Introduction
The objective of the Med Student Clinical Pearl is for the student to:
- Explore an EM topic in more detail
- Gain experience in writing a website FOAM Ed article
- Enhance your resume with a peer reviewed ePublication
Key Points
- This is not a thesis – It should only take you an evening.
- It needs media – pictures, videos, infographics, etc – this makes the pearl easier to read for the audience, and helps solidify topics for yourself.
- A large topic is NOT necessary! These topics are meant to help with revision within the curriculum – e.g how to read an ECG
- Some of the short, quick tip pearls have been amongst the most viewed on our website.
- Think of your audience when putting the pearl together – who is going to read it, what search term will bring your pearl up on google, what will make them want to share it with others?
- Most pearls are case-based – but it doesn’t have to be. If you decide to do it based on a case make sure you disguise the details: change the sex and age – make sure nobody would recognize the case.
- Hyperlink your text to relevant articles on the web if appropriate.
Format
Introduction
*Headshot photo of yourself prn. (*Not required)
*Your Twitter/Instagram handle prn (*Not required, but this is how you could get real FOAMed feedback on your pearl!)
Your Med School Year
Classification of your pearl: Case Report or Problem or Innovation or Quick tip:
This is where you introduce your pearl – what is the issue that you are going to enlighten your readers on?
Body
Case Report – If describing a condition/diagnosis then use the following format:
• Discuss 3 most important alternative diagnosis
• Discuss the important historical and physical exam features of the condition including important pertinent positive and negative features
• Discuss risk factors for the condition
• Discuss the appropriate diagnostics and there respective sensitivity and specificity
• Discuss the goal standard test if known
• Discuss “best practice” for treatment
Problem/Innovation/Quick Tip
• This may be based on an article that you have found e.g. how to break bad news, a new decision tool for SAH, How to calculate the anion gap the easy way
• This could be built into a case or simply described from the paper
• For procedures or examination findings use links to videos – remember this is multimedia!
• Consider making your own infographic to illustrate your pearl.
Conclusion
o If case based include the case conclusion
o For all – include a bite-sized summary of key points
References
• We don’t specify how you reference these – you can use traditional referencing or further reading list
• If you do include a reference list make sure each ref is hyperlinked to the pubmed abstract or, better still, the full text article
• Make sure all images or tables include the source in description e.g accessed from grepmed – https://www.grepmed.com/
Visit some previous Medical Student Clinical Pearls for examples.