Family Medicine Commons^™

Expanding Awareness Of Tbi Resources In The North Country, Nicholas W. Krant

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Disability, emotional dysregulation and financial stress are only some of the issues that many patients who suffer TBI encounter. While resources are available to alleviate some of these burdens on patients who suffer TBI in New York's North Country, patients often struggle to find these resources. This project endeavors to create a resource for patients, family members and practitioners to find available resources.

A New Wave Of The Overdose Epidemic Arises During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Tolga Suvar Md, Asokumar Buvanendran Md, Stephen Music Do, Wilson M. Compton Md, Mpe

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Abstract

Objective:

The goal of this manuscript is to highlight the notoriety of the overdose epidemic which has been masked by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Methods:

A thorough literature review of PubMed and the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was performed for the most relevant and updated data regarding overdose deaths.

Conclusion:

The global health crisis known as the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic collided with the opioid epidemic in March of 2020, with devastating consequences for the United States. By overwhelming the healthcare system, the pandemic impacted patients who require continued mental health services, …

The Attainment Of Obstetrical Competency In Postgraduate Family Medicine Training: A Qualitative Study, Nisha Arora

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Aims: This study explored the Family Medicine resident experience in working towards their obstetrical competencies from the perspectives of residents and educators.

Methods: Using a qualitative descriptive design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with second-year Family Medicine residents and obstetrical supervisors from one Family Medicine program in Ontario, as well as key informants of Canadian Family Medicine maternity education. Interviews were audio-taped and professionally transcribed. Transcripts were coded and interpreted for common themes.

Findings: There was a disconnect between the intent of the College of Family Physicians of Canada Key Features document, and how it is applied at …

Case Study: Abnormal Presentation Of Infective Endocarditis With Streptococcus Canis And Chiari Network, Shahbaz Afzal, Ryan Russell, Alexander Chekhov

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Here we present a rare case of infective endocarditis (IE) with Streptococcus canis and Chiari network in an 85 year old female living with multiple dogs and open skin of lower extremity predisposing her to bacteremia. Underlying abnormalities of the cardiac chambers such as Chiari network predisposes to a higher incidence of bacterial seeding and causing IE. A Chiari network is usually asymptomatic and of no clinical significance but can worsen prognosis in IE. IE carries a significant morbidity and mortality burden and when diagnosed early can be a lifesaving diagnosis. Due to the wide range of complications, early diagnosis …

Factors Likely To Affect The Uptake Of Genomic Approaches To Cancer Screening In Primary Care: A Scoping Review, Kaitlyn V Davis, Mie H Hallman, Melissa Dicarlo, Sophie M Wambua, Rachel L Jaffe, Allison W Welsh, Cameron Kerber, Hushan Yang, Christopher Chambers, Ronald E. Myers

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

Genomic tests are being developed for use in cancer screening. As most screening is offered in primary care settings, primary care provider and patient perceptions of such tests are likely to affect uptake. We conducted a scoping review to synthesize information on factors likely to affect patient and provider use of biospecimen collection and analysis for cancer screening, methods referred to as liquid biopsy or multi-cancer early detection (MCED) testing when used to detect multiple cancers. We ultimately identified 7 articles for review and analyzed them for major themes. None reported on primary care provider perspectives. Six articles focused on …

The Importance Of Stigma Theory For Clinical Decisions Related To Diabetic Foot Amputations, Rachael Garcia, Callie Bartkowiak, Alison Nesbitt Do

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

The authors examine the unconsidered impact of social stigma theory on the shared clinical decision-making process for a patient with foot osteomyelitis and MRSA bacteremia facing the prospect of an amputation.

Psychiatric Medications: Does Education Affect Medication Prescriptions?, Surina M. Narine, Mary D. Ramos, Sarah Chu

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: There is a lack of research on racial challenges among underrepresented adolescents regarding prescription drug use for mental illnesses. Purpose: This study addressed the following question: In adolescent minorities, how does education about racial disparity and culture affect the stigma and number of prescriptions written for psychiatric medications? This evidence-based practice project aimed to identify if racial awareness directly impacts the amount of psychiatric medication prescribed for adolescent minorities. Methods: Literature reviews analyzed qualitative and quantitative data to provide correlating information on racial disparities and psychotropic medications. This study examined the following possible factors for decreased prescribed drugs within …

Use Of Text Messaging For Type Two Diabetes Management In Patients Over Sixty-Five, Charles Head

Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner

Why is there a need for tight glucose control for diabetics sixty-five years old or older? Tight control of glucose which can be trended as a 90-day snapshot of blood sugar control is measured using HgA1C levels(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). HgA1c levels under six percent in diabetics have been shown to reduce diabetic complications that be detrimental to health(Krapek et al., 2004). Adults aged sixty-five years old or older are also at greater risk for the development of acute and chronic diseases that are a result of poor blood sugar management(Leung et al., 2018). Adherence to prescribed …

Clinical And Biological Factors With Prognostic Value In Acute Pancreatitis, Mihai Faur, Dan Dumitrescu, Dan Sabau, Ciprian Tanasescu, Dan Cretu, Denisa Tanasescu, Vlad Denis Constantin, Calin Mohor

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Acute pancreatitis is an acute inflammatory process of the pancreas, which can remain localized at the level of the gland or can extend to the peripancreatic and retroperitoneal tissues. The use and interpretation of paraclinical examinations at the onset can predict the form of evolution of acute pancreatitis (mild or severe). Depending on the evolution, these data are useful in determining the type of surgical intervention that might be necessary based on severity.

