Skill Performance (skill + performance)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Redefining Emergency Medicine Procedures: Canadian Competence and Frequency Survey

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 7 2001
FRCPC, Ken Farion MD
Objective: To redefine the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (RCPS) procedural skills list for Canadian emergency medicine (EM) residents through a national survey of EM specialists to determine procedural performance frequency and self-assessment of competence. Methods: The survey instrument was developed in three phases: 1) an EM program directors survey identified inappropriate or dated procedures, endorsing 127 skills; 2) a search of EM literature added 98 skills; and 3) an expert panel designed the survey instrument and finalized a list of 150 skills. The survey instrument measured the frequency of procedure performance or supervision, self-reported competence (yes/no), and endorsement of one of four training levels for each skill: undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), knowledge only, or un-necessary (i.e., too infrequently performed to maintain competence). Results: All 289 Canadian EM specialists were surveyed by mail; 231 (80%) responded, 221 completed surveys, and 10 were inactive. More than 60% reported competence in 125 (83%) procedures, and 55 procedures were performed at least three times a year. The mean competence score was 121 (SD ± 17.7, median = 122) procedures. Competence score correlation with patient volume was r= 0.16 (p = 0.02) and with hours worked was r= 0.19 (p = 0.01). Competence score was not associated with year or route (residency vs grandfather) of certification. Each procedure was assigned to a training level using response consensus and decision rules (UG: 1%; PG: 82%; unnecessary: 17%). Conclusions: A survey of EM clinicians reporting competence and frequency of skill performance defined 127 procedural skills appropriate for Canadian RCPS postgraduate training and EM certification. [source]


Using extracurricular activity as an indicator of interpersonal skill: Prudent evaluation or recruiting malpractice?

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2002
Robert S. Rubin
There is widespread agreement that success in organizations requires more than high intellect. Thus, college recruiters commonly examine job candidates' extracurricular activities in search of "well-rounded," emotionally intelligent, and interpersonally skilled students. Intuitively, extracurricular activities seem like valuable student experiences; however, research evidence is sparse, suggesting far more questions than answers. Is participation in extracurricular activity truly linked to interpersonal skill performance? Does leadership experience make a difference? Do extracurricular experiences yield higher skill development? Six hundred eighteen business students and the relationship of their extracurricular involvement to four interpersonal skills were examined. Significant relationships were found and recruitment implications are discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]


Effectiveness of simulation on health profession students' knowledge, skills, confidence and satisfaction

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EVIDENCE BASED HEALTHCARE, Issue 3 2008
Susan Laschinger
Abstract Background, Despite the recent wave of interest being shown in high-fidelity simulators, they do not represent a new concept in healthcare education. Simulators have been a part of clinical education since the 1950s. The growth of patient simulation as a core educational tool has been driven by a number of factors. Declining inpatient populations, concerns for patient safety and advances in learning theory are forcing healthcare educators to look for alternatives to the traditional clinical encounter for skill acquisition for students. Objective, The aim of this review was to identify the best available evidence on the effectiveness of using simulated learning experiences in pre-licensure health profession education. Inclusion criteria,Types of studies: This review considered any experimental or quasi-experimental studies that addressed the effectiveness of using simulated learning experiences in pre-licensure health profession practice. In the absence of randomised controlled trials, other research designs were considered for inclusion, such as, but not limited to: non-randomised controlled trials and before-and-after studies. Types of participants: This review included participants who were pre-licensure practitioners in nursing, medicine, and rehabilitation therapy. Types of intervention(s)/phenomena of interest: Studies that evaluated the use of human physical anatomical models with or without computer support, including whole-body or part-body simulators were included. Types of outcome measures, Student outcomes included knowledge acquisition, skill performance, learner satisfaction, critical thinking, self-confidence and role identity. Search strategy, Using a defined search and retrieval method, the following databases were accessed for the period 1995,2006: Medline, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, HealthSTAR, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and ERIC. Methodological quality, Each paper was assessed by two independent reviewers for methodological quality prior to inclusion in the review using the standardised critical appraisal instruments for evidence of effectiveness, developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Disagreements were dealt with by consultations with a third reviewer. Data collection, Information was extracted from each paper independently by two reviewers using the standardised data extraction tool from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Disagreements were dealt with by consultation with a third reviewer. Data synthesis, Due to the type of designs and quality of available studies, it was not possible to pool quantitative research study results in statistical meta-analysis. As statistical pooling was not possible, the findings are presented in descriptive narrative form. Results, Twenty-three studies were selected for inclusion in this review including partial task trainers and high-fidelity human patient simulators. The results indicate that there is high learner satisfaction with using simulators to learn clinical skills. The studies demonstrated that human patient simulators which are used for teaching higher level skills, such as airway management, and physiological concepts are useful. While there are short-term gains in knowledge and skill performance, it is evident that performance of skills over time after initial training decline. Conclusion, At best, simulation can be used as an adjunct for clinical practice, not a replacement for everyday practice. Students enjoyed the sessions and using the models purportedly makes learning easier. However, it remains unclear whether the skills learned through a simulation experience transfer into real-world settings. More research is needed to evaluate whether the skills acquired with this teaching methodology transfer to the practice setting such as the impact of simulation training on team function. [source]


