scholarly journals Efficacy of an educational intervention on students' attitudes regarding spirituality in healthcare: a cohort study in the USA

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e026358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary Paul Wargo Smothers ◽  
Jennifer Young Tu ◽  
Colleen Grochowski ◽  
Harold G Koenig

ObjectiveTo determine if an educational intervention focused on the role of spirituality in healthcare positively affects medical students' attitudes and perceptions relating to this topic.DesignA pre-post cohort study.SettingAn undergraduate medical institution affiliated with an academic medical center in the USA.ParticipantsA total of 110 medical students currently on their clinical rotations received the educational intervention, of whom 71 (65%) completed both the presurvey and postsurvey. Demographic variables did not significantly differ from the national average of medical students, or from a comparison group. All students who attended the intervention were given the opportunity to participate in the survey.InterventionsThe educational intervention consisted of a 60-minute lecture focusing on religion/spirituality (R/S) in healthcare, followed by a 90-minute case discussion in a small group setting.Primary and secondary outcome measuresAssessment consisted of 18-item preintervention and postintervention survey quantifying student’s attitudes towards, comfort with, and perceptions of R/S in healthcare.ResultsAttitudes towards, comfort with, and perceptions of R/S in healthcare were generally positive preintervention. Following the intervention, students expressed an increased willingness to include R/S competency in their future practice (p=0.001), were more comfortable sharing their own R/S beliefs with a patient when appropriate (p=0.02), and were more willing to approach a patient with R/S concern (p=0.04). The other surveyed attitudes demonstrated positive, but non-significant improvement.ConclusionAn educational intervention focusing on approaching patients with R/S concerns has the ability to improve the attitudes and comfort of medical students. By incorporating a total of 150 minutes of education about R/S, medical schools can help develop this particular area of cultural competence, preparing a generation of physicians to professionally approach R/S concerns of patients. Future research should move beyond quantifying attitudes and strive to understand changes in knowledge and student behaviour.

2007 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Weiss Roberts ◽  
Teddy D. Warner ◽  
Laura B. Dunn ◽  
Janet L. Brody ◽  
Katherine A. Green Hammond ◽  
...  

2010 ◽  
Vol 194 (4) ◽  
pp. 1027-1033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Kennedy ◽  
Darren B. Knibutat ◽  
Serena L. DelBasso ◽  
Syed A. J. Bokhari ◽  
Howard P. Forman

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Stefanie N. Foster ◽  
Michael D. Harris ◽  
Mary K. Hastings ◽  
Michael J. Mueller ◽  
Gretchen B. Salsich ◽  
...  

