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Mai A, Abrantes Diaz S, Stein M, Denz R, Klaaßen-Mielke R, Timmesfeld N, Krause D, Braun J. [Positive experiences of specialist assistants and physicians with respect to the delegation research project StaerkeR : Evaluation of the training and experiences within the framework of this project]. Z Rheumatol 2024; 83:175-185. [PMID: 36484837 PMCID: PMC10973023 DOI: 10.1007/s00393-022-01298-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The delegation of medical services to rheumatology assistants (RFA) has proven to be safe and effective in the evaluation of the research project "StaerkeR". Afterwards, the experiences of the participating RFAs and rheumatologists with delegation were surveyed and discussed within the framework of an opinion research project. METHODS At the end of the project, the participating RFAs and rheumatologists were surveyed via an online questionnaire (quantitative analysis) (21 questions for physicians and 44 questions for RFAs). In addition, focus group meetings were held for the RFAs, which were led by a moderator and a secretary. The results of the focus group sessions (qualitative analyses) were analyzed according to the structured method of Kuckartz. RESULTS All 31 RFAs and 25 rheumatologists involved in the project participated in the online surveys and 9 RFAs took part in the 2 focus groups. In the online surveys, both the RFAs and the rheumatologists gave predominantly good to very good ratings with respect to RFA training, the implementation of delegation in the practices and outpatient clinics, the role of the RFAs and the overall evaluation of the delegation concept. In the focus group discussions, many possible limitations regarding acceptance and implementation of the delegation concept were mentioned. CONCLUSION The delegation of medical tasks to RFAs is a concept that is positively assessed and highly accepted by both sides, the rheumatologists and the RFAs. In a comparison between the individual practices and hospital outpatient departments, there is still a clear heterogeneity with respect to the willingness and logistical possibilities in the implementation of the delegation concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mai
- Abteilung für medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Deutschland.
| | - Sandra Abrantes Diaz
- Abteilung für medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Deutschland
| | - Michelle Stein
- Abteilung für medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Deutschland
| | - Robin Denz
- Abteilung für medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Deutschland
| | - Renate Klaaßen-Mielke
- Abteilung für medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Deutschland
| | - Nina Timmesfeld
- Abteilung für medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Deutschland
| | - Dietmar Krause
- Abteilung für medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Deutschland
| | - Jürgen Braun
- Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Herne, Deutschland
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Alunno A, Avcin T, Haines C, Ramiro S, Sivera F, Badreh S, Baraliakos X, Bijlsma JWJ, Buttgereit F, Chaudhuri K, Da Silva JAP, Dudler J, Ferreira RJO, Gudu T, Hachulla E, Holland-Fischer M, Iagnocco A, Kragstrup TW, Nagy G, Romão VC, Stones SR, van Onna M, Edwards CJ. Points to consider: EULAR-UEMS standards for the training of European rheumatologists. Ann Rheum Dis 2023; 82:1107-1113. [PMID: 37188497 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2023-223941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Postgraduate rheumatology training programmes are already established at a national level in most European countries. However, previous work has highlighted a substantial level of heterogeneity in the organisation and, in part, content of programmes. OBJECTIVE To define competences and standards of knowledge, skills and professional behaviours required for the training of rheumatologists. METHODS A European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) task force (TF) of 23 experts, including two members of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) section of rheumatology, was convened. The mapping phase consisted of the retrieval of key documents on specialty training in rheumatology and other related specialties across a broad set of international sources. The content of these documents was extracted and represented the foundation for the document draft that underwent several rounds of online discussion within the TF, and afterwards was also distributed to a broad group of stakeholders for collecting feedback. The list of generated competences was voted on during the TF meetings, while the level of agreement (LoA) with each statement was established by anonymous online voting. RESULTS A total of 132 international training curricula were retrieved and extracted. In addition to the TF members, 253 stakeholders commented and voted on the competences through an online anonymous survey. The TF developed (1) an overarching framework indicating the areas that should be addressed during training, (2) 7 domains defining broad areas that rheumatology trainees should master by the end of the training programme, (3) 8 core themes defining the nuances of each domain and (4) 28 competences that trainees should acquire to cover each of the areas outlined in the overarching framework. A high LoA was achieved for all competences. CONCLUSION These points to consider for EULAR-UEMS standards for the training of European rheumatologists are now defined. Their dissemination and use can hopefully contribute to harmonising training across European countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Alunno
- Internal Medicine and Nephrology Division, Department of Clinical Medicine Life Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Tadej Avcin
- Unit of Allergy, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Children's Hospital Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Catherine Haines
- Education Committee, EULAR, Zurich, Switzerland