Cerebral dominance and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders in adults with intellectual disability

JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 6 2000
D. Rowe
Abstract Studies of the general population without intellectual disability have suggested an association between atypical handedness and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSDs). Mixed handedness is taken as an index of diminished cerebral dominance or laterality. The present study addressed the question of whether such findings extend to the neurodevelopmentally ,at risk' population of adults with intellectual disability and SSDs compared with appropriate controls. Fourteen patients with a dual diagnosis of intellectual disability and SSD were compared with 14 controls with intellectual disability alone. Assessments of self-reported hand preference and relative hand skill were completed. Self-report of hand preference revealed highly significantly greater mixed-handedness in the SSD group. Furthermore, relative hand skill performance was significantly diminished for the dominant hand. The discrepancy between dominant and non-dominant hand functioning was lower in the SSD group and this association was highly significant. The results of the present study support the usefulness of such detailed laterality assessment in this population. Mixed laterality, over and above that of the population with general intellectual disability and developmental disorder, was associated with SSD. These results are consistent with the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia and its cognitive neuropsychiatric/neuropsychological sequelae. [source]


Paramedic Self-efficacy and Skill Retention in Pediatric Airway Management

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 12 2008
Scott T. Youngquist MD
Abstract Objectives:, The objectives were to determine the effect of pediatric airway management training on paramedic self-efficacy and skill performance and to determine which of several retraining methods is superior. Methods:, A total of 2,520 paramedics were trained to proficiency in pediatric bag-mask ventilation (BMV) and endotracheal intubation (ETI) on mannequins. Subjects were a convenience sample of 245 (10% of original cohort) presenting for voluntary retraining. A total of 212 of 245 (87%) completed skills testing. Self-efficacy was measured prior to and following initial training and retraining events. Paramedics were assigned to control (no retraining), videotape presentation, self-directed learning, or instructor-facilitated lecture and demonstration retraining. Following retraining, BMV and ETI skills were tested. Results:, Paramedics from low-call-volume areas reported lower baseline self-efficacy and derived larger increases with training, but also experienced the most decline between training events. Pass rates for BMV and ETI were 66% (139/211) and 42% (88/212), respectively. However, overall cohort self-efficacy was maintained over the study period. In ordinal regression modeling, only the lecture and demonstration method was superior to control, with an odds ratio (OR) of achieving higher scores of 2.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2 to 5.2) for BMV and 5.2 (95% CI = 2.4 to 11.2) for ETI. Poor performance with ETI but not BMV was associated with time elapsed since training (p = 0.01). Self-efficacy ratings were not predictive of skill performance. Conclusions:, Training provides increases in self-efficacy, particularly among paramedics from low-call-volume areas. A gap exists between self-efficacy and skill performance, in that self-efficacy may be maintained even when skill performance declines. Pediatric airway skills decay quickly, ETI skills drop off more significantly than BMV skills, and a lecture and demonstration format seems superior to other retraining methods investigated. [source]


