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Author: Brian S McGowan, PhD

ABSTRACT: Automatic keyphrase annotation of scientific documents using Wikipedia and genetic algorithms

Abstract

Topical annotation of documents with keyphrases is a proven method for revealing the subject of scientific and research documents to both human readers and information retrieval systems. This article describes a machine learning-based keyphrase annotation method for scientific documents that utilizes Wikipedia as a thesaurus for candidate selection from documents’ content. We have devised a set of 20 statistical, positional and semantical features for candidate phrases to capture and reflect various properties of those candidates that have the highest keyphraseness probability. We first introduce a simple unsupervised method for ranking and filtering the most probable keyphrases, and then evolve it into a novel supervised method using genetic algorithms. We have evaluated the performance of both methods on a third-party dataset of research papers. Reported experimental results show that the performance of our proposed methods, measured in terms of consistency with human annotators, is on a par with that achieved by humans and outperforms rival supervised and unsupervised methods.

via Automatic keyphrase annotation of scientific documents using Wikipedia and genetic algorithms.

MANUSCRIPT: Exploring the use of social media to measure journal article impact.

Abstract
Science blogs, Twitter commentary, and comments on journal websites represent an immediate response to journal articles, and may help in identifying relevant publications. However, the use of these media for establishing paper impact is not well studied. Using Wikipedia as a proxy for other social media, we explore the correlation between inclusion of a journal article in Wikipedia, and article impact as measured by citation count. We start by cataloging features of PubMed articles cited in Wikipedia. We find that Wikipedia pages referencing the most journal articles are about disorders and diseases, while the most referenced articles in Wikipedia are about genomics. We note that journal articles in Wikipedia have significantly higher citation counts than an equivalent random article subset. We also observe that articles are included in Wikipedia soon after publication. Our data suggest that social media may represent a largely untapped post-publication review resource for assessing paper impact.

via Exploring the use of social media to mea… [AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2011] – PubMed – NCBI.

ABSTRACT: Incorporating iPads into a preclinical curriculum: A pilot study.

Abstract
Background: The incorporation of technology into medical education is critical for learners. Little is known about the effect of integrating iPad technology into undergraduate medical education. Aims: We introduced iPads into the first-year curriculum in 2011-2012. We aimed to evaluate students’ use of, and attitudes toward, the iPad. Methods: We administered two surveys to students during the 2011-2012 academic year. Additionally, we conducted focus groups to further evaluate the effectiveness of iPad integration into the curriculum. Results: Survey data reflect mixed attitudes toward the use of the iPad in the preclinical curriculum. While a vast majority of students agree “the iPad has value in the medical curriculum” (79% in the first survey; 65% in the second survey), there was a decrease over time in the view that “the iPad is a positive addition to the curriculum” (75% in the first survey; 49% in the second survey). Focus group data indicate students appreciate certain aspects of iPad use in the curriculum, including improved curriculum interactivity, but the majority believe it cannot replace printed handouts at this time. Discussion: The iPad provides some benefits in undergraduate medical education. More studies are necessary to determine how the iPad is best incorporated into medical education.

via Incorporating iPads into a preclinical curriculum:… [Med Teach. 2013] – PubMed – NCBI.

ABSTRACT: The Ethics of Conducting Graduate Medical Education Research on Residents.

Abstract
The field of graduate medical education (GME) research is attracting increased attention and broader participation. The authors review the special ethical and methodological considerations pertaining to medical education research. Because residents are at once a convenient and captive study population, a risk of coercion exists, making the provision of consent important. The role of the institutional review board (IRB) is often difficult to discern because GME activities can have multiple simultaneous purposes, educational activities may go forward with or without a research component, and the subjects of educational research studies are not patients. The authors provide a road map for researchers with regard to research oversight by the IRB and also address issues related to research quality. The matters of whether educational research studies should have educational value for the study subject and whether to use individual information obtained when residents participate as research subjects are explored.

via The Ethics of Conducting Graduate Medical Education… [Acad Med. 2013] – PubMed – NCBI.

ABSTRACT: Welcome to Cultural Competency: Surgery’s Efforts to Acknowledge Diversity in Residency Training.

Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Although cultural competency is not a new concept in healthcare, it has only recently been formally embraced as important in the field of surgery. All physicians, including and especially surgeons, must acknowledge the potential influence of culture in order to provide effective and equitable care for patients of all backgrounds. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) recognizes cultural competency as a component of “patient care,” “professionalism,” and “interpersonal and communication skills.”
METHODS:
A systematic literature search was conducted using the MEDLINE, EBSCOhost, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. All publications focusing on surgical residents and the assessment of patient care, professionalism, interpersonal and communication skills, or specifically cultural competency and/or were considered. This initial search resulted in 12 articles. To further refine the review, publications discussing curricula in residencies other than surgery, the assessment of technical, or clinical skills and/or without any explicit focus on cultural competency were excluded.
RESULTS:
Based on the specified inclusion and exclusion criteria, 5 articles were selected. These studies utilized various methods to improve surgical residents’ cultural competency, including lectures, Objective Structural Clinical Examinations (OSCE), and written exercises and evaluations.
CONCLUSIONS:
A number of surgical residency programs have made promising strides in training culturally competent surgeons. Ultimately, in order to maximize our collective efforts to improve the quality of health care, the development of cultural competency curricula must be made a priority and such training should be a requirement for all trainees in surgical residency programs.

via Welcome to Cultural Competency: Surgery’s Effort… [J Surg Educ. 2013] – PubMed – NCBI.

