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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
A Sex-Positive Approach To Healthcare, And Truvada As Hiv Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep), Michael Ohkura, Nicholas Bonefant, Michael D. Upton
A Sex-Positive Approach To Healthcare, And Truvada As Hiv Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep), Michael Ohkura, Nicholas Bonefant, Michael D. Upton
Larner College of Medicine Faculty Publications
Nationally, incidence of new HIV infections has hovered around over 50,000 per year and men who have sex with men (MSM) carry the largest burden. In Vermont, 56% of individuals newly diagnosed are MSM, with 25% of diagnoses among youth ages 13-24 years old. Despite the proven efficacy and approval of daily Truvada (emtricitabine + tenofovir) as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV infection, provider understanding and awareness of its use has remained extremely limited in Vermont with last estimates at just over 9 providers familiar with PrEP (excluding UVM Student Health, Planned Parenthood, and UVM Medical Center infectious disease department). …
Breaking The Bank: Cost Of Cigarettes In Vermont, Ryan Erik Landvater
Breaking The Bank: Cost Of Cigarettes In Vermont, Ryan Erik Landvater
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Smoking is still the leading preventable cause of death in the USA with 75% of current smokers expressing a desire to quit, though a meager 2-3% succeed. Previous research has shown that financial incentives for smoking cessation are among the most efficacious. Vermont has implemented high taxation to these ends, though many smokers still do not grasp the financial burden it poses on their discretionary income. A handout was developed that conveys both the cost of smoking at a pack rate over set time frames and provides potential savings rendered by nicotine replacement therapy. The handout will be made available …
Management Of Mental Health Illness: An Actionable Non-Pharmacologic Approach, Cody J. Couperus
Management Of Mental Health Illness: An Actionable Non-Pharmacologic Approach, Cody J. Couperus
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Mental health illness is a pervasive and incurs tremendous cost onto society. Patients benefit from a multi factorial approach to treatment including non-pharmacological methods. This project includes development of a handout utilizing compiled resources and motivational interviewing to facilitate patient use of these interventions.
Determination Of Return To Play In Infectious Mononucleosis, Tessa R. Barclay
Determination Of Return To Play In Infectious Mononucleosis, Tessa R. Barclay
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Splenic rupture is a rare, but potentially life-threatening, complication of infectious mononucleosis. Splenic rupture is generally uncommon four weeks after infection onset, however given the long incubation period and prodromal symptomatology characteristic of infectious mono, it can be difficult to determine an individual patient's risk in the clinical setting. Additionally, diagnostic labs have high false negative rates in the first 1-2 weeks of infection. To help alleviate diagnostic uncertainty and protect patients against outcomes such a splenic rupture, an evaluation and consolidation of the available literature yielded a simplified schematic of advisable activity levels for each stage of infection.
Intimate Partner Violence: Updated Screening Tool And Approach To Screen Positive Patients, Michael J. Hall
Intimate Partner Violence: Updated Screening Tool And Approach To Screen Positive Patients, Michael J. Hall
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Intimate partner violence screening is recommended in all women of child-bearing age. Ensuring validated screening tool utilization and employing strategies to identify risk while providing non-judgmental support is critical to identifying patients and optimizing appropriate resource referral.
