Objectives: To evaluate the impact of adult learning and simulation-based learning (SBL) on surgical trainees’ learning experiences and Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) Section 2 General Surgery exa...Objectives: To evaluate the impact of adult learning and simulation-based learning (SBL) on surgical trainees’ learning experiences and Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) Section 2 General Surgery examination pass rate. Methods: This was a cross-sequential study involving 148 surgical candidates (72 UK trainees, 75 non-UK trainees) who had attended our revision course (Phoenix FRCS Course) from June 2017 until 2023. Each course comprised a two-day weekend preparation with dedicated sections for clinical, viva, and academic reading, incorporating SBL as its key learning style. We maintained a prospective database of candidate and course details, examination results, and feedback since the course inception. Results: We found that 97% of candidates passed the FRCS examination after their first attempt. The course was attended once by 89% of candidates, and only 3 of the 148 candidates exhausted all four attempts at the examination. Candidate feedback for the course and its style of learning was positive, with simulation-based table viva sessions and virtual clinical sessions proving the most popular learning sessions (95% and 80% of candidates attending courses run in December 2017, April 2018, and May 2021 rated them “Excellent” respectively). Conclusions: The course is centered around shared adult learning and mindfulness tools to encourage candidates to learn from each other and develop confidence and mastery in all domains of surgical practice. These methods have been shown to be effective in achieving high success rates in the Intercollegiate and International FRCS examinations for UK and overseas surgeons.展开更多
Background: Breast cancer is one of the commonest cancers in women in the UK and western countries [1]. Follow ups after breast cancer diagnosis is usual practice, but there is no agreed consensus among breast care pr...Background: Breast cancer is one of the commonest cancers in women in the UK and western countries [1]. Follow ups after breast cancer diagnosis is usual practice, but there is no agreed consensus among breast care providers on frequency or duration of follow up after diagnosis and adjuvant treatment. The aim of this study is to find out women’s views on the period of the clinical follow up after breast cancer diagnosis. Method: This was a surveillance study in Greenock and Glasgow in the UK (Between September 2009 and December 2010). The study group comprised of 446 Women, 246 with the history of breast cancer diagnosed 1 - 10 years, (median 4.2 years) were asked to complete a questionnaire about their views of preferred duration of follow up while they were waiting for the annual review at a breast clinic, the same questionnaire was completed by 200 women with no history of breast cancer. Results: Between September 2009 and December 2010, 246 patients were included in the study. 40% of patients were within the first three years of follow up, 27% between the 4th and 6th year and 33% were in follow-up for more than 6 years. 63% of cancer survivors think that, 10 years of follow up is necessary for reassurance, detection and treatment of any new, recurrent or spread of their breast cancer. 14% and 22% of women with a history of breast cancer preferred 3 and 5 years review by trained Radiologist/GP respectively. Women without a history of breast cancer were different in their thoughts about follow up after breast cancer: 10%, 25%, and 30% chosen 10, 5 and 3 years, 35% preferred don’t know the answer. Conclusion: Follow up programs for breast cancer survivors need to be organized, evidence based, flexible and patient tailored. Patients’ views should be taken into account when considering provision of follow-up care for breast cancer patients.展开更多
文摘Objectives: To evaluate the impact of adult learning and simulation-based learning (SBL) on surgical trainees’ learning experiences and Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) Section 2 General Surgery examination pass rate. Methods: This was a cross-sequential study involving 148 surgical candidates (72 UK trainees, 75 non-UK trainees) who had attended our revision course (Phoenix FRCS Course) from June 2017 until 2023. Each course comprised a two-day weekend preparation with dedicated sections for clinical, viva, and academic reading, incorporating SBL as its key learning style. We maintained a prospective database of candidate and course details, examination results, and feedback since the course inception. Results: We found that 97% of candidates passed the FRCS examination after their first attempt. The course was attended once by 89% of candidates, and only 3 of the 148 candidates exhausted all four attempts at the examination. Candidate feedback for the course and its style of learning was positive, with simulation-based table viva sessions and virtual clinical sessions proving the most popular learning sessions (95% and 80% of candidates attending courses run in December 2017, April 2018, and May 2021 rated them “Excellent” respectively). Conclusions: The course is centered around shared adult learning and mindfulness tools to encourage candidates to learn from each other and develop confidence and mastery in all domains of surgical practice. These methods have been shown to be effective in achieving high success rates in the Intercollegiate and International FRCS examinations for UK and overseas surgeons.
文摘Background: Breast cancer is one of the commonest cancers in women in the UK and western countries [1]. Follow ups after breast cancer diagnosis is usual practice, but there is no agreed consensus among breast care providers on frequency or duration of follow up after diagnosis and adjuvant treatment. The aim of this study is to find out women’s views on the period of the clinical follow up after breast cancer diagnosis. Method: This was a surveillance study in Greenock and Glasgow in the UK (Between September 2009 and December 2010). The study group comprised of 446 Women, 246 with the history of breast cancer diagnosed 1 - 10 years, (median 4.2 years) were asked to complete a questionnaire about their views of preferred duration of follow up while they were waiting for the annual review at a breast clinic, the same questionnaire was completed by 200 women with no history of breast cancer. Results: Between September 2009 and December 2010, 246 patients were included in the study. 40% of patients were within the first three years of follow up, 27% between the 4th and 6th year and 33% were in follow-up for more than 6 years. 63% of cancer survivors think that, 10 years of follow up is necessary for reassurance, detection and treatment of any new, recurrent or spread of their breast cancer. 14% and 22% of women with a history of breast cancer preferred 3 and 5 years review by trained Radiologist/GP respectively. Women without a history of breast cancer were different in their thoughts about follow up after breast cancer: 10%, 25%, and 30% chosen 10, 5 and 3 years, 35% preferred don’t know the answer. Conclusion: Follow up programs for breast cancer survivors need to be organized, evidence based, flexible and patient tailored. Patients’ views should be taken into account when considering provision of follow-up care for breast cancer patients.