- Clinical Education, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Sofia Ramiro
- Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Rheumatology, Zuyderland Medical Centre Heerlen, Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - Francisca Sivera
- Faculty of Medicine, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, Sant Joan D'Alacant, Spain
- Rheumatology, Hospital General Universitario Elda, Elda, Spain
| | - Sara Badreh
- EULAR Patient Research Partner, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Johannes W J Bijlsma
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Frank Buttgereit
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Charité University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kaushik Chaudhuri
- Rheumatology, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, UK
| | - Jose A P Da Silva
- Reumatologia, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jean Dudler
- Service de Rhumatologie, Médecine Physique et Rééducation, HFR Fribourg, Hôpital Cantonal, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Ricardo J O Ferreira
- Rheumatology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Health Sciences Research Unit, Nursing School of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Tania Gudu
- Rheumatology, Sf Maria Hospital, Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie Carol Davila, Bucuresti, Romania
| | - Eric Hachulla
- Internal Medicine, Univ. Lille & Lille Inflammation Research International Center, Hôpital Claude Huriez, Lille, France
| | | | - Annamaria Iagnocco
- Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Tue Wenzel Kragstrup
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Department of Rheumatology, Aarhus Universitetshospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - György Nagy
- Immunology and Medicine, Semmelweis University Medical School, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Vasco C Romão
- Rheumatology Research Unit, Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon Academic Medical Centre, Lisbon, Portugal
- Rheumatology Department, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Marloes van Onna
- Rheumatology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Christopher J Edwards
- Musculoskeletal Research Unit, NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
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Fernández-Ávila DG, Patino-Hernandez D, Kowalskii S, Vargas-Caselles A, Sapag AM, Cachafeiro-Vilar A, Meléndez B, Santiago-Pastelín C, Graf C, Rossetto C, Palleiro D, Trincado D, Fernández-Ávila DC, Arrieta D, Reyes G, Baez JT, Ugarte-Gil MF, Cardiel M, Colman N, Chávez N, Burgos PI, Montufar R, Sandino S, Fuentes-Silva Y, Soriano ER. Rheumatology Training in Latin America: A Collaborative Study by the Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology. J Clin Rheumatol 2022; 28:e440-e443. [PMID: 34348368 DOI: 10.1097/rhu.0000000000001774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE Demand for rheumatology care has steadily increased in recent years. The number of specialists in this field, however, seems insufficient. No recent studies have diagnosed the attributes of rheumatology training in Latin America. METHODS This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. We obtained data on each country through local rheumatologists of the Pan-American League Against Rheumatism, who acted as principal investigators for participating countries. Our sample was analyzed and described through means and standard deviations or through frequencies and percentages, depending on the variable. RESULTS Countries with the most rheumatology-training programs were Brazil (n = 50), Argentina (n = 18), and Mexico (n = 15). Ecuador, Honduras, and Nicaragua do not have rheumatology-training programs. The countries with the most available slots for rheumatology residents were Brazil (n = 126) and Argentina (n = 36). To be admitted into rheumatology training, candidates were required to have completed graduate studies in internal medicine in 42.1% of the programs. In 8 countries (42.1%), residents are not required to pay tuition; the median cost of tuition in the remaining countries is US $528 (interquartile range, US $2153). CONCLUSIONS Conditions associated with rheumatology training in Latin America vary. Significant differences exist in income and tuition fees for residents, for example, and 4 countries in Latin America do not currently offer programs. Information collected in this study will be useful when comparing the status of rheumatology services offered in Latin America with those in other countries. Most countries require a wider offering of rheumatology-training programs, as well as more available slots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G Fernández-Ávila
- From the Unidad de Reumatología, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio-Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Unidad de Investigación PANLAR
| | - Daniela Patino-Hernandez
- Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio-Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sergio Kowalskii
- Universidade Federal do Paraná, Unidad de Investigación PANLAR, Paraná, Brasil
| | | | | | | | - Belia Meléndez
- Hospital de la Policía Nacional N1 Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Cesar Graf
- Sociedad Argentina de Reumatología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Daniel Palleiro
- Instituto Nacional de Reumatología del Uruguay-Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Daniela Trincado
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Departamento de Inmunología Clínica y Reumatología, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | | | - Dina Arrieta
- Hospital México, Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social, San José de Costa Rica, Costa Rica
| | - Gil Reyes
- Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana, La Habana, Cuba
| | | | - Manuel F Ugarte-Gil
- Hospital Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen-Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Perú
| | - Mario Cardiel