Osteoporosis Education: An Insight Into Risk Factors & Prevention, Alan Lee
Osteoporosis Education: An Insight Into Risk Factors & Prevention, Alan Lee
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
In longitudinal studies of women residing in northern latitudes (i.e. Vermont), bone loss was most pronounced during winter months when sun exposure and weight-bearing activities are more limited. Although information about screening and treatments for osteoporosis are widely available to patients, there appears to be a gap in education about risk factors that predispose one to this silent yet deadly disease as well as strategies for prevention according to several community interviews that I conducted. In response to my conversations about osteoporosis, I decided to focus my intervention on educating the community about osteoporosis risk factors, recommended weight-bearing exercises, and …
Getting Ahead Of The Curve: Screening And Early Detection Of Scoliosis In Adolescents To Prevent Progression Of Spinal Deformity, Patrick Saunders
Getting Ahead Of The Curve: Screening And Early Detection Of Scoliosis In Adolescents To Prevent Progression Of Spinal Deformity, Patrick Saunders
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Scoliosis is a spinal deformity that affects approximately 7 million people in United States. The most common age of onset of idiopathic scoliosis is between 10-15 years old. If left untreated, there is a possibility that scoliosis can progress to a severity that requires surgery to correct spinal curvatures. However, if detected early enough, scoliosis can be managed via noninvasive techniques, which research has shown to be extremely effective in halting the progression of curvatures and preventing the possible need for surgery. In order to detect scoliosis early enough to begin noninvasive treatment, screening programs are essential. Screening for scoliosis …
Promoting Bone Health Through Weight-Bearing, Resistance Training, And Balance Exercises, Kinjal Thakor
Promoting Bone Health Through Weight-Bearing, Resistance Training, And Balance Exercises, Kinjal Thakor
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Osteoporosis and low bone density affect 54 million Americans. Advanced age, female gender, an underweight BMI, lack of estrogen, smoking, and sedentary lifestyle all increase one’s risk of developing osteoporosis or experiencing bone fractures from minor trauma. In addition, residents of northern states, like Vermont, experience an increased risk of bone loss over time due to limited exposure to sunlight and decreased physical activity over winter months. Although screening, calcium and vitamin D supplementation, general exercise, and treatment are largely discussed, patients are unaware of the specific exercise routines that can be done to strengthen their bones. In response, I …
List Of Local Resources For Substance Abuse Disorders In Burlington, Vt, Gesca Borchardt
List Of Local Resources For Substance Abuse Disorders In Burlington, Vt, Gesca Borchardt
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
List of local resources in Burlington, VT for the treatment of substance abuse disorders. The list was modified into a smartphrase and added to Epic. The providers of South Burlington Family Practice were given access to this smartphrase.
Bridging The Gap: Putting Nutrition Knowledge Into Practice, Monica Rodgers
Bridging The Gap: Putting Nutrition Knowledge Into Practice, Monica Rodgers
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Obesity is highly prevalent and has overwhelmingly been shown to negatively impact health outcomes for patients. Poor dietary habits are an important contributor to obesity. Formal interviews with local healthcare providers and informal interviews with patients indicated a need for resources for patients who have already completed nutrition education classes or already have the knowledge they need but are unable to implement it to regularly prepare nutritious meals at home. A book of nutritious, filling recipes adapted to include many vegetables, low added sodium, and relatively inexpensive ingredients was compiled for health care professionals to provide to this target population …
Outpatient Management Of Mood Disorders By The Family Physician, Elizabeth S. O'Neill
Outpatient Management Of Mood Disorders By The Family Physician, Elizabeth S. O'Neill
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
It is well-known that the demand for psychiatric care in the US is higher than the supply of psychiatric clinical providers. Vermont, in particular, has a paucity of psychiatric providers and there are minimal providers in Chittenden County and the greater Burlington area. Many patients with psychiatric conditions are inconsistently managed given the lack of available outpatient providers, particularly for patients on Medicaid. Often times, patients suffer from psychiatric episodes that require an emergency department visit or inpatient stay, and they may leave the hospital with an outpatient medication regimen that can then be carried out by a primary care …
Adult Oral Health Access And Advocacy, James Duguay
Adult Oral Health Access And Advocacy, James Duguay
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Many adults lack adequate preventative oral healthcare due to multiple factors. Oral health is important due to its effects on systemic health as well as for quality of life issues.
Lgbtq Inclusiveness In The Primary Care Setting, Joseph J. Lahey
Lgbtq Inclusiveness In The Primary Care Setting, Joseph J. Lahey
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Despite public health efforts in recent years to provide additional care to the LGBTQ community, many health disparities still exist. It is difficult to address these problems due to the lack of organized data being received from health care institutions. Many medical offices have failed to provide a comfortable environment for LGBTQ individuals. This project illustrates a presentation given to staff at a primary care office on how to make the clinical environment more inclusive to LGBTQ individuals in order to provide adequate care.
Depression Screening And Prevention Among Vt Bosnian Refugees, Mushtaba Yuridullah
Depression Screening And Prevention Among Vt Bosnian Refugees, Mushtaba Yuridullah
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Mental health and mental health disorders are stigmatized in our society today. Many people suffer from mental health disorders but are not willing to seek treatments due to various concerns. One big factor is lack of awareness about mental health disorders and brushing mental health issues as something “non-medical” or “all in your head.” This view is especially prevalent among our refugees and new immigrant communities. This project aims to bring about awareness regarding mental health in our local Vermont communities and will emphasize the availability of treatments.
