A Survey of Information Sources Used for Progress Decisions about Medical Students

Although many medical schools have adopted a variety of methods to assess student competency, the extent to which these innovations have changed how decisions about student progress are made is not clear. This paper describes a survey of 126 accredited allopathic U.S. medical schools to determine which information sources are used for decisions related to medical student progress and graduation. Respondents were asked to indicate up to three information sources used for seven specific decisions about student progress. The results indicate that multiple choice questions (MCQs) and faculty ratings remain the most frequently used information sources. Clinical skills education in the pre-clinical curriculum is the area with the broadest use of assessments for progress decisions. Several explanations are suggested for the primacy of MCQs and faculty ratings in student decisions, including familiarity for faculty and students, ease of implementation and the resources required for the adoption of other assessment strategies

Discovering Open Access Articles: Maximum Access, Maximum Visibility! A Report of the ALCTS Continuing Resources Section Program. American Library Association Annual Conference, Las Vegas, June 2014

The growing open access movement raises many questions for libraries and researchers. A program, presented by the Education, Research, and Publications Coordinating Committee of the ALCTS Continuing Resources Section, addressed prominent open access issues and offered a number of solutions currently under development by institutions and NISO (National Information Standards Organization). The three presenters provided background on the various issues, a description of the new open access policy at the University of California system, an overview of the challenges in accessing open access articles in hybrid journals, and a description of the NISO Open Access Metadata and Indicators Initiative

Factors Influencing the Participation of Older People in Clinical Trials : Data Analysis from the MAVIS Trial

Peer reviewedPostprin

Innovations in the Pursuit of Excellence

As students begin their journey in preservice early education courses, an important aspect of an introductory level course is the microteaching experience. For the purposes of this article microteaching is defined as the opportunity to present a lesson to a group of peers who role-play as children at the primary level. Although field-based teaching is critical to a student’s educational experience before student teaching the microteaching experience can be a valuable tool for reflecting and evaluation on best instruction. In the process of evaluating practice it became apparent that we might also assess communication competence as well. The Foundations of Early Education course with a microteaching component presented an innovative to appraise the scope of each student’s attention to articulate speech. A collaborative effort between the university’s speech center and the Education department was established. Instruments for faulty and peer evaluation were designed or adjusted to suit the course framework. Our findings correlated to the results of prior studies of across-the-curriculum college programs with a speech communication emphasis where method and manner of approach are meeting particular success in fields and coursework outside departments of speech communication (Cronin and Tony, 1991 & Weiss, 1989). We found evidence of this same kind of success in the positive feedback from students enrolled in the Foundation of Early Education course. Student evaluations of this course have shown us than an approach employing several means of oral communication assessment was considered by students to be most beneficial. Components of this combined approach and the procedures necessary to effectively incorporate it are described below

Higher Education and Health Issues in Development: an Insight Study of Cameroon

Treball de Fi de Màster de Master Universitario Internacional en Estudios de Paz, Conflictos y Desarrollo. Curs 2012/201

Title Change Characteristics of Academic and Nonacademic Serials

The study compared the characteristics of academic and nonacademic serials with title changes, from which it was determined that the two serial subpopulations were similar in the six broad reasons found for a title change but differed in the kinds and proportions of subject and function changes that occurred when a title changed. On the basis of the findings, two alternate RDA rule revision proposals are made (labeled Ideal versus Practical), the first requiring a new access point for a title change only when a significant subject or function change has occurred, and the second requiring a new access point only when the publisher has indicated the start of a totally new serial. It is further recommended that reasons for title changes be determined from statements in the serial or directly from the editor or publisher rather than from word changes in the title

CONFIRM: a double-blind, placebo controlled phase III clinical trial investigating the effect of nivolumab in patients with relapsed mesothelioma: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Background: Mesothelioma is an incurable, apoptosis-resistant cancer caused in most cases by previous exposure to asbestos and is increasing in incidence. It represents a growing health burden but remains under-researched, with limited treatment options. Early promising signals of activity relating to both PD-L1- and PD-1-targeted treatment in mesothelioma implicate a dependency of mesothelioma on this immune checkpoint. There is a need to evaluate checkpoint inhibitors in patients with relapsed mesothelioma where treatment options are limited. Methods: The addition of 12 months of nivolumab (anti-PD1 antibody) to standard practice will be conducted in the UK using a randomised, placebo-controlled phase III trial (the Cancer Research UK CONFIRM trial). A total of 336 patients with pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma who have received at least two prior lines of therapy will be recruited from UK secondary care sites. Patients will be randomised 2:1 (nivolumab:placebo), stratified according to epithelioid/non-epithelioid, to receive either 240 mg nivolumab monotherapy or saline placebo as a 30-min intravenous infusion. Treatment will be for up to 12 months. We will determine whether the use of nivolumab increases overall survival (the primary efficacy endpoint). Secondary endpoints will include progression-free survival, objective response rate, toxicity, quality of life and cost-effectiveness. Analysis will be performed according to the intention-to-treat principle using a Cox regression analysis for the primary endpoint (and for other time-to-event endpoints). Discussion: The outcome of this trial will provide evidence of the potential benefit of the use of nivolumab in the treatment of relapsed mesothelioma. If found to be clinically effective, safe and cost-effective it is likely to become the new standard of care in the UK

