Sertraline use is associated with an improvement in cholestatic pruritus. This novel observation implies that serotonergic fibers are important in regulating the perception of itch.

Sertraline use is associated with an improvement in cholestatic pruritus. This novel observation implies that serotonergic fibers are important in regulating the perception of itch.

The results of this study suggest that performance on Step 1 can be used to identify and counsel students at risk for poor performance on the Subject Examinations. In addition, these findings call into the question the validity of using scores from Subject Examinations as a high-stakes assessment of learning in individual clerkships.

No abstract

Problem Medical students typically perform worse on clinical clerkships that take place early in their training compared with those that occur later. Some institutions have developed transition-to-clerkship courses (TTCCs) to improve students’ preparedness for the clinical phase of the curriculum. Yet, the impact of TTCCs on students’ performance has not been evaluated. Approach The authors developed and implemented a TTCC at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and measured its impact on students’ clerkship performance. During the 2014–2015 academic year, they introduced a 2-week intersession TTCC. The goal was to improve students’ readiness for clerkships by fostering the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to care for patients throughout a hospitalization. The TTCC included panel discussions, skills development sessions, case-based workshops, and a 4-station standardized patient simulation. The authors assessed the feasibility of designing and implementing the TTCC and students’ reactions and clerkship performance. Outcomes The total direct costs were $3,500. Students reacted favorably and reported improved comfort on entering clerkships. Summative performance evaluations across clerkships were higher for those students who received the TTCC with simulation compared with those students who received the standard clerkship orientation (P < .001–.04, Cohen’s d range = 0.23–0.62). This finding was particularly apparent in those clerkships that occurred earlier in the academic year. Next Steps Future plans include evaluating the impact of the TTCC on student well-being and incorporating elements of the TTCC into the preclinical curriculum.

This Web-based case system provided a novel approach to teach and assess the competencies needed for virtual teams. This approach may be a valuable new tool for measuring competency in interprofessional practice.

No abstract

No abstract