Emergency Medical Services Provider Perceptions of the Nature of Adverse Events and Near-misses in Out-of-hospital Care: An Ethnographic View

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 7 2008
EMT-P, Rollin J. Fairbanks MD
Abstract Objectives:, The objectives were to examine the perceptions of emergency medical services (EMS) providers regarding near-misses and adverse events in out-of-hospital care. Methods:, This study uses qualitative methods (focus groups, interviews, event reporting) to examine the perceptions of EMS providers regarding near-misses and adverse events in out-of-hospital care. Results were reviewed by five researchers; analytic domains were assigned and emerging themes were identified. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Results:, Fifteen in-depth interviews (73% advanced life support [ALS], 40% volunteer, and 87% male) resulted in 50 event descriptions. Eleven additional event reports were obtained from the anonymous reporting system. Of the 61 total events, 27 (44%) were near-misses and 34 (56%) were adverse events. Fourteen (23%) involved a child (<19 years). Types of error included 33 clinical judgment (54%), 13 skill performance (21%), 9 medication event (15%), 3 destination choice (5%), and 3 others (5%). For the 21 cases where the provider discussed the event, 10 (48%) were reported to a physician, and 9 (43%) to a supervisor; 4 (19%) were not reported, and none were reported to the patient. Focus groups supported interview and event report data. Emerging themes included a focus on the errors of others and a "blame-and-shame" culture. Conclusions:, Adverse events and near-misses were common among the EMS providers who participated in this study, but the culture discourages sharing of this information. Participants attributed many events to systems issues and to inadequacies of other provider groups. Further study is necessary to investigate whether these hypothesis-generating themes are generalizable to the EMS community as a whole. [source]


Late effects of early growth hormone treatment in Down syndrome

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 5 2010
Å Myrelid
Abstract Objective:, Down syndrome (DS) is associated with short stature and psychomotor delay. We have previously shown that growth hormone (GH) treatment during infancy and childhood normalizes growth velocity and improves fine motor skill performance in DS. The aim of this study was to investigate late effects of early GH treatment on growth and psychomotor development in the DS subjects from the previous trial. Design:, Twelve of 15 adolescents with DS (3 F) from the GH group and 10 of 15 controls (5 F) participated in this follow-up study. Fifteen other subjects with DS (6 F) were included as controls in anthropometric analyses. Cognitive function was assessed with the Leiter International Performance Scale-Revised (Leiter-R) and selected subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third edition (WISC-III). The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second edition (BOT-2), was used to assess general motor ability. Results:, Although early GH treatment had no effect on final height, the treated subjects had a greater head circumference standard deviation score (SDS) than the controls (,1.6 SDS vs. ,2.2 SDS). The adolescents previously treated with GH had scores above those of the controls in all subtests of Leiter-R and WISC-III, but no difference in Brief IQ-score was seen between the groups. The age-adjusted motor performance of all subjects was below ,2 SD, but the GH-treated subjects performed better than the controls in all but one subtest. Conclusion:, The combined finding of a greater head circumference SDS and better psychomotor performance indicates that DS subjects may benefit from early GH treatment. [source]


