Medical education
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The current paper describes a model of learning that has been used to produce efficient learning, thus yielding greater retention of information and superior performance under stress. In this paper, the model is applied to the learning of technical skills. ⋯ The practical application of the CPF to simulation-based medical education and training is described. Firstly, a simple conceptual model that utilises three key elements to adjust the functional difficulty of the tasks to be learned is outlined. Secondly, a number of assessment strategies that may be necessary to ensure that the trainee remains in the optimal learning zone are proposed. Thirdly, a practical example is used to demonstrate how to utilise this conceptual model to design simulation environments suitable for teaching an endotracheal intubation task to beginners and more advanced trainees.
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Developing diagnostic competence in students is a major goal of medical education, but there is little empirical evidence on instructional strategies that foster the acquisition of this competence. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of structured reflection compared with the generation of immediate or differential diagnosis while practising with clinical cases on learning clinical diagnosis. ⋯ Structured reflection while practising with cases appears to foster the learning of clinical knowledge more effectively than the generation of immediate or differential diagnoses and therefore seems to be an effective instructional approach to developing diagnostic competence in students.
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Little is known about the relationship between the career preferences of medical students and the medical schools at which they are enrolled. Our aim was to explore this relationship early in students' medical training. ⋯ Students' early career preferences were similar across the five medical schools. These preferences result from the interplay among demographic factors and the perceived characteristics of the various specialties. Maintaining a satisfactory work-life balance is very important to tomorrow's doctors, and the data hint that this may be breaking down some of the traditional gender differences in specialty choice. Longitudinal work is required to explore whether students' career preferences change as they progress through medical school and training.
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This study sought to evaluate the practices and perceptions of US residency programme directors (PDs) and residency applicants with reference to the use of social media and Internet resources in the resident doctor selection process. ⋯ Residency candidates universally understand the importance of USMLE Step 1 scores in maintaining a competitive application. However, significant differences exist among AMGs, USIMGs and non-USIMGs in their perceptions of the value of other applicant criteria, which may place some applicants at a disadvantage. A small but growing number of PDs currently use Internet resources to learn more about applicants and base their recruitment decisions in part on the information they encounter. At present, applicants are generally unaware of the implications their online activity may have on their selection for residency. Content guideline programmes that raise awareness of the possible impact of social media on the residency recruitment process are needed and should be delivered early in medical education.