Development of a Simulation-Based Mastery Learning Curriculum for Breaking Bad News

Introduction

Physician communication impacts patient outcomes. However, communication skills, especially around difficult conversations, remain suboptimal, and there is no clear way to determine the validity of entrustment decisions. The aims of this study were to 1) describe the development of a simulation-based mastery learning (SBML) curriculum for breaking bad news (BBN) conversation skills and 2) set a defensible minimum passing standard (MPS) to ensure uniform skill acquisition among learners.

血瘀证的研究发展脉络与评述

主要从4个方面论述了血瘀证50年来研究进展．理论研究，着重从古今文献论述血瘀证定义和含义；客观研究，着重对生理、生化、血液流变学、免疫学、病理学和微循环等方面对血瘀证进行研究；血瘀证的动物模型研究，主要对血瘀证动物模型的建立与造模方法和途径进行研究；诊断标准研究，包括诊断标准、诊断指标的研究。并对上述内容进行了评述，并提出了展望。     

STANDARD IMAGING TECHNIQUES OF ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND‐GUIDED FINE‐NEEDLE ASPIRATION USING A CURVED LINEAR ARRAY ECHOENDOSCOPE

Standard imaging techniques using a curved linear array echoendocope are summarized to facilitate the attainment of expertise in endoscopic ultrasonography and endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration, and to promote the widespread use of this diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Typical images of the mediastinal organs, the bilio‐pancreatic systems and neighboring organs by scanning from the esophagus, stomach, duodenal bulb, and descending portion of the duodenum, are shown in a sequential manner. The basic techniques of endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration are also presented.     

Macular electroretinogram as a function of age of subjects

Macular and paramacular electroretinograms in response to two adjacent checks (6 deg/side), alternating at constant mean luminance, were recorded in 34 normal subjects ranging in age from 16 to 74 years. The macular electroretinogram declines progressively in amplitude with age (R = –0.42; P = 0.013). The amplitude ratio between macular and paramacular responses tends to be independent of age (R = -0.21; P = 0.22).Age-related changes in the macular electroretinogram shown in our study are consistent with previous anatomical and functional studies, which indicate a deterioration of photoreceptors beyond 20 years of age. These results suggest a possible use of this technique for future studies on macular degeneration.     

Assessment of dental health state utilities

The term "health state utility" implies the assigning of a numerical value to a state of health. Assessment of the success of health care procedures, using health state utilities, enables evaluation of available treatments and procedures in terms of differing health outcomes and therefore facilitates cost-benefit analyses. Although measurement of general health state utilities has become increasingly common in medicine using a variety of techniques, few attempts have as yet been made in dentistry to place valuations on different dental health states. The absence of tried and tested methods for measuring tooth quality make the benefits gained from preventive and restorative dental programmes difficult to quantify. The aim of this study was to assess the average utility values, held by a group of dentists and a group of members of the general public, for four different tooth states which it was hypothesised would have different values. These were 1) a decayed and painful posterior tooth; 2) a decayed and non-painful posterior tooth; 3) a posterior tooth which had been restored and would need further restorative treatment and 4) a permanently restored posterior tooth. A standard gamble questionnaire was used to elicit the utility values which were then substituted as "weightings" in a modified version of the "T-health" index (1). The results show that it is possible to assess dental health state utility values using the standard gamble method and that the average utility values of the dentists in the study were consistently higher than those of the general public.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

CORRELATION OF SKIN POTENTIAL AND SKIN RESISTANCE MEASURES

Simultaneous measurements of skin potential (SP) and skin resistance (SR) obtained from 20 male and 20 female adult subjects during 2 sessions held 2 to 9 days apart were used in studying (1) the correlation of change measurements and prestimulus level in the two measures, and (2) the amount of correlation between SP and SR using both simple difference and residual change scores in which the regression of poststimulus values on initial level (prestimulus) has been controlled. Correlations within Ss and correlations among Ss showed large individual variability, correlation differences between males and females, and high correlation between SP and SR change scores. Although the law of initial value (LIV) seemed to have little applicability to the measurement of electrodermal responses, the results underscored the need to control for contamination of change measures by initial level regardless of direction.     

多动行为偏异儿童血5-羟色胺测定及其意义

目的　探讨心理卫生偏异 (简称行为异常 )多动行为偏异儿童 (简称多动 )与正常儿童血 5 -羟色胺 (5 -HT)含量差别。方法　用Achenbach儿童行为量表筛查并根据因子分分类对 30例行为异常儿童进行血 5 -HT含量测定 ,与 30例正常儿童对照组比较。结果　行为异常组血 5 -HT含量与正常组比较 ,无显著差异。而多动组与正常组比较 ,有显著差异 (P <0 .0 5 )。内向型因子组与正常组比较 ,有显著差异 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　多动行为偏异儿童血 5 -HT含量明显降低 ,心理卫生偏异内向型组血 5 -HT含量明显升高。     

Premarital sexual attitudes of unmarried university students: 1968 vs. 1972

Information on premarital sexual attitudes of unmarried undergraduates was obtained from random samples on the same campus in 1968 and 1972. Students in 1972, compared with those in 1968, reported (1) more permissive attitudes toward premarital sexual behavior (both men and women), (2) fewer differences in attitudes between men and women, and (3) less adherence to the double standard. In contrast to earlier research on premarital sexual attitudes, these differences need not be due to the markedly different populations compared, or generalizable only to sociology and psychology students, or indicative of only those who chose to volunteer for study (volunteer bias).This research received support from the Institute for Research in Social Science and the University Research Council, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.     

药敏纸片的质量控制研究

目的：探讨和研究药敏纸片质量控制的方法。方法：以克拉霉素药敏纸片为例，参照美国临床实验室标准化委员会(NCCLS)和联邦法规全书(CFR)的方法，建立一套药敏纸片质量控制的指标，包括鉴别、检查及含量测定。结果：采用专属性较强、灵敏度较高的TLC法进行鉴别，最低检出量为50μg；制订纸片的的直径、重量差异、含量均匀性及干燥失重作为检查项，采用短小芽孢杆菌(Bacillus pumilus)[CMCC(B)63202]作为检定菌，进行含量测定。结论：建立的克拉霉素药敏纸片质量标准能够控制其质量，可作为其他抗生素药敏纸片建立质量标准的参考。