Dynamics of an orthopaedic team: Insights to improve teamwork through a design thinking approach

"Sawbones": A pilot study assessing simulation-based orthopedic training for medical students

Intro

Simulation-based training has become a valuable new tool in medical education across the country. The Orthopedic Surgery Interest Group (OSIG) at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine organized a benchtop training workshop known as "Sawbones" to give medical students essential exposure to basic techniques and instruments commonly used in orthopedic surgery. This pilot study seeks to investigate the participating students' perceptions of this workshop as part of a potential longitudinal intervention.

Methods

A total of 30 medical students (MS1-MS4) with a documented interest in orthopedic surgery were randomly selected via email invitation to participate in this workshop. Students first had a lecture-based training session with faculty on an overview of screw fixation. Participants then formed groups that were headed by an orthopedic resident or attending and took turns fixing fractures on model bones made of synthetic material. Following the session, students were sent an anonymous Qualtrics survey to assess their satisfaction with the workshop.

Results

A total of 22 students (73%), responded to the survey. On a ten-point scale, the average reported interest in orthopedics was 9.2 (SD 0.4). All students (n = 22, 100%) reported that they would like more hands-on orthopedic experiences as a component of their medical education. Nineteen students (86.4%) reported that this training increased their interest in pursuing a career in orthopedic surgery and twenty-one (95.5%) further stated that they would recommend this training to other students.

Discussion

Based on the results of this pilot study, Sawbones was promising at engaging students in orthopedics, providing a team environment, and introducing students to orthopedic skills and instrumentation. Providing these sessions in a longitudinal manner could provide opportunities for mentorship and better prepare students for a residency in orthopedics. We recommend a program like Sawbones to better address the lack of Orthopedic exposure in medical school.

Innovation in Orthopedics: Part 1-Design Thinking

Purpose of Review

This narrative will focus on the adoption of design thinking to improve patient-centered care innovation in Orthopedics.

Recent Findings

The literature reveals a complete set of applications of the design thinking approach in the different stages of the patient experience throughout the health context; however, the papers identified focus on specific parts of the process, and there is no systemic analysis about the different aspects involved in each stage of the complete experience. This review presents a holistic analysis concerning the application of design thinking to the distinct phases of innovation development in orthopedics, from the identification of the specific initial challenges up to the introduction of technology-based artifacts, such as innovations in the musculoskeletal health market.

Summary

Systematic description of design thinking application to orthopedics, including concepts, methods, tools, and implementation examples in the most relevant phases of the patient experience—clinical treatment, perioperative care, and rehabilitation.

Support for families at home during childhood cancer treatment: a pilot study with Mr.V the Spaceman, a family-based activities tool

Purpose

It is important to support families in dealing with the distress that comes along with the diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer. Therefore, we developed a playful tool that families can use at home to support their family functioning and safeguard their normal family life. We pilot tested this new tool called Mr.V and describe how families used and evaluated the tool, and how it could be further improved.

Methods

Mr.V is an interactive dispenser that looks like a spaceman and proposes family activities. These activities are suggested by family members themselves and dispensed by the machine at unexpected moments. Mr.V produced data on how it was used, and a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview were used to evaluate the experiences of families and the potential of this tool.

Results

Ten families with a child with cancer between 5 and 9 years old (M_age = 6.7 years) who were in active treatment (mixed diagnoses) participated (n = 47; n_patients = 10, n_siblings = 9, n_parents = 16). All families used Mr.V for multiple days and were very satisfied with the tool regarding its acceptability, feasibility, and potential effectiveness. They also had suggestions on how the tool could be further improved.

Conclusion

Mr.V is an acceptable and feasible tool that can be implemented by families independently at home, regardless of their level of need for support. Mr.V promoted family activities and therefore has the potential to support family functioning and normal family life at home. Future research should further investigate the effectiveness of this tool.

Innovating health care: key characteristics of human-centered design

Human-centered design is about understanding human needs and how design can respond to these needs. With its systemic humane approach and creativity, human-centered design can play an essential role in dealing with today's care challenges. 'Design' refers to both the process of designing and the outcome of that process, which includes physical products, services, procedures, strategies and policies. In this article, we address the three key characteristics of human-centered design, focusing on its implementation in health care: (1) developing an understanding of people and their needs; (2) engaging stakeholders from early on and throughout the design process; (3) adopting a systems approach by systematically addressing interactions between the micro-, meso- and macro-levels of sociotechnical care systems, and the transition from individual interests to collective interests.

Fatores sociodemográficos e diagnósticos de enfermagem em pacientes submetidos às cirurgias ortopédicas

RESUMO Objetivo Identificar os diagnósticos de enfermagem mais frequentes e verificar suas associações com fatores sociodemográficos em pacientes submetidos às cirurgias ortopédicas. Método Estudo observacional, analítico e transversal, desenvolvido na unidade de ortopedia de um hospital escola. Para coleta de dados utilizou-se instrumentos estruturados, anamnese e exame físico. Os dados foram analisados pelo programa Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Resultados Dos 201 pacientes avaliados, 68,2% eram homens. Os diagnósticos de enfermagem mais frequentes foram: risco de infecção (100%), integridade da pele prejudicada (100%), integridade tissular prejudicada (97,5%), déficit no autocuidado para banho (90,5%), dor aguda (80,6%), risco de quedas (76,6%) e ansiedade (70%). Constatou-se associações entre a dor aguda e participação na renda familiar e entre o déficit no autocuidado para banho e estado civil. Conclusão e implicações para a prática A análise do perfil sociodemográfico de uma população favorece o planejamento de uma assistência segura e a tomada de decisões pautada em evidências científicas. Minimizar possíveis complicações, promover a apropriação de diagnósticos de enfermagem, bem como melhorar a qualidade da assistência, reduzir custos operacionais para as instituições de saúde e promover a segurança do paciente.