Perinatal Depression: Breaking Barriers To Treatment, Florence Lambert-Fliszar
Perinatal Depression: Breaking Barriers To Treatment, Florence Lambert-Fliszar
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Depression in the perinatal period is a common medical issue in Vermont, affecting about 10% of women. Multiple and severe consequences of depression during this time are seen for both mothers and babies, including lower breastfeeding rates, fewer healthcare visits for the child, and psychopathology in the child later on. The goal of this project is to identify and address some of the barriers we currently face in identifying and treating women for depression. Major barriers women encounter in seeking help involve poor recognition of symptoms facing increasing stress of motherhood, stigma, as well as neglecting to attend to mental …
Out-Of-Pocket Cost For Individuals Being Treated For Opioid Dependence In Rutland County, Vermont, Christopher T. Veal
Out-Of-Pocket Cost For Individuals Being Treated For Opioid Dependence In Rutland County, Vermont, Christopher T. Veal
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Each day more than 140 Americans die from drug overdoses, 91 specifically due to opioids. In Vermont, more than 50 people die each year from opioid poisoning. With insurance coverage being a critical component of Opioid Dependence Recovery, many people seeking treatment are unaware of the financial barriers to recovery- namely the out-of-pocket costs associated with treatment. This study sought to provide insight on the financial impact of Opioid Dependence Treatment on the patient, and provide financial assistance information to the Rutland County community.
Adolescent And Young Adult Medicine: Supporting An Often Forgotten Population, Isabelle Mason
Adolescent And Young Adult Medicine: Supporting An Often Forgotten Population, Isabelle Mason
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
The actions and lifestyle choices adolescents and young adults make have profound effects on their future health and well-being. Unfortunately, these patients are often scarce among family practice lineups, making it difficult for physicians to provide impactful preventative care. This project looks at how to help reach these oft-forgotten patients.
Promoting Health Literacy About Added Sugars, With A Focus On Patients With Limited English Proficiency, Megan Kawasaki
Promoting Health Literacy About Added Sugars, With A Focus On Patients With Limited English Proficiency, Megan Kawasaki
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Excess consumption of added sugars has been linked to the development of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The sequelae of such health conditions accrue significant public health costs - both in terms of healthcare spending as well as associated co-morbidities and mortality. Chittenden County, Vermont is home to at least 6,300 new Americans, many of whom have limited English proficiency (LEP). Although office visits can provide crucial advice regarding proper nutrition, written resources available for LEP patients are lacking. This project aimed to meet that need through development of an infographic-rich handout that both promotes healthier grocery store choices and …
A Patient's Guide To Smart Research, Zachary Winston Ehret
A Patient's Guide To Smart Research, Zachary Winston Ehret
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Patients may not know where to look when researching a health issue. This may lead them to resources that are not supported by research and may become an issue for their own health. Some websites may be filled with medical jargon, which can potentially exacerbate anxiety about a particular condition or cause concern for unrelated health issues. A handout compiling a list of resources would be helpful to providers and beneficial to patients.
Healthcare Workers Understanding Of Food Insecurity In Hinesburg Vt, Nate Benner
Healthcare Workers Understanding Of Food Insecurity In Hinesburg Vt, Nate Benner
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Food insecurity is a worldwide public health issue, and is even pervasive among relatively affluent communities in the United States. This project evaluated healthcare workers comfort in the topics of epidemiology and locally available resources with respect to food insecurity before and after an informational presentation. Results showed overall improvement in comfort on these topics following the presentation. Future research should be aimed at understanding if this changes referral rates.
Gender Nonconforming Children: Education For Rural Vermont Families, Zachary Silberman
Gender Nonconforming Children: Education For Rural Vermont Families, Zachary Silberman
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Trans and Gender Nonconforming children and adolescents make up an increasing percentage of today's youth. Many of their families, parents, and healthcare providers lack information on how to address the topic. Additionally, the lack of research in the field, and the ever changing definitions, can make it difficult to navigate and, as a result, there are several persistent myths and misconceptions. This project seeks to address these myths, the terminology as currently used, and local community resources from a patient and family perspective, specifically targeted at rural Vermont.
