Family Medicine Residency Site: Abbotsford-Mission

As residents begin a new year in their training and education, please see below a few tips and tricks for reinforcing memory retention:

+ Research indicates that content built around a narrative may contribute to both learning and retention. Read more on “See What Makes Storytelling So Effective For Learning?” via Harvard Business.

+ A few years ago I posted an article on “spaced repetition” or “microlearning” and how we are wired to quickly forget. Read more on “The New Way Doctors Learn: A simple technique dramatically improved the memory recall of Harvard Medical School students” via Time.

+ For visual learners, check out this 5-minute video on spaced repetition via Osmosis.

+ Sleep is critical for memory retention and learning. Learn more on how “Sleep enhances reconsolidation-based strengthening of visuospatial memories” via Nature.

+ The techniques you use to deliver your content and engage your audience are key. Active, inclusive participatory exercises have been found to build on learning and retention. Visit our Academic Half Day Preparation In-Class & Online for a few ideas.

Let me know in the comment section below if you have any additional tips and tricks you use to help with learning and retaining new content.

Best,

Jacqueline

Bell palsy accounts for 80% of cases of unilateral lower motor neuron facial paralysis

It has an annual incidence of 20–30 cases per 100 000 population and can occur at any age; median age at onset is 40 years. The cause is unknown, although the herpes simplex viral genome is detected in the facial nerve endoneurial fluid in 79% of cases. Patients with Bell palsy should receive corticosteroids within 48 hours of symptom onset, regardless of severity

Treatment with a total of 450–500 mg prednisone over 10 days has a number needed to treat of 8 to achieve a House–Brackman score of grade 2 or less after 4 months for patients with severe or complete paralysis. Antiviral medications can be considered in severe cases. Eye protection (sunglasses, eye patch, lubricating tears or ointments) should be used routinely to prevent corneal abrasions, ulceration and keratitis. Other options for persistent symptoms include facial physiotherapy for weakness, botulinum toxin injections for facial asymmetry and surgery to facilitate eyelid closure.

More on the treatment of Bell’s Palsy via CMAJ.

Congratulations to our Abbotsford-Mission graduating residents and faculty!

LLOYD JONES COLLINS AWARD
This award is funded by the Lloyd Jones Collins Foundation for outstanding Scholarship Project as chosen by Family Practice scholarship committee. The Lloyd Jones Collins Foundation, under the directorship of Dr. Goertzen and four associates, granted its first annual Resident Research Awards in 1999 and continues to generously support family medicine residency research and faculty development.

Recipients: Dr. Richard Low & Dr. Clare Chiu
Site: Abbotsford Mission
Research Project: Procedural skills of newly graduated Family Physicians

COMMUNITY GERIATRICS SCHOLAR PRIZE
This award is offered by the Department of Family Practice Community Geriatrics to second year residents who demonstrate excellence in scholarly projects related to care of the elderly. The award is to support research and scholarship that contributes to geriatrics within the discipline of family practice.

Recipients: Dr. Casey Hicks, Dr. Diane Bosc, Dr. Jas Hans, Dr. Michal Jurkowski, & Dr. Michelle Ou
Site: Abbotsford-Mission
Research Project: Storytelling in Medicine: the process of creative writing, sharing stories and reflective practice

BCCFP BEST PRESENTATION AWARDS
This award is offered by BC College of Family Physicians to each training site to best resident presenters of their scholar project at local Scholarship Days.

Recipients: Dr. Casey Hicks, Dr. Diane Bosc, Dr. Jas Hans, Dr. Michal Jurkowski, & Dr. Michelle Ou
Site: Abbotsford-Mission
Research Project: Storytelling in Medicine: the process of creative writing, sharing stories and reflective practice

Congratulations to Dr. Casey Hicks for being nominated for the Morton Dodek Award in Family Medicine and Dr. Thanh Luu for being nominated for the Peter Grantham Award for Teaching Excellence!

“‘It’s not just sending women’s rights backwards, it’s like sending the whole country backwards in so many ways.’

In Windsor, Ont., Pat Papadeas said the ruling was going to hurt marginalized people and it was taking the U.S. in the wrong direction.

‘I’m saddened, I’m angry and I feel a lot of despair,’ Papadeas told CBC News near the border city’s waterfront, which sits across from neighbouring Detroit.

The news was just as upsetting to Mohini Datta-Ray, the executive director of Planned Parenthood Toronto, even though it had been expected.

‘I cried for 45 minutes,’ Datta-Ray said Friday. ‘Those of us who work at the reproductive justice movement obviously saw it coming down the road … but it is still devastating.’

