Simulated versus traditional therapeutic radiography placements: A randomised controlled trial

IntroductionClinical placements provide rich learning environments for health professional pre-registration education but add significant workload pressure to clinical departments. Advances in simulation approaches mean that many aspects of students’ clinical learning can be undertaken in the academic environment. There is, however, little data identifying specific pedagogical gains afforded by simulation compared to clinical placement. This study measured the impact of a comprehensive integrated simulation placement on student clinical skill acquisition.MethodsA virtual department was developed using a range of simulation equipment and software, with actors and service users providing a range of patients for students to engage with. A cohort of 29 first-year undergraduate therapeutic radiography students were randomly assigned to either simulated or conventional clinical placement. Clinical skills assessment scores provided by a blinded assessor were then compared.ResultsMean overall assessment scores for each cohort were within 3% of each other. The simulation cohort had over 10% higher “communication” scores than the traditional group (p = 0.028). The ability to gain both technical and interpersonal skills simultaneously improved learning compared to clinical placement. Students valued the structured approach of the simulated placement and the opportunity to practice techniques in a safe unpressured environment.ConclusionAn integrated simulated placement can help students to achieve clinical learning outcomes and lead to improved interpersonal skills.Implications for practiceUse of blended simulation resources can enable students to acquire technical, procedural and interpersonal skills which in turn may enable reduction of overall clinical placement time and departmental training burden.     

Radiotherapy-specific interprofessional learning through simulation

IntroductionInterprofessional learning (IPL) is a vital aspect of training in radiation oncology professions, yet is rarely delivered to those professionals who work most closely together in clinical practice. Scenario-based learning using simulation facilities provides a unique opportunity to facilitate this learning and this project aimed to determine the impact and value of this initiative.MethodsSmall groups comprising post-graduate diploma pre-registration therapeutic radiographers, medical physics trainees and radiation oncology registrars were challenged with 4 plausible and challenging radiotherapy scenarios within an academic simulation centre. Pre- and post-event completion of the “Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale” measured impact and a Likert-style survey gathered feedback from participants.ResultsThe session increased participants' teamwork and collaboration skills as well as strengthening professional identities. Participants reported high levels of enjoyment related to collaborative working, communication and observing other professionals deploying their technical skills and specialist knowledge.ConclusionAlthough beneficial, simulated scenarios offering equal opportunities for engagement across the professions are challenging to plan and timetabling issues between the 3 groups present significant difficulties. The safe environment and unique opportunity for these groups to learn together was particularly well received and future oncology-specific simulated scenario sessions are planned with larger cohorts.Implications for practiceSimulated scenario training can be used to improve team working across the radiotherapy interprofessional team and may have wider use in other specialist interdisciplinary team development.     

数据之美——聚焦全球器官捐献发展趋势

器官移植术是20世纪出现的针对器官功能衰竭的最有效治疗方法，每年拯救全球超过12万例患者。但供器官短缺的现状，与器官移植技术和辅助药物的发展不匹配，制约了器官移植事业的发展。我国自2015年起已成为全球器官捐献和移植大国之一，2017年公民逝世后器官捐献数量超过5 000例，占全球捐献总量的15%以上。黄洁夫教授总结的器官捐献与移植"中国模式"得到了世界卫生组织、国际移植界的高度重视和充分肯定。本文通过整理全球及各国的器官捐献与移植数据，剖析全球现状与发展趋势，进一步探索我国公民器官捐献的影响因素并提出针对性的应对策略，以期实现我国器官捐献和移植的"自给自足"。     

Stress Management and Resiliency Training for public school teachers and staff: A novel intervention to enhance resilience and positively impact student interactions

BackgroundBurnout in teachers has been linked to decreased effectiveness as educators, and suboptimal interactions with students. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the outcomes of a brief Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) program for public school staff.Materials and methodsThis single-arm, prospective trial involved an investigation of the effects of a brief SMART program on participant stress, anxiety, resilience, gratitude, happiness, life satisfaction, and quality of life (QOL).ResultsSignificant improvements were noted in participant anxiety (P < 0.001), stress (P = 0.003), gratitude (P = 0.001), happiness (P < 0.001), life satisfaction (P < 0.001), and QOL (P < 0.001). Most participants reported that the skills learned positively affected interactions with students (77.2%) and coworkers (72.2%).ConclusionsThe SMART program showed promising effectiveness for improving anxiety, stress, gratitude, happiness, life satisfaction and QOL. Given the prevalence and impact of teacher burnout, larger, controlled trials and broader dissemination of the intervention are warranted.     

Body weight support through a walking cane in inexperienced users with knee osteoarthritis

BackgroundWalking canes are a self-management strategy recommended for people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) by clinical practice guidelines. Ensuring that an adequate amount of body-weight support (%BWS) is taken through the walking cane is important as this reduces measures of knee joint loading.Research question1) How much body weight support do people with knee OA place through a cane? 2) Do measures of body weight support increase following a brief simple training session?MethodsSeventeen individuals with knee pain who had not used a walking cane before were recruited. A standard-grip aluminum cane was then used for 1 week with limited manufacturer instructions. Following this, participants were evaluated using an instrumented force-measuring cane to assess body weight support (% total body weight) through the cane. Force data were recorded during a 430-metre walk undertaken twice; once before 10 min of cane training administered by a physiotherapist, and once immediately after training. Measures of BWS (peak force, average force, impulse equal to the average cane force times duration, and cane-ground contact duration) were extracted. Using bathroom scales, training aimed to take at least 10% body weight support through the cane.ResultsBefore training, the average peak BWS was 7.2 ± 2.5% of total body weight. Following 10 min of training, there was a significant increase in average peak BWS by 28%, average BWS by 25%, and BWS impulse by 54% (p < 0.05). However, individual BWS responses to training were variable. Duration of cane placement increased by 22% after training (p = 0.02). Timing of peak BWS through the cane occurred at 51% of contact phase before training, and at 53% after training (p = 0.05).SignificanceA short training session can increase the transfer of body weight through a walking cane. However, more sophisticated feedback may be needed to achieve target levels of BWS.     

OTC drug advertising in Japan: the role of need for cognition and celebrity endorser credibility

Abstract

This research explores how the level of consumers’ need for cognition (NFC) is associated with celebrity endorser credibility and examines its effects on advertising-related attitudes. A 3 (endorser types: actor/actress, athlete, TV personality/talent) × 2 (endorser’s gender) factorial experiment with 435 Japanese consumers was conducted. Concerning Japanese OTC drug advertising, lower NFC individuals perceived celebrity endorsers as more credible in comparison to higher NFC individuals. The main effects of NFC and endorser type on endorser credibility existed; however, no interaction between the two variables was found. The endorser type had an influence on attitudes toward ads and the advertised brand.