Context: The authors hypothesized that in people with hip-related groin pain, less static ankle dorsiflexion could lead to compensatory hip adduction and contralateral pelvic drop during step-down. Ankle dorsiflexion may be a modifiable factor to improve ability in those with hip-related groin pain to decrease hip/pelvic motion during functional tasks and improve function. Objective: To determine whether smaller static ankle dorsiflexion angles were associated with altered ankle, hip, and pelvis kinematics during step-down in people with hip-related groin pain. Design: Cross-sectional Setting: Academic medical center. Patients: A total of 30 people with hip-related groin pain (12 males and 18 females; 28.7 [5.3] y) participated. Intervention: None. Main Outcome Measures: Weight-bearing static ankle dorsiflexion with knee flexed and knee extended were measured via digital inclinometer. Pelvis, hip, and ankle kinematics during forward step-down were measured via 3D motion capture. Static ankle dorsiflexion and kinematics were compared with bivariate correlations. Results: Smaller static ankle dorsiflexion angles were associated with smaller ankle dorsiflexion angles during the step-down for both the knee flexed and knee extended static measures. Among the total sample, smaller static ankle dorsiflexion angle with knee flexed was associated with greater anterior pelvic tilt and greater contralateral pelvic drop during the step-down. Among only those who did not require a lowered step for safety, smaller static ankle dorsiflexion angles with knee flexed and knee extended were associated with greater anterior pelvic tilt, greater contralateral pelvic drop, and greater hip flexion. Conclusions: Among those with hip-related groin pain, smaller static ankle dorsiflexion angles are associated with less ankle dorsiflexion motion and altered pelvis and hip kinematics during a step-down. Future research is needed to assess the effect of treating restricted ankle dorsiflexion on quality of motion and symptoms in patients with hip-related groin pain.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara C. Bouton ◽  
Sara Lodi ◽  
Jacquelyn Turcinovic ◽  
Sarah E. Weber ◽  
Emily Quinn ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundCOVID-19 vaccine trials and post-implementation data suggest vaccination decreases SARS-CoV-2 infections. We examine COVID-19 vaccination’s impact on SARS-CoV-2 case rates and viral diversity among healthcare workers (HCW) during a high community prevalence period.MethodsA prospective cohort study from Boston Medical Center (BMC)’s HCW vaccination program, where staff received two doses of BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273. We included PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases among HCWs from December 09, 2020 to February 23, 2021. Weekly SARS-CoV-2 rates per 100,000 person-day overall and by time from first injection (1-14 and >14 days) were compared with surrounding community rates. Viral genomes were sequenced from SARS CoV-2 positive samples.ResultsSARS-CoV-2 cases occurred in 1.4% (96/7109) of HCWs given at least a first dose and 0.3% (17/5913) of HCWs given both vaccine doses. Adjusted SARS-CoV-2 infection rate ratios were 0.73 (95% CI 0.53-1.00) 1-14 days and 0.18 (0.10-0.32) >14 days from first dose. HCW SARS-CoV-2 cases >14 days from initial dose compared to within 14 days were more often older (46 versus 38 years, p=0.007), Latinx (10% versus 8%, p=0.03), and asymptomatic (48% versus 11%, p=0.0002). SARS-CoV-2 rates among HCWs fell below those of the surrounding community, with a 18% versus 11% weekly decrease respectively (p=0.14). Comparison of 48 SARS-CoV-2 genomes sequenced from post-first dose cases did not indicate selection pressure towards known spike-antibody escape mutations.ConclusionsOur results indicate a positive impact of COVID-19 vaccines on SARS-CoV-2 case rates. Post-vaccination isolates did not show unusual genetic diversity or selection for mutations of concern.Main PointCases of SARS-CoV-2 among health care workers dropped rapidly with COVID-19 vaccination. Sequencing 48 breakthrough infections (overwhelmingly in 14 days after 1st dose) showed no clear sign of any differences in spike protein compared with time-matched, unvaccinated control sequences.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer P Stevens ◽  
Oren Mechanic ◽  
Lawrence Markson ◽  
Ashley O'Donoghue ◽  
Alexa B Kimball

BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, many ambulatory clinics transitioned to telehealth, but it remains unknown how this may have exacerbated inequitable access to care. OBJECTIVE Given the potential barriers faced by different populations, we investigated whether telehealth use is consistent and equitable across age, race, and gender. METHODS Our retrospective cohort study of outpatient visits was conducted between March 2 and June 10, 2020, compared with the same time period in 2019, at a single academic health center in Boston, Massachusetts. Visits were divided into in-person visits and telehealth visits and then compared by racial designation, gender, and age. RESULTS At our academic medical center, using a retrospective cohort analysis of ambulatory care delivered between March 2 and June 10, 2020, we found that over half (57.6%) of all visits were telehealth visits, and both Black and White patients accessed telehealth more than Asian patients. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that the rapid implementation of telehealth does not follow prior patterns of health care disparities.