- Centro de Investigación Clínica de Morelia, Morelia, México
| | - Nelly Colman
- Hospital de Clínicas-Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Asunción, Paraguay
| | - Nilmo Chávez
- Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala-Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
| | - Paula I Burgos
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Departamento de Inmunología Clínica y Reumatología, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Ruben Montufar
- Consultorio de Especialidades del Instituto Salvadoreño del Seguro Social, San Salvador, El Salvador
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Doskaliuk B, Yatsyshyn R, Klishch I, Zimba O. COVID-19 from a rheumatology perspective: bibliometric and altmetric analysis. Rheumatol Int 2021; 41:2091-2103. [PMID: 34596719 PMCID: PMC8484846 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-021-04987-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak turned out the greatest pandemic for decades. It challenged enormously the global health system, forcing it to adjust to the new realities. We aimed to analyze articles covering COVID-19 papers in the rheumatological field and outline emerging topics raising within this frame. We applied the bibliometric database Scopus for our literature search and conducted it on the 5th of June using the following keywords: "rheumatic" OR "rheumatology" OR "rheumatoid arthritis" OR "systemic lupus erythematosus" OR "myositis" OR "systemic sclerosis" OR "vasculitis" OR "arthritis" OR "ankylosing spondylitis" AND "COVID-19". We analyzed all selected articles according to various aspects: type of document, authorship, journal, citations score, rheumatology field, country of origin, language, and keywords. With the help of the software tool VOSviewer version 1.6.15, we have built the visualizing network of authors and keywords co-occurrence. The measurement of the social impact of articles was made using Altmetric data. This study included 1430 retrieved articles with open access mostly. The top five journals in this field were Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (n = 65), Rheumatology International (n = 51), Clinical Rheumatology (n = 50), Lancet Rheumatology (n = 50), and Frontiers In Immunology (n = 33). Most studies originate from countries with a high incidence of COVID-19 among the general population (the USA-387; Italy-268; UK-184; France-114; Germany-110; India-98 and Spain-96, China-94, Canada-73 Turkey-66). Original Articles (42.1%) were the most common articles' type, following by Letters (24.4%), Reviews (21.7%), Notes (6%), Editorials (4.8%), Erratum (1%). According to the citations scores, articles dedicated to the clinical course of COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic diseases were of the highest importance for the scientific rheumatologic community. Rheumatoid arthritis (n = 527), systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 393), vasculitis (n = 267), myositis (n = 71), systemic sclerosis (n = 68), and psoriatic arthritis (n = 68) were the most widely discussed rheumatic diseases in the view of COVID-19. The analysis of Altmetric and citations scores revealed a moderate correlation between them. This article provides a comprehensive bibliometric and altmetric analysis of COVID-19 related articles in the rheumatology field and summarizes data about features of rheumatology service in the time of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bohdana Doskaliuk
- Academician Ye. M. Neiko Department of Internal Medicine #1, Clinical Immunology and Allergology, Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, Halytska str. 2, Ivano-Frankivsk, 76000 Ukraine
| | - Roman Yatsyshyn
- Academician Ye. M. Neiko Department of Internal Medicine #1, Clinical Immunology and Allergology, Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, Halytska str. 2, Ivano-Frankivsk, 76000 Ukraine
| | - Iryna Klishch
- Department of Pathophysiology, Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
| | - Olena Zimba
- Department of Internal Medicine #2, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
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Intra-articular therapies: patient preferences and professional practices in European countries. Rheumatol Int 2021; 42:869-878. [PMID: 34761277 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-021-05045-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
To assess patient perspective and professional practice of intraarticular therapies (IATs) across Europe, an expert international multidisciplinary panel designed two open web-based surveys: one targeting people who had experienced at least two IATs (44 items); and one targeting health care providers (HCPs) (160 items). Surveys were disseminated via patient and professional associations and social media. A descriptive analysis was performed. The surveys were answered by 200 patients and 186 HCPs from 26 countries, showing that IAT is routinely performed by rheumatologists (97%) and orthopaedic surgeons (89%), with specific training being compulsory in a few countries. The most frequent indications for IAT are arthritis (76%), osteoarthritis (74%), crystal arthritis (71%) and bursitis (70%); the most frequently injected joints are knee (78%) and shoulder (70%); and the most used compounds are glucocorticoids. The majority of HCPs report informing patients about side-effects (73%), benefits (72%), and the nature of the procedure (72%), which coincides with 27% of patients reporting that they had not been informed about benefits or potential complications of IATs; 73% of patients had not been asked whether they wanted an anaesthetic. Few HCPs (10%) obtain written consent (56% get oral consent, being mandatory for 32%), a procedure deemed necessary by 41% of the patients. 50% of patients reported a clear benefit of IAT and 20% experienced complications including pain, impaired mobility, rashes, or swelling. In summary, the practice of IAT is variable across Europe, and although patients perceive it as relatively safe and usually effective procedure, some gaps were identified.
