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The Influence of Debt on Residency Choice
Sonya R. Lawson, PhD
This study tests the predictive validity of actual student debt and parental socioeconomic status using the Bland-Meurer Model of Career Decision Making. Logistic regression analyses generated predictive models of primary care residency choice, including family medicine, general internal medicine, and pediatrics. A comprehensive model accounting for career choice and physician workforce distribution may enable policy development that provides for improved health and well-being of patients and populations.
Use of Personal Digital Assistants in Reflection on Learning and Practice
Sonya R. Lawson, PhD
Diaries (computerized or paper-and-pencil) assist physicians in recording and reflecting on their learning activities and personal digital assistants (PDAs) offer increasing support to physicians in their daily clinical activities. PDAs have the potential to improve medical practice. The Virginia Board of Medicine requires by law that physicians complete 60 hours of continuing medical education every two years. To meet relicensure requirements, physicians must submit a record of their CME on a Continued Competency and Assessment Form (CCAF). To describe how physicians use the PDA in clinical practice and how they perceive the usefulness of the CCAF in the PDA format, three sources of data will be analyzed; 1)PDA usage survey, 2)interview transcripts, and 3)CCAF written reflections. Inductive data analysis is accomplished with the assistance of ATLAS.ti software.
Self-Assessment Across the Continuum of Medical Education
Sonya R. Lawson, PhD
Despite the attention paid to its importance in professionalism, certification, and medical licensing, data about self-assessment are limited and a coherent model has not been developed to describe the processes that lead to accurate self-assessment by physicians. Before controlled trials can be conducted, a broad definition of self-assessment needs to be developed as well as criteria for considering evidence of its occurrence and accuracy. Qualitative research into how physicians and physicians-in-training “know what they do not know,” and how they respond to self-identified questions, will allow common themes to emerge in support of a model of physician self-assessment. This study uses qualitative methods to generate a comprehensive description of self-assessment from the perspective of medical students, residents, and practicing physicians.
Does Gender Affect Student Professionalism Ratings?
Anita Navarro, MEd
The VCU SOM developed an eight-item Professionalism Rating Scale to measure students’ professionalism during M3 clerkships. To better understand evaluators’ use of this tool, we examined the internal structure associated with the scale using principle component analysis. We found that the eight-item professional rating scale is an internally consistent measure of professionalism. The data suggest that some clerkships vary more than others in their ratings of students’ professionalism. Despite differences across clerkships, most clerkships appear to identify outliers. Generalizability Theory will be used to determine further the sources of variance in Professionalism scores.
Evaluation of the Foundations of Clinical Medicine Course
Rita Willett, MD
Initiated in 1995, Foundations of Clinical Medicine (FCM) is a clinical skills course for first and second year students. FCM provides grounding in clinical skills and experience in generalist medical practice, with instruction, role modeling, and mentoring that are critical for students to develop as professional, and to explore available career paths. CPDE faculty assist FCM course faculty and staff in developing and implementing an overall course evaluation plan, creating data collection instruments and designing selected evaluation research projects. Evaluation projects in progress are:
- The Psychometric Properties of the Clinical Skills Survey
- Does Lack of Anonymity Influence Validity of Student Responses on a Clinical Teaching Effectiveness Evaluation Form?
- Effectiveness of Clinical Teaching: How Do Medical Schools Collect and Use Student Evaluation Data?
- FCM Small Group Co-Leader Program: Impact on Residency Teaching
- Evaluation of the FCM M4 Teaching Elective
Geriatrics Education Outcomes
Rita Willett, MD
A grant was awarded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation to develop a geriatric educational program at the VCU School of Medicine. The CPDE Evaluation Studies Program assists with grant evaluation activities specifically related to:
- Impact of undergraduate educational activities on how residents teach
- Impact of continuing medical education on physician teaching and clinical practice
Bioterrorism Preparedness Training
Marsh Cuttino, MD
VCU received a grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration to provide Basic, Advanced and Community Disaster Life Support Training to Virginia healthcare professionals. CPDE provides evaluation services for grant activities. Specifically, CPDE designs data collection instruments, manages data, and generates grant reports.
Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
Linda Bohanon
CPDE faculty assist the Virginia Statewide AHEC in evaluation design and data analysis associated with healthcare workforce distribution and training in medically underserved locations throughout Virginia
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