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C Bulstrode

Publications and source records attributed to C Bulstrode.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Retraining: can do, will do? A practical guide to process and pitfalls.

This article reports the lessons learnt from a period of retraining and from discussion with others who have been involved in a similar process. The conclusions are that retraining should only be undertaken once there is full agreement between all parties involved that it is necessary and feasible. There must also be agreement in advance of the criteria which will constitute successful retraining, and the actions which will be taken to ensure the rapid return of the retrainee to the type of practice which is being offered and has been accepted. The process of retraining requires especially close supervision and is very stressful for the retrainee. It is likely that this should only be undertaken in units specially staffed and funded to accommodate this type of work.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2004

Assessment at the end of training--a necessity nuisance.

If the public are to be assured that surgeons are safe, then there must be some form of competence assessment on which a licence to practice is based. However, the assessment and the licence needs to be both appropriate to the training received by the surgeon and to the requirements of the post they propose to take up. The 'key-concept' described in this paper attempts to address this problem.

Accreditation↗
PubMed2003

Selecting the best from the rest.

The current method for selecting surgeons of the future is neither objective nor relevant to present day needs. An assessment is needed which ranks potential trainees according to aptitude, motivation and diligence, all of which is validated. This task should be a core duty for the Royal Colleges of Surgeons working in close co-operation with surgical specialty associations.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2003

A randomised controlled trial comparing two methods of teaching medical students trauma and orthopaedics: traditional lectures versus the "donut round".

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether a new form of teaching, the 'donut round', is as good at imparting factual knowledge as interactive lectures in both the short-term and the long-term. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: University of Oxford Medical School. PARTICIPANTS: 106 fifth year clinical medical students taught half of their A&E/trauma course by donut round and half by lecture. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The results of multiple choice questions (MCQs) divided according to how the material was taught. Three MCQ papers were set: one at the end of a four-week course, one approximately 10 weeks later and a final exam approximately 17 months after the first. RESULTS: At the first MCQ, the average result for questions taught by donut round was 41.0 (out of 50) and for those taught by conventional lecture was 40.1. At 10 weeks these averages fell to 36.3 and 37.3 and at 17 months they were 38.7 and 38.1, respectively. None of these pairs were significantly different. Ratios were calculated for each candidate by dividing their donut round score by their lecture score. The average ratios for the first, second and third MCQ papers were: 1.029, 1.007 and 1.027, respectively, and were not significantly different. The individual ratios of all candidates in all three MCQs were plotted against their equivalent total mark. The calculated linear regression showed a statistically significant advantage of donut rounds over lectures in those candidates who scored a total mark less than 89 (n=260, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Donut rounds are at least as good as lectures in imparting factual knowledge and may provide a selective advantage to weaker students.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2002

Training teachers--changing practice?

A three-day course was designed to improve the skills of those who provide clinical training to medical students. This long-term follow up of past participants shows a sustained improvement to their skills, especially in terms of involving students in their own learning, and giving them positive feedback.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1999

Effects of a drug overdose in a television drama on presentations to hospital for self poisoning: time series and questionnaire study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a serious paracetamol overdose in the medical television drama Casualty altered the incidence and nature of general hospital presentations for deliberate self poisoning. DESIGN: Interrupted time series analysis of presentations for self poisoning at accident and emergency departments during three week periods before and after the broadcast. Questionnaire responses collected from self poisoning patients during the same periods. SETTING: 49 accident and emergency departments and psychiatric services in United Kingdom collected incidence data; 25 services collected questionnaire data. SUBJECTS: 4403 self poisoning patients; questionnaires completed for 1047. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in presentation rates for self poisoning in the three weeks after the broadcast compared with the three weeks before, use of paracetamol and other drugs for self poisoning, and the nature of overdoses in viewers of the broadcast compared with non-viewers. RESULTS: Presentations for self poisoning increased by 17% (95% confidence interval 7% to 28%) in the week after the broadcast and by 9% (0 to 19%) in the second week. Increases in paracetamol overdoses were more marked than increases in non-paracetamol overdoses. Thirty two patients who presented in the week after the broadcast and were interviewed had seen the episode-20% said that it had influenced their decision to take an overdose, and 17% said it had influenced their choice of drug. The use of paracetamol for overdose doubled among viewers of Casualty after the episode (rise of 106%; 28% to 232%). CONCLUSIONS: Broadcast of popular television dramas depicting self poisoning may have a short term influence in terms of increases in hospital presentation for overdose and changes in the choice of drug taken. This raises serious questions about the advisability of the media portraying suicidal behaviour.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed1998

The role of MRI in the diagnosis of occult hip fractures.

Undisplaced fractures of the hip can occasionally be difficult to diagnose on radiographs. We performed MRI scans on 33 patients who had post-traumatic painful hips but negative radiographs. Forty per cent of the patients had sustained a fractured neck of femur, 15 per cent had sustained an intertrochanteric fracture and 11 per cent had sustained other fractures around the hip; in one patient a tumour was demonstrated. No fracture was seen in 30 per cent of the patients scanned. MRI is well tolerated by elderly patients in pain, does not involve ionising radiation and provides early and accurate diagnosis in patients with X-ray negative post-traumatic hip pain.

Accidental Falls↗