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Teaching Time (teaching + time)
Selected AbstractsDevelopment and Implementation of a Relative Value Scale for Teaching in Emergency Medicine: The Teaching Value UnitACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 8 2003Naghma S. Khan MD Abstract Relative value units exist for measuring clinical productivity. Limited objective measures exist, however, for nonclinical activities, specifically teaching. Objective: To develop an objective measure of teaching productivity linked to a performance-based incentive plan. Methods: Teaching goals and objectives were identified before the 1998,1999 academic year. Teaching value units (TVUs), objective measures for quantifying teaching activities, were developed and assigned based on an estimation of time needed to complete each activity and weighted for importance to the teaching mission. Each physician was allocated teaching time based on past performance and future goals. Targeted TVUs necessary to meet expectations were proportionate to allocated teaching time. Teaching productivity was defined as a percentage of targeted TVUs achieved. Incentive dollars for teaching were distributed based on percentage of targeted TVUs achieved, weighted individually for teaching load. Results: Teaching productivity was evaluated over a three-year period. In year 1, mean TVUs allocated/physician were 181 units (range 25 to 449). Four of 18 physicians (22%) met expectations. The mean individual TVUs achieved were 54% of expected (range 0% to 114%). By year 3, mean TVUs allocated/physician were 179 (range 45 to 629). Twelve of 22 physicians (55%) met expectations. The mean individual TVUs achieved were 82% of expected (range 11% to 146%). Between year 1 and year 3, group productivity increased from 73% to 88%, and mean individual productivity increased from 54% to 82% (p = 0.01). Conclusions: The development of a TVU-based system enabled objective quantification and monitoring of a broad range of teaching activities. The TVU-based system linked to an incentive plan helped to increase individual and group teaching productivity. [source] Attitudes towards skills examinations for basic surgical traineesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 1 2005S.D. Bann Summary Objective measures of surgical skill and cognition are becoming available. A questionnaire study examining surgeons' beliefs towards a skills-based examination, current standards and possible benefits was devised. Three hundred pairs of standardised anonymous questionnaires were sent to consultants and their basic surgical trainees (BSTs) irrespective of surgical speciality. Responses were requested using a Likert scale (1,5, 3 = neutral response). Two-hundred and two replies were received (including 54 pairs). BST experience ranged from 6 to 60 months (mean 24 months). When questioned regarding current training in basic surgical skills, only 34% believed that they were given adequate training at present. Sixty-four per cent of respondents believed the introduction of a skills examination would raise standards and 66% believed it necessary. Eighty-three per cent of respondents believed that they or their BST would practice these skills, if an examination were introduced and 85% wanted or would provide dedicated teaching time for this. However, 68% had no access to a dedicated skills facility, and uptake of these, where available, was variable. When questioned about their ability to perform the six appropriate tasks, there was a poor correlation of scoring between the groups. Consultants and their BSTs do not believe that they are given adequate training in basic skills. The introduction of an examination would lead to practice of these skills and is seen as a positive move. [source] A survey of staff attitudes to increasing medical undergraduate education in a district general hospitalMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 7 2005John Macdonald Introduction, Medical student numbers in Britain are increasing rapidly, beyond the capacity of most teaching hospitals, with more clinical teaching taking place in district general hospitals (DGHs). Surveys show that students value the intensive clinical teaching, smaller student numbers and perceived greater friendliness in DGHs. This paper explores DGH staff attitudes to teaching , their level of initial enthusiasm, their attitudes to current teaching, its effect on the hospital and to the sustainability of DGH undergraduate teaching , as both student numbers and service workloads continue to rise. Methods, Semi-structured interviews with 6 key informants were used to generate themes for a 19-question pre-piloted anonymous postal questionnaire sent to all 68 staff involved in undergraduate medical teaching in Northampton General Hospital. Results, The total response included 85% of consultants. Responses in the 3 staff groups were similar. Most respondents felt enthusiastic at the prospect of medical students, although they realised that this would be intellectually challenging and increase time pressures. These predictions were largely fulfilled. Respondents felt that in comparison to teaching hospitals the DGH teaching was more clinically based and consultant-led, with more approachable staff. Currently 41 respondents (82%) felt that they had inadequate teaching time. A majority felt that the arrival of students had improved patient care and that their department had benefited. Thirty-seven responders (74%) felt that the planned doubling of student numbers would impose an unsustainable departmental load, and would compromise teaching quality. The change felt most necessary to support additional teaching was increased clinical medical staff. Better co-ordination between the DGH and the medical school was also felt necessary. The most popular choice for the distribution of extra teaching finance was to the teacher's directorate, i.e. speciality [33 (66%)]. Forty-four (86%) felt that increased student numbers would have a significant impact on the character of the hospital. The 108 free-text comments (2.1 per respondent) centred on hospital character and the benefits of students. Conclusions, This study shows a considerable initial enthusiasm for teaching in DGH staff, which is persisting despite increasing student numbers. However, the current teaching load is seen to be substantial. Teaching more students is likely to produce major problems, based on lack of teaching time and increasingly heavy service commitments rather than lack of patients. This is likely to be a widespread problem for DGHs. Failure to ensure adequate teaching staff and facilities as well as co-ordination could threaten the sustainability of this potentially valuable teaching initiative. [source] Active Participation Instead of Passive Behaviour Opens Up New Vistas in Education of Veterinary Anatomy and HistologyANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 5 2009J. Plendl Summary Teaching morphology, a fundamental part of medicine curricula is traditionally based on lectures and practical trainings. We introduced peer-assisted learning (PAL) and student expert teams to the courses to give the students the possibility to improve their free speech and self-confidence. We involved students in active preparation of online materials such as labelled e-slides and e-pics. We offered online digital microscopy (ZoomifyTM) and dissection (CyberPrep) allowing repeating the learned material and studying veterinary morphology outside the dissection theatre. Over 60% of first and third semester students profited from being a peer or being taught by a peer and 50% said the expert teams were an excellent method to learn the topographic anatomy. Almost all students applied ZoomifyTM and CyberPrep and 75% of them found the digital microscopy and dissection to be a helpful or very helpful learning tool. In face of reduced contact hours, these forms of education compensated in part the lost teaching time. We observed improvement of rhetoric and presentation skills and self-confidence. The approaches should therefore find their constant place in the veterinary medicine curricula. [source] |