Chapter 13 Aug 7–13: Future of predictive analytics in healthcare and health professions education

This week, our goals are to…

  1. Read about applications of predictive analytics and machine learning (PAML) in fields outside of health professions education.

  2. Consider the use of PAML beyond the examples we have used so far in the course.

  3. Identify changes within health professions education that would allow for more effective use of PAML.

This week, you will read about the use of predictive analytics and machine learning (PAML) in two fields that are related to health professions education (HPEd): a) education in general and b) medicine. PAML has been used in these fields longer than it has in HPEd.

13.1 PAML in education

Please read the following items related to PAML in education (beyond just health professions education):

  1. Kučak et al. (2018). MACHINE LEARNING IN EDUCATION - A SURVEY OF CURRENT RESEARCH TRENDS. https://www.daaam.info/Downloads/Pdfs/proceedings/proceedings_2018/059.pdf.

  2. The Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Future of Education. (2019). getsmarter. https://www.getsmarter.com/blog/market-trends/the-role-of-artificial-intelligence-in-the-future-of-education/.

13.2 PAML in healthcare

Please read the following items related to PAML in healthcare (beyond just health professions education):

  1. Ascent of machine learning in medicine. Nat. Mater. 18, 407 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-019-0360-1.

  2. Bender, E. (2019). Machine learning could transform medicine. Should we let it? Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/90439144/machine-learning-could-transform-medicine-should-we-let-it.

  3. Faggella, D. (2020). 7 Applications of Machine Learning in Pharma and Medicine. Emerj. https://emerj.com/ai-sector-overviews/machine-learning-in-pharma-medicine/.

13.3 Assignment

In this week’s assignment, you will respond to the examples and readings in this chapter to discuss the future of PAML.

13.3.1 Discussion post

Please respond to the items below in the style of a discussion post. Then, please submit your responses into the Week 13 Assignment drop box in D2L for this week.

Task 1: Write a short summary (4 or more sentences) of the main takeaway points for each of this week’s five readings (20 or more sentences in total).

Task 2: Identify at least two applications of PAML (that we have not discussed before) from education or medicine that could be most useful to be used within health professions education.

Task 3: Identify at least two applications (from education or medicine) of PAML that would not be useful or applicable in health professions education.

Task 4: Provide your own commentary on how PAML can be used for the quality improvement of health professions education processes, beyond just detecting students who are likely to fail and pass. How can PAML be used on a more regular basis to integrate within ongoing quality improvement or continuing education?

Task 5: Which changes to your workplace would need to be made to implement some of your ideas above about the new applications of PAML to health professions education?

Task 6: What are any remaining questions you have that were not answered in our course about the application of PAML to health professions education?

13.3.2 Logistics for the rest of the course and beyond

Please take note of the following items as you work towards completing this course.

  1. Please be sure to fill out the course evaluation that you will receive through MGHIHP directly. Your feedback is extremely important to us.

  2. In addition to completing and submitting the assignments from all chapters in this textbook, be sure to also complete all other course requirements, such as the oral exam and final project.

  3. The final deadline for submission of your final project is in the course calendar. If you do not submit by that date, you can take an “incomplete” grade in the course and then submit your project later, as per an arrangement you would make with us instructors.

  4. If you would like feedback from us about your final project, we can look at a draft (or at your code) and provide feedback (or meet with you about it). Please send a draft to Nicole and Anshul at least two days before the final project submission deadline if you wish to finish the class on time and also receive some feedback. It is also fine to tell us that you’ll take an incomplete so that you have extra time to get feedback. This decision is up to you or we can discuss it together.

  5. This week (the chapter you just finished doing) is the final week of class. There will be no new assignment next week.

  6. If you disseminate or publish any work that you did during this class, please be sure to give credit to members of this class from whom you received feedback and ideas. You can do this in an acknowledgments section, for example. If a member of this class made a more substantial intellectual and/or practical contribution to the work, you should consider inviting them to be a co-author on your work. Additionally, please be sure to read and adhere to the journal authorship guidelines related to work you submit for publication.

You have reached the end of this week’s assignment. Please be sure to submit your responses to all tasks to the appropriate places.