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the U.S. court ruling ‘horrific,’ tweeting that his heart goes out to the ‘American women who are now set to lose their legal right to an abortion.’

Canadians concerned for Americans who may lack abortion access in wake of top court ruling via CBC News.

“Health Canada authorized Evusheld (tixagevimab and cilgavimab) for the prevention of COVID-19. After a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence, the Department has determined that Evusheld meets Health Canada’s stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements.

The drug is approved for use in adults and children (12 years of age and older, weighing at least 40 kg) who are not currently infected with COVID-19 and have not had recent known contact with someone infected with COVID-19, and:

• who are immune compromised and unlikely to mount an adequate immune response to COVID‐19 vaccination; or,
• for whom COVID-19 vaccination is not recommended.

Patients should talk to their healthcare provider to determine if Evusheld is appropriate for them. Evusheld is not currently authorized to treat COVID-19 infection, nor is it authorized to prevent infection in people who have been exposed to the virus.”

Health Canada authorizes Evusheld for the prevention of COVID-19 in immune compromised adults and children via Health Canada.

Congratulations to our family medicine physicians on their recent graduation. You all received a small pouch of gladiolus bulbs from me. As I promised, here are the instructions for planting and caring for these stunning flowers. Plant them now!

Also did you know…

“Bulb extracts of Gladiolus dalenii reportedly used in the treatment of fungal infections in HIV/AIDS patients in the Lake Victoria region were tested for antifungal activity using the disc diffusion assay technique. Commercially used antifungal drugs, Ketaconazole and Griseofulvin (Cosmos Pharmaceuticals) were used as standards. Dichloromethane (CH₂CL₂)/Methanol (MeOH) in the ratio 1:1. Soluble extracts showed antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger. Direct bioautography on silica gel Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and appropriate spraying agents were used to identify the active component in the extract. The activities of both the extracts were higher than that of Griseofulvin. CH₂CL₂ soluble extract in addition showed ability to delay sporulation in A.niger. The active group of compounds in the extracts was identified as alkaloids, which offer immense potential for development of new and valuable pharmaceutical products.”

Learn more on the “Antifungal Activity of Crude Extracts of Gladiolus Dalenii van Geel (Iridaceae)” via Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med.

Some of the many benefits of teaching as a physician include:

• Learning alongside residents and staying up to date with current medical practices
• Cultivating relationships that can lead to locums and new practice partners
• Feeling the personal satisfaction of helping someone else develop into a competent and confident family doctor and ensuring that the medical profession is in good future hands
• It’s a fun and healthy challenge

There are a number of roles physicians can play in supporting resident learning, including:

• acting as a preceptor to directly supervise and assess resident’s clinical training
• volunteering to assist with periodic training events such as practice SOOs, SAMPs, and OSCEs
• performing site-level faculty roles in particular areas of interest (ie. curriculum, assessment/evaluation, scholarship, behavioural medicine, faculty development)
• taking on program level leadership positions, such as Lead Faculty, Site Director, or Program Director

If you’d like more information about teaching for Family Practice, start by contacting the program­ at residency@familymed.ubc.ca

Already joined us and have some questions? See our FAQs.

Learn more via UBC Department of Family Practice, Postgraduate Program.

“Involvement in positive leisure activities is a key way for young people to develop resilience and social and emotional skills. This paper outlines the evaluation of a six-week surfing intervention, the Wave Project, which aimed to boost wellbeing and confidence among 84 young people aged eight to 18, all of whom faced mental health issues or social exclusion.

The intervention resulted in a significant and sustained increase in wellbeing. One year later, 70% of clients regularly attend a surf club and many have become trained as session volunteers. Parents and referrers noticed an increase in positive attitude and better communication, as well as improved self-management and behaviour at both home and school. It is concluded that the Wave Project provides a demonstrable and cost-effective way to deliver mental health care, mentoring and social integration of young people. Further service evaluation of accessibility and long-term outcomes is also recommended.”

Learn more on The positive impact of structured surfing courses on the wellbeing of vulnerable young people via Community Practitioner.

Join BCCHR and WHRI every month as we dive deeper into a different aspect of conducting digital health research.

The BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR) and the Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI) are collaborating to host a digital health education series.

On Thursday, July 7, between 12:00-1:00 pm, join us for an exciting rapid fire panel discussion.

Objectives:

• Understand the value of academic research from an industry perspective and how to engage with digital health companies for collaborative research partnerships.
• Identify challenges and facilitators for collaborating on digital health research related to funding, product or intervention development, and more.
• Learn about companies in Canada innovating in digital health interested in partnering for digital health research.

To learn more and register, please visit here.

Register at www.whri.org.