Tip of the Month
Staying Power: NEJM Videos in Clinical Medicine
New and Enduring Videos Help Students, Trainees, and Educators
October 19, 2017
Procedural videos from the New England Journal of Medicine have educational staying power, with some still being viewed regularly a decade after they were first produced. New Videos in Clinical Medicine continue to be added, and some of the initial videos are being updated.
Of the 69 videos published to date, the most popular include essential procedures — “Lumbar Puncture” (2006) and “Central Venous Catheterization” (2007) — and common examinations — “Blood Pressure Measurement” (2009) and “Clinical Examination of the Shoulder” (2016). The most recent, “Carotid Sinus Massage,” was published October 12.
The first group of Videos in Clinical Medicine — approximately 10 minutes long — tackled the most essential need-to-know procedures and examinations. The range of topics has grown, but the goal remains constant: to help students and trainees learn by watching an actual demonstration of a procedure. Physicians also benefit by brushing up on procedures not practiced regularly. Video chapters include indications, equipment, preparation, complications, common pitfalls, and more.
Access to all Videos in Clinical Medicine is a benefit of individual subscriptions and institutional site licenses.
Some videos with strong public health implications are free without subscription, including “Putting On and Removing Personal Protective Equipment” (produced during the 2015 Ebola outbreak) and the widely viewed “Hand Hygiene,” subtitled in 13 languages, thanks to the World Health Organization.
Librarians can reach out to students, residents, and clinical instructors to remind them of these valuable teaching tools, which can be live-streamed for classroom viewing. Each includes a text summary with references. Potential authors/producers interested in submitting a video should contact the New England Journal of Medicine to discuss their ideas for videos prior to submission (presubmissioninquiries@nejm.org).
