Search Results
Background:
The fourth year of podiatric medical school is an important period in the education of the podiatric medical student, a period that consists largely of month-long clerkships. Nonetheless, there has been limited formal study of the quality of learning experiences during this period. Furthermore, there is limited knowledge of how podiatric medical students evaluate residency programs during clerkships.
Methods:
An online survey was developed and distributed electronically to fourth-year podiatric medical school students. The focus of the survey was the quality of learning experiences during externships, and decision making in ranking residency programs.
Results:
The most valuable learning experiences during clerkships were interactions with attending physicians, interactions with residents, and general feedback in surgery. Students self-identified that they most improved in the following areas during clerkships: forefoot surgery, clinical podiatry skills, and rearfoot surgery. The areas in which students improved the least were research, pediatrics, and practice management. The three most important factors students considered as they created their rank list were hands-on resident participation in surgical training, the attitude and personality of the residents, and the attitude and personality of the attending physicians. A range of surgical interest was identified among students, and students lacking in surgical interest self-reported less improvement in various surgical topics.
Conclusions:
The perspectives of fourth-year podiatric medical students are currently an underused resource. Improved understanding can help residency programs improve the quality of associated learning experiences and can make their programs more appealing to potential residency candidates.
Background: Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery (CPMS) is implementing a cultural competency program for third-year podiatric medical students. This study assessed the effectiveness of the new educational program on cultural competency at CPMS by comparing pretest and posttest scores of students from the CPMS graduating classes of 2013 and 2014.
Methods: Students from the class of 2013 completed a 10-week online course on cultural competency, and the class of 2014 students did not. A pretest and posttest survey was used to assess cultural competency. The questions were categorized to assess either knowledge acquisition or attitudinal change. The 2013 students completed the pretest before the course and a posttest after completing the course. Without taking the course, 2014 students completed the same pretest and posttest separated by 10 weeks. A repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to compare the knowledge acquisition scores and attitudinal change scores.
Results: The repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed a significant interaction effect of taking the attitudinal change course (F(1,77) = 15.2; P < .001). The course did not show a significant interaction on knowledge acquisition (F(1,77) = 0.72; P > .05).
Conclusions: The analysis showed a statistically significant improvement in attitudinal change scores. The study suggests that there needs to be a greater knowledge acquisition component to the cultural competency course at CPMS.
Human and mechanical simulations are used to teach and assess clinical competencies in medical education. In 2014, the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners implemented the Clinical Skills Patient Encounter, an examination using standardized patients. Similar clinical skills examinations already existed as part of medical and osteopathic licensure examinations. The purpose of this study was to assess the use of simulation-based education in the nine colleges of podiatric medicine in the United States to inform podiatric clinical faculty and other stakeholders about current trends within the podiatric education system. In 2019, the Clinical Skills Patient Encounter committee of the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners developed a survey and contacted each podiatric school to voluntarily participate. The mailed survey instrument gathered information on patient simulation modalities, years used, clinical content application, simulation program administration, facilities and equipment available, and the role of simulation educators. All nine schools participated anonymously. The survey showed that simulation modalities were used in all of the schools during the first 3 years, although there was considerable variance in their use.
The authors present a concise review of age-related changes that occur in the skin and its derivatives, as they pertain to the podiatric practitioner. A brief discussion of wound healing and several common skin disorders that affect the elderly is also included.
Although tetanus is a preventable disease, several cases are reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention each year. Many conditions treated by podiatric physicians carry the risk of infection by Clostridium tetani, and it is advisable for podiatrists to update a patient's tetanus immunization status if the patient presents with a tetanus-prone wound.
Background: Debridement of toenails is a common procedure that leads to the production of nail dust aerosols in the work environment. Previous studies indicate that inhaled nail dust can cause respiratory distress and eye irritation. This comprehensive review aimed to assess the available literature on the effect of nail dust exposure and to evaluate nail dust as a potential occupational hazard for podiatric physicians.
Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted via PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Risks of bias of the collected studies were evaluated using various assessment tools to match the type of study design. A qualitative analysis of the included studies was performed, from which primary and secondary outcome measures were extracted: prevalence of symptoms and specific microorganisms in nail dust.
Results: Of 403 articles screened, eight met the inclusion criteria. The primary outcome measure resulted in a pooled prevalence of eye-related symptoms being the most consistent symptom reported (41%–48%). The secondary outcome measure resulted in a pooled prevalence of Trichophyton rubrum (9.52%–38%) and Aspergillus (11.11%–35.48%) as the most common microorganisms present in nail dust.
Conclusions: From the included eight articles, we found that nail dust is a potential occupational hazard, especially for those exposed more often. Aspergillus and T rubrum are most commonly associated with nail dust leading to development of respiratory illness. It is important to take preventive measures in podiatric medical clinics by using improved and efficient personal protective equipment for workers exposed to nail dust. Detailed health safety guidelines can be developed to decrease respiratory symptoms and diseases from nail dust exposure.
Heparin is an anticoagulant commonly used to treat and prevent deep venous thrombosis. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and possible thrombosis are serious complications associated with its use. This can occasionally complicate treatment of patients undergoing podiatric surgery. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is often not immediately recognized and is underreported in podiatric medicine literature. The goal of this case report is to highlight the multiple risk factors associated with the development of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and to aid with early recognition, understanding of pathogenesis, and treatment options. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 103(1): 67–72, 2013)
Foot and nail care specialists spend a great portion of their day using nail drills to reduce nail thickness and smooth foot callouses. This process generates a large amount of dust, some of which is small enough to breathe in and deposit into the deepest regions of the respiratory tract, potentially causing health problems. Foot and nail dust often contain fungi, from both fungally-infected and healthy-looking nails. While the majority of healthy individuals can tolerate inhaled fungi, the immune systems of older, immunocompromised, and allergy-prone individuals often react using the inflammatory TH2 pathway, leading to mucus overproduction, bronchoconstriction, and, in severe cases, lung tissue damage. To protect vulnerable podiatry professionals, wearing a surgical mask, using a water spray suppression system on nail drills, installing air filtration systems, and considering drilling technique can help reduce the exposure to nail dust.
Background:
This study examined the success of an admission screen in identifying applicants who will fail Part I or Part II of the Podiatric Boards on the first attempt.
Methods:
A logistic regression model was used to predict failure on the Podiatric Boards.
Results:
The biology Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score predicted failure on Part I and Part II. Adding undergraduate grade point average and the other MCAT subscores did not significantly improve the prediction. Although a screen based on the biology MCAT score can identify nearly 90% of those who fail, there are six false-positives for every true-positive.
Conclusions:
First-time Board failure can be predicted, but Board failure must be primarily addressed by interventions after matriculation rather than by an admission screen. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 102(6): 485–490, 2012)
