by all, and do not negatively affect freedom of choice. However, contextual and cultural differences are likely and these need validation across societal equity segments. There are implications for learners (adaptive reflection and learning goal orientation), faculty (reduced bias and whole-person feedback), and system leaders (enhancing culture and learning environments) to foster excellence.