Author(s):  
Meredith A. MacMartin ◽  
Amber E. Barnato

Background: Little is known regarding the fidelity of delivery of guideline-recommended components of palliative care in “real world” encounters. Objective: To develop a qualitative coding framework to identify components of clinical palliative care in clinical documentation across care settings. Design: Retrospective review of palliative care clinical documentation from medical providers, with directed qualitative content analysis to identify components of clinical care documented. Setting/Subjects: Purposively sampled deceased patients seen by palliative care at a US academic medical center between 7/1/2011–7/1/2018. Main Outcomes and Measures: The outcome of this work is a coding framework for use in future research. We assessed the robustness of the framework using Cohen’s kappa. Results: We reviewed sixty-two encounters from twenty-six patients. We identified 7 major themes in documentation: (1) addressing physical symptoms, (2) addressing psychological symptoms, (3) establishing illness understanding, (4) supporting decision making, (5) end-of-life planning, (6) understanding psychosocial context, and (7) care coordination. Interrater reliability varied widely between components, with Cohen’s kappa ranging from −.51 to 1. Conclusions: This pilot study provides a coding framework to measure documentation of clinical palliative care components. Several components could not be reliably identified using this framework, suggesting the need for additional measurement strategies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 20190275
Author(s):  
Reinier C. Hoogeveen ◽  
Marinka L.F. Hol ◽  
Bradley R. Pieters ◽  
Brian V. Balgobind ◽  
Erwin W.E.R. Berkhout ◽  
...  

Objectives: In paediatric cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy therapy, late effects on dental development are quite common. Oral radiologists are not familiar with the radiographic images of these specific dental consequences of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. With the goal of educating colleagues, to raise awareness of the needs of survivors, and to identify directions for future research, we present dental radiographs of survivors treated for head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Also, based on the survivors reviewed, a radiographic inventory of commonly found late dental developmental effects seen in conjunction with treatment is presented. Methods: Panoramic radiographic findings of five illustrative cases are presented, from a group of 42 survivors of head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma treated at the Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands over the past 25 years. Results: Five cases showing dental developmental disorders are presented. These cases show an association of the location of the radiation field and the developmental stage of the teeth with the severity of the effect on dental development. We also report an inventory of severe and moderate effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on the development of molars and anterior teeth. Conclusions: This paper presents five cases and a radiographic inventory to illustrate disturbances of dental development associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy in children. Medical and dental professionals involved in the treatment of cancer survivors are relatively unaware of the dental consequences of radiation therapy and the age dependency of specific regional effects. These effects can be severe, with great impact on quality of life. Further research in this area could help improve planning of radiation therapy for children, potentially preventing or limiting dental or maxillofacial sequelae.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 794-800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barrett S. Boody ◽  
Brett D. Rosenthal ◽  
Tyler J. Jenkins ◽  
Alpesh A. Patel ◽  
Jason W. Savage ◽  
...  

Study Design: Randomized, prospective study within an orthopedic surgery resident program at a large urban academic medical center. Objectives: To develop an inexpensive, user-friendly, and reproducible lumbar laminectomy bioskills training module and evaluation protocol that can be readily implemented into residency training programs to augment the clinical education of orthopedic and neurosurgical physicians-in-training. Methods: Twenty participants comprising senior medical students and orthopedic surgical residents. Participants were randomized to control (n = 9) or intervention (n = 11) groups controlling for level of experience (medical students, junior resident, or senior resident). The intervention group underwent a 40-minute bioskills training module, while the control group spent the same time with self-directed study. Pre- and posttest performance was self-reported by each participant (Physician Performance Diagnostic Inventory Scale [PPDIS]). Objective outcome scores were obtained from a blinded fellowship-trained attending orthopedic spine surgeon using Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) and Objective Decompression Score metrics. Results: When compared with the control group, the intervention group yielded a significant mean improvement in OSATS ( P = .022) and PPDIS ( P = .0001) scores. The Objective Decompression Scores improved in the intervention group with a trend toward significance ( P = .058). Conclusions: We conclude that a concise lumbar laminectomy bioskills training session can be a useful educational tool for to augment clinical education. Although no direct clinical correlation can be concluded from this study, the improvement in trainee’s technical and procedural skills suggests that Sawbones training modules can be an efficient and effective tool for teaching fundamental spine surgical skills outside of the operating room.


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