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01-12-2005 | Special Article

The Acute Care Undergraduate TEaching (ACUTE) Initiative: consensus development of core competencies in acute care for undergraduates in the United Kingdom

Authors: Gavin D. Perkins, Hannah Barrett, Ian Bullock, David A. Gabbott, Jerry P. Nolan, Sarah Mitchell, Alasdair Short, Christopher M. Smith, Gary B. Smith, Susan Todd, Julian F. Bion

Published in: Intensive Care Medicine | Issue 12/2005

Abstract

Background

The care of the acutely ill patient in hospital is often sub-optimal. Poor recognition of critical illness combined with a lack of knowledge, failure to appreciate the clinical urgency of a situation, a lack of supervision, failure to seek advice and poor communication have been identified as contributory factors. At present the training of medical students in these important skills is fragmented. The aim of this study was to use consensus techniques to identify the core competencies in the care of acutely ill or arrested adult patients that medical students should possess at the point of graduation.

Design

Healthcare professionals were invited to contribute suggestions for competencies to a website as part of a modified Delphi survey. The competency proposals were grouped into themes and rated by a nominal group comprised of physicians, nurses and students from the UK. The nominal group rated the importance of each competency using a 5-point Likert scale.

Results

A total of 359 healthcare professionals contributed 2,629 competency suggestions during the Delphi survey. These were reduced to 88 representative themes covering: airway and oxygenation; breathing and ventilation; circulation; confusion and coma; drugs, therapeutics and protocols; clinical examination; monitoring and investigations; team-working, organisation and communication; patient and societal needs; trauma; equipment; pre-hospital care; infection and inflammation. The nominal group identified 71 essential and 16 optional competencies which students should possess at the point of graduation.

Conclusions

We propose these competencies form a core set for undergraduate training in resuscitation and acute care.

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Title: The Acute Care Undergraduate TEaching (ACUTE) Initiative: consensus development of core competencies in acute care for undergraduates in the United Kingdom
Authors: Gavin D. Perkins
Hannah Barrett
Ian Bullock
David A. Gabbott
Jerry P. Nolan
Sarah Mitchell
Alasdair Short
Christopher M. Smith
Gary B. Smith
Susan Todd
Julian F. Bion
Publication date: 01-12-2005
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Intensive Care Medicine / Issue 12/2005
Print ISSN: 0342-4642
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1238
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-005-2837-4

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

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The Acute Care Undergraduate TEaching (ACUTE) Initiative: consensus development of core competencies in acute care for undergraduates in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Background

Design

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Design

Results

Conclusions

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