Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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Over the past decade, some residency programs in emergency medicine (EM) have implemented scholarly tracks into their curricula. The goal of the scholarly track is to identify a niche in which each trainee focuses his or her scholarly work during residency. The object of this paper is to discuss the current use, structure, and success of resident scholarly tracks. ⋯ In summary, scholarly tracks encourage the trainee to develop an academic or clinical niche within EM during residency training. The benefits include increased overall resident satisfaction, increased success at obtaining faculty and fellowship positions after residency, and increased production of scholarly work. We believe that this model will also encourage increased numbers of trainees to choose careers in academic medicine.
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Review Comparative Study
Parametric versus nonparametric statistical tests: the length of stay example.
This study examined selected effects of the proper use of nonparametric inferential statistical methods for analysis of nonnormally distributed data, as exemplified by emergency department length of stay (ED LOS). The hypothesis was that parametric methods have been used inappropriately for evaluation of ED LOS in most recent studies in leading emergency medicine (EM) journals. To illustrate why such a methodologic flaw should be avoided, a demonstration, using data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), is presented. The demonstration shows how inappropriate analysis of ED LOS increases the probability of type II errors. ⋯ ED LOS, a key ED operational metric, is frequently analyzed incorrectly in the EM literature. Applying parametric statistical tests to such nonnormally distributed data reduces power and increases the probability of a type II error, which is the failure to find true associations. Appropriate use of nonparametric statistics should be a core component of statistical literacy because such use increases the validity of ED research and quality improvement projects.
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The emergency medicine (EM) and prehospital environments are unlike any other clinical environments and require special consideration to allow the successful implementation of clinical trials. This article reviews the specific issues involved in EM clinical trials and provides strategies from EM and non-EM trials to maximize recruitment and retention. While the evidence supporting some of these strategies is deficient, addressing recruitment and retention issues with specific strategies will help researchers deal with these issues in their funding applications and in turn develop the necessary infrastructure to participate in EM clinical trials.
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Written examinations are frequently used to assess medical student performance. Within emergency medicine (EM), a National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) subject examination for EM clerkships does not exist. As a result, clerkship directors frequently generate examinations within their institution. This article reviews the literature behind the use of standardized examinations in evaluating medical student performance, describes methods for generating well-written test questions, reviews the statistical concepts of reliability and validity that are necessary to evaluate an examination, and proposes future directions for testing EM students.
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The state of pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) education within emergency medicine (EM) residency programs is reviewed and discussed in the context of shifting practice environments and new demands for a greater focus on the availability and quality of PEM services. The rapid growth of PEM within pediatrics has altered the EM practice landscape with regard to PEM. ⋯ Innovative educational modalities are discussed, as well as the role of simulation and pediatric-specific patient safety education. Finally, barriers to PEM fellowship training among EM residency graduates are discussed in light of the shortage of practitioners from this training pathway and in recognition of the ongoing importance of the EM voice in PEM.