Power Half Hour: A Short, Sweet, and Clinical Image-Based Peer-to-Peer Educational Curriculum

Abstract

Learning Objectives: Our goal was to address knowledge deficiencies encountered by residents on shift through a peer-to-peer didactic curriculum covering high-yield EM core content through a series of clinical images obtained in our ED.

Background: In an EM residency curriculum, there are clinical scenarios encountered by trainees that are not adequately addressed in a traditional didactic format. When residents encounter these scenarios, they have the opportunity to enhance their own clinical acumen with “just in time” learning but no organized way to share the new information with their peers. There is evidence showing that peer-to-peer teaching fosters a supportive learning environment while not sacrificing the integrity of content delivered. Additionally, this format solidifies the concepts for the teaching resident and promotes their development into a skilled educator.

Curricular Design: In order to address knowledge deficiencies encountered by residents on shift, we created Power Half Hour (PHH), a resident-led didactic series, presented bi-monthly in conference, that centers around a series of clinical images. The images, including a combination of physical exam findings, ECGs, and diagnostic images, are presented with high-yield, clinically relevant teaching pearls.

Impact/Effectiveness: Our PHH innovation was incorporated as a recurring series into the resident curriculum. After a year of implementation, residents were surveyed on how educationally beneficial they found PHH. Of the 28 residents who completed the survey, 13 residents (46%) found PHH very beneficial, 12 residents (43%) found PHH somewhat beneficial, and the remaining were neutral. By implementing a clinical image-based curriculum using a peer-to-peer teaching model, residency programs can address core content deficiencies, promote knowledge sharing amongst peers, and nurture resident development as educators.