Background: Technology readiness (TR) is a construct which characterizes an individual’s propensity to utilize new technology. Despite increased technology use in healthcare, limited data exists on medical student TR and the relation of TR with specialty interest. This study assesses the TR of 2nd year medical students and its association with specialty interest. Methods: Respondents completed a survey assessing their most preferred specialty, specialty interests, and technology readiness using a 5-point Likert scale. Using Chi-square analysis, we examined the relation between demographics, TR, and specialty interest. Results: This study obtained a 45.7% (n = 53/116) response rate demonstrating that 79.2% (n = 42/53) of students were “technology ready.” Male students were more likely to be technology ready (95.2%, n = 20/21, vs 68.8%, n = 22/32, p = 0.02) when compared to female students. Technology ready students were associated with being more interested in “Technology-Focused” specialties compared to students who were not technology ready (88.5%, n = 23/26 vs 70.4%, n = 19/27, p = 0.104). Conclusions: As a cohort, most medical students were technology ready. It is inconclusive if technology ready students are more likely to be interested in technology-focused specialties due to the limited sample size of this study, although with an increased sample size, an improved understanding on technology readiness and its potential impact on student specialty interest may be obtained. Furthermore, knowledge of TR may aid in developing targeted technology-based education programs and in improving remedial approaches for students who are less comfortable with new technology.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being applied across pediatric urology. We provide a living scoping review and online repository developed by the AI in PEDiatric UROlogy (AI-PEDURO) collaborative that summarizes the current and emerging evidence on the AI models developed in pediatric urology. The protocol was published a priori, and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines were followed. We conducted a comprehensive search of four electronic databases and reviewed relevant data sources from inception until June 2024 to identify studies that have implemented AI for prediction, classification, or risk stratification for pediatric urology conditions. Model quality was assessed by the APPRAISE-AI tool. Overall, 59 studies were included in this review from 1557 unique records. Of the 59 published studies, 44 studies (75 %) were published after 2019, with hydronephrosis and vesicoureteral reflux/urinary tract infection as the most common topics (17 studies, 28 % each). Studies originated from USA (22 studies, 37 %), Canada (10 studies, 17 %), China (8 studies, 14 %), and Turkey (7 studies, 12 %). Neural network (35 studies, 59 %), support-vector-machine (21 studies, 36 %), and tree-based models (19 studies, 32 %) were the most used machine learning algorithms, with 14 studies (24 %) providing useable repositories or applications. APPRAISE-AI assessed 12 studies (20 %) of studies as low quality, 39 studies (66 %) as moderate quality, and 8 studies (14 %) as high quality, with specific improvements noted in model robustness and reporting standards over time (p = 0.03). Findings were synthesized into an online repository (www.aipeduro.com). There is an increasing pace of AI model development in pediatric urology. Model topics are broad, algorithm choice is diverse, and the overall quality of models are improving over time. While there is still a lack of clinical translation of the AI models in pediatric urology, the usage of online repositories and reporting frameworks can facilitate sharing, improvement, and clinical implementation of future models. This living scoping review and online repository will highlight the current landscape of AI models in pediatric urology and facilitate their clinical translation and inform future research initiatives. From this work, we provide a summary of recommendations based on the current literature for future studies.

Financial literacy correlates with less debt and better retirement planning. Medical students, residents, and physicians often have poor financial literacy and large amounts of debt. We measured baseline financial literacy and whether it improved with the administration of a financial literacy course. We created the Medical Mini-MBA, a six-week financial literacy course that targeted gaps in financial literacy among medical students and residents. Weekly topics included personal finance, investing, real estate and mortgage, physician billing and payment models, income and tax, and choosing a medical specialty. A 46-question financial literacy assessment was delivered to participants before and after the course. Of the 276 who participated in the course, 179 (64.86%) participated in the study. Participants who completed the course improved their financial literacy score by 10.10/46.00±5.12 (n=93, p<0.001). Self-assessment of financial literacy was positively correlated with financial literacy exam scores (r=0.366, p<0.001). Demographics such as gender, geography, education level, and first-degree relatives who are/were physicians had no effect on financial literacy scores. The Medical Mini-MBA improved financial literacy at a Canadian medical school. Implementation of the course may equip medical students and residents for financial decisions. It avoids financial conflicts of interest and can supplement the medical curriculum.

Background: The Prostate Cancer—Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP) is a six-month daily home-based program shown to improve mental health and urinary function. This secondary analysis explores weight loss in male PC-PEP participants. Methods: In a randomized clinical trial with 128 men undergoing curative prostate cancer (PC) treatment, 66 received ‘early’ PC-PEP, while 62 were assigned to the ‘late’ waitlist-control group, receiving 6 months of standard-of-care treatment followed by 6 months of PC-PEP. PC-PEP comprised 182 daily emails with video-based exercise and dietary (predominantly plant-based) education, live online events, and 30 min strength training routines (using body weight and elastic bands). Weight and height data were collected via online surveys (baseline, 6 months, and 12 months) including medical chart reviews. Adherence was tracked weekly. Results: No attrition or adverse events were reported. At 6 months, the early PC-PEP group experienced significant weight loss, averaging 2.7 kg (p < 0.001) compared to the waitlist-control group. Weight loss was noted in the late intervention group of PC-PEP, albeit less pronounced than in the early group. Early PC-PEP surgery patients lost on average 1.4 kg (SE = 0.65) from the trial’s start to surgery day. High adherence to exercise and dietary recommendations was noted. Conclusions: PC-PEP led to significant weight loss in men undergoing curative prostate cancer treatment compared to standard-of-care.

Despite increased efforts, studies suggest that exposure to procedural skills in undergraduate medical training is insufficient. As medical students have low self-reported competence in many skills, a significant concern is that medical students are underprepared for a clerkship. Furthermore, pre-clerkship electives selected based on student career interests can provide students with additional skills learning opportunities. The impact of career interest and elective choice on student comfort with procedural skills is unclear. This study examines the relationship between student procedural skills comfort, career interest, and elective choices. An evidence-based questionnaire was synthesized following a literature search using PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar. Surveys were completed by second-year medical students. A Likert scale was used to evaluate students’ exposure, comfort, and motivation to learn common procedural skills. Descriptive, Pearson’s chi-square and Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between career interests, elective exposure, and procedural skills. Medical students (>60%) reported poor comfort levels for most skills, despite >80% of students displaying high motivation to learn. Elective choice impacted student comfort levels as students who completed electives in anesthesiology were more comfortable with performing intubation (23% vs 10%, p = 0.026) and IV insertion (38% vs 13%, p = 0.002). Those with surgical career interests were less comfortable performing Foley catheter insertion in males (7% vs 5%, p = 0.033) and in females (7% vs 5%, p = 0.008). This study supports that medical students feel low levels of comfort with performing procedural skills despite high motivation for learning. Comfort was influenced by both career interest and elective experience. Programs aiming to increase students’ comfort levels in performing procedural skills should adapt curricula toward increasing early exposure to these skills.