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van Onna M, Ramiro S, Haines C, Holland-Fischer M, da Silva JAP, Dudler J, Edwards C, Alunno A, Nikiphorou E, Falzon L, Sivera F. EULAR portfolio for Rheumatology training: a EULAR School of Rheumatology initiative. RMD Open 2021; 7:e001684. [PMID: 34135115 PMCID: PMC8211044 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2021-001684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE About half of the rheumatology trainees do not use a portfolio. This project was established to reach consensus about the content of a EULAR portfolio for Rheumatology training and subsequently develop portfolio assessment forms. METHODS After establishing a portfolio working group (WG), including nine rheumatologists and one educationalist, a systematic literature review (SLR) on the content and structure of portfolios for postgraduate learning was conducted (November 2018). This was followed by a survey among WG members and members of the EMerging EUlar NETwork, inquiring about the content and structure of existing national portfolios. The portfolio WG selected the key components of the portfolio, taking previous experience and feasibility into account. Assessment forms (eg, case-based discussion) were developed and pilot-tested. RESULTS 13/2034 articles were included in the SLR (12 high/1 moderate risk of bias). Information on procedural skills, personal reflections, learning goals and multisource feedback was most often included a portfolio. Twenty-five respondents completed the survey (response≈50%). Feedback from assessors, reflective writing and formulation of learning goals were considered important dimensions to be covered in a portfolio. Six key components of the portfolio were established: curriculum vitae, personal development plan, clinical work, professional behaviours, education and research activities. Suggested minimal content for each component was formulated. Four assessment forms were successfully pilot-tested by 11 rheumatologists and their trainees. CONCLUSION A EULAR portfolio for Rheumatology training and assessment forms were developed. Portfolio implementation, particularly in countries without an existing portfolio, may promote a higher standard of rheumatology training across Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marloes van Onna
- Department of Medicine, division of Rheumatology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Sofia Ramiro
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Rheumatology, Zuyderland Medical Centre Heerlen, Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - Catherine Haines
- Centre for Teaching and Learning, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Jose Antonio Pereira da Silva
- Department of Rheumatology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jean Dudler
- Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Cantonal de Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Chris Edwards
- NIHR Clinical Research Facility, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Alessia Alunno
- Department of Medicine, Rheumatology Unit, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Elena Nikiphorou
- Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, Academic Department of Rheumatology, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Rheumatology, King's College Hospital, London, UK
| | - Louise Falzon
- Center for Personalized Health, Northwell Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Francisca Sivera
- Department of Rheumatology, Hospital General Universitario de Elda, Elda, Spain
- Department of Medicina Clinica, Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche, Elche, Spain
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Ahmed S, Zimba O, Gasparyan AY. Moving towards online rheumatology education in the era of COVID-19. Clin Rheumatol 2020; 39:3215-3222. [PMID: 32939569 PMCID: PMC7494363 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-020-05405-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has unsettled conventional medical education, hastening a switch to digital platforms and open-access publishing. Rheumatology is a fast evolving academic discipline that stands to gain by this switch. Most rheumatology textbooks are now available in digital formats, and these are complemented with live updating educational hubs such as UpToDate and ClinicalKey. Emerging topics of COVID-19 on these proprietary platforms are now freely available to all specialists. Social media channels, particularly Twitter, are becoming major players in the era of COVID-19 by offering online journal clubs, enabling fast dissemination of influential articles, and facilitating interactive education. Indexed rheumatology journals, in turn, aid online education by opening access to recommendations and other materials that are rapidly changing research and practice worldwide. Research peer review additionally offers learning experience to novice and seasoned researchers and authors. Global rheumatology societies have online learning resources, which are changing their format and geographic reach to meet the changing needs in the times of pandemic. While online teaching lacks emotional connections between mentors and mentees, switch to a more interactive format of education and regular contacts may partly solve the issue. Rheumatologists can take the lead in these challenging times and contribute more to online scholarly activities which are aimed to maintain and enrich education. Key Points • Disparities in rheumatology education are likely to be widened during the COVID-19 pandemic. • Barriers to rheumatology education include limited number of instructors and their limited experience in online teaching. • Online textbooks, didactic materials of indexed rheumatology journals, and frequently updated online educational hubs such as UpToDate serve as a foundation of online rheumatology education. • Online rheumatology education is enriched by peer review and social media activities, which are becoming major players in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakir Ahmed
- Department of Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India
| | - Olena Zimba
- Department of Internal Medicine No. 2, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Armen Yuri Gasparyan
- Departments of Rheumatology and Research and Development, Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust (Teaching Trust of the University of Birmingham, UK), Pensnett Road, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 2HQ, UK.
