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In clinical clerkship (CC), medical students can practice evidence-based medicine (EBM) with their assigned patients. Although CC can be a valuable opportunity for EBM education, the impact of EBM training, including long-term behavioral changes, remains unclear. One hundred and nine fourth- and fifth-year medical students undergoing CC at a medical school in Japan attended a workplace-based learning program for EBM during CC (WB-EBM), which included the practice of the five steps of EBM. The program's effect on the students' attitudes toward EBM in CC was assessed through questionnaires. A total of 88 medical students participated in the program. Responses to the questionnaire indicated high satisfaction with the WB-EBM program. The most common theme in students' clinical problems with their assigned patients was the choice of treatment, followed by its effect. Based on the responses in the post-survey for the long-term effects of the program, the frequency of problem formulation and article reading tended to increase in the 'within six months' group comprising 18 students who participated in the WB-EBM program, compared with the control group comprising 34 students who did not. Additionally, the ability to self-assess problem formulation was significantly higher, compared with the control group. However, among 52 students who participated in the WB-EBM program more than six months later, EBM-related behavioral habits in CC and self-assessments of the five steps of EBM were not significantly different from those in the control group. The WB-EBM program was acceptable for medical students in CC. It motivated them to formulate clinical questions and enhanced their critical thinking. Moreover, the WB-EBM program can improve habits and self-evaluations about EBM. However, as its effects may not last more than six months, it may need to be repeated across departments throughout CC to change behavior in EBM practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The usefulness of lung ultrasound (LUS) has been demonstrated. However, it is unclear whether diagnostic techniques using LUS are accepted by all physicians. A simple simulation-based educational program may improve the LUS skills of beginners, but it has not been fully assessed. Objective: This prospective study was conducted to assess the educational outcomes of LUS training using a high-fidelity simulator. Methods: A simulator-based program for LUS was conducted. All clerkship students at the Department of Respirology at Chiba University Hospital participated in the program from December 2022 to April 2023. The participants watched a 30 minute teaching video on demand before a hands-on session lasting for 1 hour during the first week of the clinical clerkship. The readiness of the participants to learn LUS and the usefulness of the program were assessed using questionnaires administered before and after the program. The LUS skills were assessed using simulator-based tests during Weeks 1 and 4. Data on the accuracy and time required to answer the questions were collected during the tests. Results: Forty clerkship students participated in this study. Thirty-three (82.5%) had received other ultrasound education; however, only two (5.0%) had experience with LUS. Based on the questionnaire responses, the participants perceived LUS as useful (preprogram: 4.6 vs. postprogram: 4.8; P = 0.010; a 5-point Likert scale was used [1: not useful to 5: useful]). The simulator-based tests showed comparable accuracies at Weeks 1 and 4 for pneumothorax (Week 1: 47.5% vs. Week 4: 52.5%; P = 0.623), pulmonary edema (Week 1: 100% vs. Week 4: 100%; P = 1.000), and pleural effusion (Week 1: 37.5% vs. Week 4: 40.0%; P = 0.800). The time required for scanning was the same for each question. In addition, the test results did not differ with prior learning, previous knowledge, or experience during clinical clerkships on LUS. Conclusion: A short educational program consisting of on-demand learning and hands-on sessions with a high-fidelity simulator would be effective in equipping clerkship students with basic LUS skills. However, to increase its educational effectiveness to a practical degree, the program should be improved, and more opportunities for training using simulators should be provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: The possibility of combination therapy with atomoxetine (ATO) and oxybutynin (OXY) has been suggested for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). However, the effectiveness of this treatment remains uninvestigated in Japanese OSA patients. Therefore, we performed a randomized, crossover, phase II, single‐centre prospective trial to examine the effects of ATO–OXY therapy in Japanese OSA patients. Methods: In total, 17 OSA patients participated in this study. The effects of one night of 80‐mg ATO plus 5‐mg OXY administration were compared with those of no medication administered before sleep. The primary and secondary outcomes comprised the apnoea–hypopnoea index (AHI) and nadir SpO2, SpO2 drop time and sleep architecture, respectively. The safety endpoints included drug side effects and adverse events. Results: The values of AHI, nadir SpO2, 3% oxygen desaturation index (ODI), 4% ODI, and SpO2 drop time of <90% did not significantly differ between patients receiving ATO–OXY administration and no medication. Sleep architecture exhibited a significant change: ATO–OXY increased sleep stage N1 (p < 0.0001) and decreased stage N2 (p = 0.03), rapid eye movement (p < 0.0001) and sleep efficiency (p = 0.02). However, the subanalysis demonstrated an obvious decrease in AHI in five responder patients. Total sleep time and basal sleep efficiency tended to be lower in the responders compared with nonresponders (p = 0.065). No patients experienced severe adverse events or side effects. Conclusion: Overall, ATO–OXY therapy does not reduce AHI in Japanese OSA patients, although AHI was decreased in a proportion of patients. Future studies for identifying treatment response group characteristics are warranted. This study is a prospective clinical trial of atomoxetine and oxybutynin combination therapy in Japanese patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Unlike previous reports, no significant improvement in OSA severity was observed, although a significant change in sleep architecture was detected, suggesting a different reactivity in Japanese OSA patients. See relatedEditorial [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: auscultation; electronic stethoscope; medical education; respiratory medicine; wireless technology EN auscultation electronic stethoscope medical education respiratory medicine wireless technology 969 971 3 09/20/23 20231001 NES 231001 DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Twenty-six participants used a wireless electronic stethoscope (wireless electronic group: EG), and the other 23 used conventional stethoscopes (conventional group: CG) (Figure 1). [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Tube thoracostomy (TT) complications are common in respiratory medicine. However, the prevalence of complications and risk factors is unknown, and data on countermeasures are lacking., Methods: This was a mixed-methods retrospective observational and qualitative study. This retrospective observational study included TT performed on patients admitted to the Department of Respiratory Medicine at our University Hospital between January 1, 2019, and August 31, 2022 (n=169). The primary endpoint was the incidence of TT-related complications. We reviewed the association between complications and patient- and medical-related factors as secondary endpoints. In this qualitative study, we theorized the background of physicians' susceptibility to TT-related complications based on the grounded theory approach., Results:  Complications were observed in 20 (11.8%) of the 169 procedures; however, they were unrelated to 30-day mortality. Poor activities of daily living (odds ratio 4.3, p=0.007) and regular administration of oral steroids (odds ratio 3.1, p=0.025) were identified as patient-related risk factors. Physicians undergoing training caused the most complications, and the absence of a senior physician at the procedure site (odds ratio 3.5, p=0.031) was identified as a medical risk factor. Based on this qualitative study, we developed a new model for TT complication rates consistent with the relationship between physicians' professional skills, professional identity, and work environments., Conclusions: Complications associated with TT are common. Therefore, it is necessary to implement measures similar to those identified in this study. Particularly, a supportive environment should be established for the training of physicians., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Takeda et al.)