Appraising Kinetic Approach to Counter-Terrorism in the Post-Cold War Era

This paper examines the kinetic approach to counter-terrorism, which emphasises military force and direct action in the post-Cold War era. It assesses the effectiveness, challenges, and ethical considerations of this strategy, using case studies such as Operation Neptune Spear and drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen. The study highlights the need for integrating kinetic methods with non-kinetic strategies to effectively combat the complexities of the modern while also addressing the adverse consequences, such as collateral damage and civilian casualties, which can lead to increased radicalisation and anti-American sentiment. The methodology adopted for this research is a qualitative method, where scholarly literature comprehensively assesses the kinetic approach, emphasising the need for integrating non-kinetic methods like intelligence gathering, counter-radicalisation programs, and socio-economic development to tackle the root causes of terrorism. Five theories, including Clausewitz’s Theory on War, Deterrence Theory, International Relations Theories on Realism and Liberalism, and ethical philosophy Theory on Just War, were used to analyse the effectiveness or otherwise of the approach. Findings revealed that while kinetic counter-terrorism operations, including military interventions and drone strikes, are effective in achieving immediate tactical goals by eliminating high-value targets and disrupting terrorist networks, their long-term strategic effectiveness is limited. This integrated strategy is crucial for achieving sustainable security and long-term stability. The study put forward valuable recommendations for Practice or Policy and suggestions for future research. Keywords: Counter-terrorism, Kinetic approach, Post-Cold War, Military force, Terrorism, Non-kinetic strategie

Effect of Stress Management Strategies on Employee Performance National Open University, Nigeria

The study examined stress management strategies and its effect on employee performance among academic staff of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). Survey and documentary research designs were employed. Survey was used to generate primary data in order to establish the relationship between stress management strategies and employee performance among academic staff in NOUN while the documentary research designs was used to obtain data from the documentary evidences. The population of the study comprises academic staff of National Open University of Nigeria. Primary data were collected through the administration of questionnaire, while secondary data were obtained from the work of past researchers and pieces of reports on the subject matter. The simple sampling technique was used to select the participants. Quantitative statistical analysis was used to test the hypotheses at 5% level of significance. Multiple regressions with the aid of SPSS version 27.0 were used to analyse the data. Person-Environment Fit Theory was adopted to explain stress management and performance. Findings revealed positive impact of functional working equipment in managing stress level and performance among academic staff members at the National Open University of Nigeria. Finding also revealed positive impact staff welfare scheme on stress levels and work performance among academic staff members at NOUN. The study recommends among others, that the Management of National Open University of Nigeria should introduce and implement more Stress Management Programs. The Management of National Open University of Nigeria should strengthen its policies aimed at promoting work-life balance for academic staff at NOUN. Keywords: Stress Management Strategies, Functional Working Equipment, Staff Welfare Scheme, Employee Performance and Academic Staf

Medical students’ preparedness for professional activities in early clerkships

Background Sufficient preparedness is important for transitions to workplace participation and learning in clinical settings. This study aims to analyse medical students’ preparedness for early clerkships using a three-dimensional, socio-cognitive, theory-based model of preparedness anchored in specific professional activities and their supervision level. Methods Medical students from a competency-based undergraduate curriculum were surveyed about preparedness for 21 professional activities and level of perceived supervision during their early clerkships via an online questionnaire. Preparedness was operationalized by the three dimensions of confidence to carry out clerkship activities, being prepared through university teaching and coping with failure by seeking support. Factors influencing preparedness and perceived stress as outcomes were analysed through step-wise regression. Results Professional activities carried out by the students (n = 147; 19.0%) and their supervision levels varied. While most students reported high confidence to perform the tasks, the activity-specific analysis revealed important gaps in preparation through university teaching. Students regularly searched for support in case of difficulty. One quarter of the variance of each preparedness dimension was explained by self-efficacy, supervision quality, amount of prior clerkship experience and nature of professional activities. Preparedness contributed to predicting perceived stress. Conclusions The applied three-dimensional concept of preparedness and the task-specific approach provided a detailed and meaningful view on medical students’ workplace participation and experiences in early clerkships