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8
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Sivera F, Alunno A, Najm A, Avcin T, Baraliakos X, Bijlsma JW, Badreh S, Burmester G, Cikes N, Da Silva JA, Damjanov N, Dougados M, Dudler J, Edwards CJ, Iagnocco A, Lioté F, Nikiphorou E, van Onna M, Stones SR, Vassilopoulos D, Haines C, Ramiro S. 2019 EULAR points to consider for the assessment of competences in rheumatology specialty training. Ann Rheum Dis 2020; 80:65-70. [PMID: 32788400 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-218015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Striving for harmonisation of specialty training and excellence of care in rheumatology, the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) established a task force to develop points to consider (PtCs) for the assessment of competences during rheumatology specialty training. METHODS A systematic literature review on the performance of methods for the assessment of competences in rheumatology specialty training was conducted. This was followed by focus groups in five selected countries to gather information on assessment practices and priorities. Combining the collected evidence with expert opinion, the PtCs were formulated by the multidisciplinary task force, including rheumatologists, medical educationalists, and people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The level of agreement (LoA) for each PtC was anonymously voted online. RESULTS Four overarching principles and 10 PtCs were formulated. The overarching principles highlighted the importance of assessments being closely linked to the rheumatology training programme and protecting sufficient time and resources to ensure effective implementation. In the PtCs, two were related to overall assessment strategy (PtCs 1 and 5); three focused on formative assessment and portfolio (PtCs 2-4); three focused on the assessment of knowledge, skills or professionalism (PtCs 6-8); one focused on trainees at risk of failure (PtC 9); and one focused on training the trainers (PtC 10). The LoA (0-10) ranged from 8.75 to 9.9. CONCLUSION These EULAR PtCs provide European guidance on assessment methods throughout rheumatology training programmes. These can be used to benchmark current practices and to develop future strategies, thereby fostering continuous improvement in rheumatology learning and, ultimately, in patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisca Sivera
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, Elche, Spain .,Department of Rheumatology, Hospital General Universitario Elda, Elda, Spain
| | - Alessia Alunno
- Department of Medicine, Rheumatology Unit, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Aurélie Najm
- INSERM UMR1238, University of Medicine, CHU Nantes, Nantes, France.,Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow, UK
| | - Tadej Avcin
- Department of Allergology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Children's Hospital Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Xenofon Baraliakos
- Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Herne, Germany.,Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
| | - Johannes W Bijlsma
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, UMCUtrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Sara Badreh
- EULAR Patient Research Partner, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gerd Burmester
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nada Cikes
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jose Ap Da Silva
- Reumatologia, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Nemanja Damjanov
- Institute of Rheumatology, University of Belgrade School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Maxime Dougados
- Rheumatologie B, Hopital Cochin, Paris, Île-de-France, France
| | - Jean Dudler
- Service de Rhumatologie, HFR Fribourg, Hôpital Cantonal, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Christopher J Edwards
- Musculoskeletal Research Unit, NIHR Clinical Research Facility, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Annamaria Iagnocco
- Academic Rheumatology Center, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Frédéric Lioté
- Department of Rhumatologie, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France.,INSERM UMR-1132, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Elena Nikiphorou
- Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, King's College London, London, London, UK
| | - Marloes van Onna
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Dimitrios Vassilopoulos
- 2nd Department of Medicine and Laboratory, Clinical Immunology-Rheumatology Unit, Athens University School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - Catherine Haines
- Center for Teaching and Learning, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sofia Ramiro
- Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Rheumatology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Heerlen, The Netherlands
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