ABSTRACT: Radiation safety knowledge and practices among urology residents and fellows: results of a nationwide survey.

Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
Reliance upon fluoroscopy within urology is increasing, with urologists key in determining radiation exposure to patients, themselves, and other healthcare personnel. However, education in occupational radiation safety is nonstandardized, often lacking. Consequently, residents and practicing urologists risk overexposure. We assessed occupational radiation safety attitudes and practices of training urologists.
METHODS:
A confidential, anonymous, internet-based survey on workplace radiation safety practices was distributed to residents and fellows via program directors identified from the American College of Graduate Medical Education and the American Osteopathic Association. Items explored included sources of education on occupational radiation exposure, knowledge of occupational dose limits, exposure frequency, and protective item utilization. Investigators were blinded to responses.
RESULTS:
Overall, 165 trainees responded, almost all of whom reported at least weekly workplace radiation exposure. Compliance with body and thyroid shields was high at 99% and 73%, respectively. Almost no one used lead-lined glasses and gloves; three-quarters cited lack of availability. The principle of keeping radiation doses As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) was widely practiced (88%). However, 70% of respondents never used dosimeters, while 56% never had one issued. Only 53% felt adequately trained in radiation safety; this number was 30% among those pregnant during training. Fewer than half (46%) correctly identified the maximum acceptable annual physician exposure. Departmental education in radiation safety improved knowledge, protective practices, monitoring, and satisfaction with education in radiation exposure.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings show that protective equipment usage and occupational radiation monitoring for the training urologist are insufficient. Despite frequent exposure, resident education in radiation safety was found lacking. Efforts should be made to address these deficiencies on a local and national level.

via Radiation safety knowledge and practices among u… [J Surg Educ. 2013] – PubMed – NCBI.

MANUSCRIPT: Short- and long-term transfer of urethral catheterization skills from simulation training to performance on patients

Background
Inexperienced interns are responsible for most iatrogenic complications after urethral catheterization (UC). Although training on simulators is common, little is known about the transfer of learned skills to real clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of UC simulated skills training on performance on real patients and to examine whether watching a video of the procedure immediately before assessment enhanced clinical performance.

Methods
This was an experimental study of the effect of a UC simulation-based skills course on medical students’ short-term (after one week) and long-term (after six weeks) performance. The additional effect of video instruction before performance testing on real patients was studied in a randomized trial. Sixty-four students participated in the study, which was preceded by a pilot study investigating the validity aspects of a UC assessment form.

Results
The pilot study demonstrated sufficient inter-rater reliability, intra-class correlation coefficient 0.86, and a significant ability to discriminate between trainee performances when using the assessment form, p= 0.001. In the main study, more than 90% of students demonstrated an acceptable performance or better when tested on real patients. There was no significant difference in the total score between the one-week and the six-week groups when tested on real patients and no significant difference between the video and the control groups.

Conclusions
Medical students demonstrated good transfer of UC skills learned in the skills lab to real clinical situations up to six weeks after training. Simulated UC training should be the standard for all medical school curricula to reduce avoidable complications. However, this study did not demonstrate that an instructional video, as a supplement to simulated skills training, improved clinical UC performance.

via BMC Medical Education | Abstract | Short- and long-term transfer of urethral catheterization skills from simulation training to performance on patients.

MANUSCRIPT: Computer game-based and traditional learning method: a comparison regarding students’ knowledge retention

Results
Students that received the game-based method performed better in the pos-test assessment only when considering the Anatomy questions section. Students that received the traditional lecture performed better in both post-test and long-term post-test when considering the Anatomy and Physiology questions.
Conclusions
The game-based learning method is comparable to the traditional learning method in general and in short-term gains, while the traditional lecture still seems to be more effective to improve students’ short and long-term knowledge retention.

 

http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1472-6920-13-30.pdf

RESOURCE: Professors Say Technology Helps in Logistics, Not Learning

…the report suggests, technology is more often used by professors for managerial reasons, such as to help with the demands of growing class sizes. While Mr. Johnson said most college administrators are not yet requiring professors to use instructional technologies, the pressure of teaching more than 300 students at once, for example, leads faculty members to adopt technology in ways unrelated to improving learning.

“You’re being told that you have to shoulder a larger and larger share of the burden, and here’s some technology that will help you do it,” said one anthropologist quoted in the report.

Mr. Johnson said the findings show a gap between how universities market their use of technology—often framing technology as more sophisticated than prior approaches to instruction—and how the faculty actually uses it. He called this a “ceremonial myth.”

via Professors Say Technology Helps in Logistics, Not Learning – Wired Campus – The Chronicle of Higher Education.

RESOURCE: ‘Social reading’ the next phase of e-book revolution

According to Bob Stein, a digital pioneer, the future of books is “social reading.”

Digital booksellers, like Amazon and Indigo, have harnessed social media from the start. They and other sellers encourage their customers to comment on books in company-controlled chat spaces.

But these digital walled gardens are way too limited for Stein, who heads up the Institute for the Future of the Book and was the founder of the Criterion Collection, the celebrated video-distribution company where he dreamed up the idea of adding commentary tracks to movies on DVD.

Based in New York, Stein is working on a new application called Socialbook, which is like those Amazon and Indigo chatrooms — on steroids.

via ‘Social reading’ the next phase of e-book revolution – Canada – CBC News.