A mixed-methods study of interprofessional learning of resuscitation skills

MEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 9 2009
Paul Bradley
Objectives, This study aimed to identify the effects of interprofessional resuscitation skills teaching on medical and nursing students' attitudes, leadership, team-working and performance skills. Methods, Year 2 medical and nursing students learned resuscitation skills in uniprofessional or interprofessional settings, prior to undergoing observational ratings of video-recorded leadership, teamwork and skills performance and subsequent focus group interviews. The Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) was administered pre- and post-intervention and again 3,4 months later. Results, There was no significant difference between interprofessional and uniprofessional teams for leadership, team dynamics or resuscitation tasks performance. Gender, previous interprofessional learning experience, professional background and previous leadership experience had no significant effect. Interview analysis showed broad support for interprofessional education (IPE) matched to clinical reality with perceived benefits for teamwork, communication and improved understanding of roles and perspectives. Concerns included inappropriate role adoption, hierarchy issues, professional identity and the timing of IPE episodes. The RIPLS subscales for professional identity and team-working increased significantly post-intervention for interprofessional groups but returned to pre-test levels by 3,4 months. However, interviews showed interprofessional groups retained a ,residual positivity' towards IPE, more so than uniprofessional groups. Conclusions, An intervention based on common, relevant, shared learning outcomes set in a realistic educational context can work with students who have differing levels of previous IPE and skills training experience. Qualitatively, positive attitudes outlast quantitative changes measured using the RIPLS. Further quantitative and qualitative work is required to examine other domains of learning, the timing of interventions and impact on attitudes towards IPE. [source]


Relationship of resident characteristics, attitudes, prior training and clinical knowledge to communication skills performance

MEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 1 2006
Toni Suzuki Laidlaw
Purpose, A substantial body of literature demonstrates that communication skills in medicine can be taught and retained through teaching and practice. Considerable evidence also reveals that characteristics such as gender, age, language and attitudes affect communication skills performance. Our study examined the characteristics, attitudes and prior communication skills training of residents to determine the relationship of each to patient,doctor communication. The relationship between communication skills proficiency and clinical knowledge application (biomedical and ethical) was also examined through the use of doctor-developed clinical content checklists, as very little research has been conducted in this area. Methods, A total of 78 first- and second-year residents across all departments at Dalhousie Medical School participated in a videotaped 4-station objective structured clinical examination presenting a range of communication and clinical knowledge challenges. A variety of instruments were used to gather information and assess performance. Two expert raters evaluated the videotapes. Results, Significant relationships were observed between resident characteristics, prior communication skills training, clinical knowledge and communication skills performance. Females, younger residents and residents with English as first language scored significantly higher, as did residents with prior communication skills training. A significant positive relationship was found between the clinical content checklist and communication performance. Gender was the only characteristic related significantly to attitudes. Conclusions, Gender, age, language and prior communication skills training are related to communication skills performance and have implications for resident education. The positive relationship between communication skills proficiency and clinical knowledge application is important and should be explored further. [source]


Communication skills knowledge, understanding and OSCE performance in medical trainees: a multivariate prospective study using structural equation modelling

MEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 9 2002
G M Humphris
Aim, To test the stability of medical student communication skills over a period of 17 months as exhibited by performance in objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) and to determine the strength of prediction of these skills by initial levels of knowledge and understanding. Design, This is a prospective study using a 2-wave cohort. Participants, Medical undergraduates (n = 383) from 2 years intake (1996 and 1997) were followed through the first 3 years of a medical curriculum. Procedure, The study procedure involved the objective structured video examination (OSVE) conducted at formative and summative examinations during the first year. Two OSCE measures were employed: expert examiners and simulated patients completed the Liverpool Communication Skills Assessment Scale (LCSAS) and the Global Simulated Patient Rating Scale (GSPRS), respectively. The OSCE data were collected at Level 1 and 17 months later at Level 2 examinations. Results, The measurement model followed prediction. A causal model using latent variables was fitted with Level 2 OSCE performance regressed on Level 1 OSCE and OSVE marks. Expert and simulated patient OSCE data were fitted separately and combined to determine strength of model fit according to professional and patient opinion of student skills. The overall fit of the models was acceptable. Communication skills performance showed a high level of stability. Some negative effect of cognitive factors on future skills performance was found. Conclusion, Early development of communication skills shows stable performance following an introductory course. Knowledge of communication skills has a small but significant influence on performance, depending on the time of testing. New assessments of cognitive factors are required to include both tacit and explicit knowledge. [source]