Seasonal Affective Disorder In Vermont, Hannah Johnson
Seasonal Affective Disorder In Vermont, Hannah Johnson
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
A large proportion of major depression in Vermont has a seasonal pattern. The most common form of Seasonal Affective Disorder is winter depression. Several evidence-based treatments exist for SAD including light therapy, CBT, and antidepressant medications. Adjunct therapies, like exercise and social interaction, can also help patients feel better during the winter. In the primary care setting, an educational handout/poster will aid in educating patients about SAD and treatment options, and encourage them to seek help.
Naloxone Administration: An Educational Video, Jennifer Boccia
Naloxone Administration: An Educational Video, Jennifer Boccia
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Identification of the need for client education on the use of naloxone opioid reversal kits.
Screening For Food Insecurity, Accessing Healthy Foods, And Resources For Patients, Andrew J. Wick
Screening For Food Insecurity, Accessing Healthy Foods, And Resources For Patients, Andrew J. Wick
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Food Insecurity and access to healthy food is a large health care issue in the United States, Vermont, and Chittenden County. This project aimed to educate health care providers at Colchester Family Practice about food insecurity to increase the amount of patients screened for food insecurity. The project also investigated local resources for people with food insecurity and made this information available to providers so they are better able to help people struggling with food insecurity.
Patient Education: Exercise For Weight Loss, Alexa R. Arvidson
Patient Education: Exercise For Weight Loss, Alexa R. Arvidson
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
No abstract provided.
Treatment & Management Of Acute Sinusitis In The Primary Care Setting, Vanessa Trieu
Treatment & Management Of Acute Sinusitis In The Primary Care Setting, Vanessa Trieu
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Sinusitis is a leading cause of primary care visits. The majority of cases are due to a viral infection, which can be self-treated with supportive care. Many patients are unaware of this and seek medical attention prematurely, incurring significant healthcare costs and resulting in antibiotic misuse. On the other hand, a prolonged infection or the presence of atypical symptoms does warrant medical attention and can potentially lead to untoward consequences if inadequately treated. The purpose of this project is to provide patient education on the expected course of an acute sinus infection and how to proceed with management.
Caregiver Stress And Resources For Support, Alex Disciullo
Caregiver Stress And Resources For Support, Alex Disciullo
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Caregiver stress is a major problem which can increase morbidity and mortality rates. Caregiver stress is often overlooked and underadvertised. Making individuals aware of resources that can help them provide care can mitigate their stress and improve quality of life for themselves and their loved one.
Skill-Based Cooking Class With The Health Care Share, Conner R. Soderquist
Skill-Based Cooking Class With The Health Care Share, Conner R. Soderquist
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Food Insecurity is a significant public health concern in Vermont. 64,370 Vermonters (10%) live in food insecure households. There are many contributing factors to food insecurity including lack of affordable housing, a decrease in affordable grocery stores, low wages, and lack of public transportation. One of the many strategies for addressing food insecurity in Chittenden County, Vermont is the Health Care Share (HCS). The HCS is a partnership between the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps farm and UVMMC that connects Vermont families experiencing food-insecurity with farm-fresh foods through a weekly farm share that includes skills and recipes to prepare healthy meals …
Improving Awareness Of Colon Cancer Screening In The Homeless Population Of Burlington, Vermont, Alexis Nadeau
Improving Awareness Of Colon Cancer Screening In The Homeless Population Of Burlington, Vermont, Alexis Nadeau
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
Homeless populations are significantly less likely to access preventative cancer screening, yet this is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. In the general population, colorectal cancer affects 1 in 20 people and is the number 2 cancer killer. Rates of colorectal cancer screening are particularly low in homeless populations. A poster was developed and posted in the waiting room of Safe Harbor clinic, a homeless health care program center, in order to increase education and awareness about colon cancer screening and colonoscopy.
Assessing Barriers To Mental Health Treatment, Britta J. Kilgus
Assessing Barriers To Mental Health Treatment, Britta J. Kilgus
Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects
It has been well established that individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders face numerous barriers to accessing adequate health care treatment including inability to pay, lack of insurance coverage, lack of provider availability, and stigma. The 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment for Washington County, Vermont identified substance use and mental health as priority health needs for the county. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the specific barriers individuals with mental health and substance use disorders are experiencing in Waterbury, Vermont. A survey was distributed to patients being seen at Waterbury Family Practice with behavioral health or …