We present a retrospective study consisting of 118 patients diagnosed and hospitalized with acute pancreatitis during 2016-2020 in the Surgery I section of the Sibiu County Emergency …

Innovative Therapeutic Approach To Chemical Burns Produced By Vesicants; An Experimental Study, Cristina Anca Secara, Otilia Liudmila Cinteza, Diana Popescu, Claudia Valentina Popa, Camelia Andreea Hirjeu, Oana Cristina Voinea, Luiza Georgia Serbanescu, Andreea Marilena Pauna, Mihail Tudosie

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Vesicants are compounds that cause severe toxic effects on various tissues. Such chemical action causes tissue necrosis, with clinical expression of skin lesions with a burning character and characteristic blisters. Clinical toxic effects of cutaneous vesicles are correlated with the absorbed dose and exposure time. The goals of the study are to evaluate in vitro the skin toxicity produced by the vesicant chemical compound 2-chloroethyl-ethyl sulfide (CEES), to develop a complex antidote formula, and to optimize the therapeutic efficacy by inclusion in controlled release systems. The experimental protocol aims at the in vitro evaluation of the cytotoxicity of the vesicant …

Patient Perspectives On Opioid Risk Discussions In Primary Care, Stephanie A. Hooker, Inih J. Essien, Caitlin M. Borgert-Spaniol, Rebecca C. Rossom, Anthony W. Olson, Katrina M. Romagnoli, Leif I. Solberg

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Both patients and clinicians have described discussions of potential opioid risks as challenging. This study’s goal was to understand patient perspectives on discussing opioid risks with primary care clinicians (PCCs).

Methods: Patients identified to be at elevated risk for problems with opioids (ie, opioid use disorder [OUD] diagnosis, taking a medication for OUD, or having ≥ 3 opioid prescriptions in the last year) were recruited from an integrated, Upper Midwest health system to participate in semi-structured qualitative interviews. Interview questions aimed to better understand patient views on conversations about opioid risks with PCCs and perceptions of OUD screening and …

The Decision I Never Thought I Would Have To Make, Mary Nixon

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A brief essay on how the COVID pandemic has changed how we think about medicine and our patients.

The Association Between Food Insecurity And Physical Activity In Adults With Serious Mental Illness Living In Supportive Housing, Amy Taylor Cunningham, Lara Carson Weinstein, Ana Stefancic, Alexis Silverio, Leopoldo J. Cabassa

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

Rates of food insecurity are high among adults with serious mental illness (SMI); this population also engages in less physical activity than the general population. However, the relationship between food insecurity and physical activity in this group has not been explored. We examined food insecurity prevalence and its association with physical activity in 314 adults with SMI living in supportive housing in New York City and Philadelphia and enrolled in an institutional review board-approved randomized controlled trial of a Peer Group Lifestyle Balance (PGLB) program. We analyzed 2014 baseline survey data, including demographic data and self-reported food security, and four …

Towards A Common Lexicon For Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion Work In Academic Medicine, José E Rodríguez, Edgar Figueroa, Kendall M Campbell, Judy C Washington, Octavia Amaechi, Tanya Anim, Kari-Claudia Allen, Krys Foster, Maia Hightower, Yury Parra, Maria H Wusu, William A Smith, Mary Ann Villarreal, Linda H Pololi

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

Differential rewarding of work and experience has been a longtime feature of academic medicine, resulting in a series of academic disparities. These disparities have been collectively called a cultural or minority "tax," and, when considered beyond academic medicine, exist across all departments, colleges, and schools of institutions of higher learning-from health sciences to disciplines located on university campuses outside of medicine and health. A shared language can provide opportunities for those who champion this work to pool resources for larger impacts across the institution. This article aims to catalog the terms used across academic medicine disciplines to establish a common …

Monkeypox Outbreak In The Age Of Covid-19: A New Global Health Emergency, Rahim Hirani, Dawood Rashid, Joshua Lewis, Rasheed Hosein-Woodley, Ali Issani

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

Diagnostic Challenge Of Perimenopause Molar Pregnancy In A 52-Year-Old Lady: Case Report, Willbroad Kyejo, Davis Rubagumya, Gregory Ntiyakuze, Nancy Matillya, Munawar Kaguta, Miriam Mgonja, Lynn Moshi

Family Medicine, East Africa

Introduction and importance: Gestational trophoblastic disease is an uncommon group of pregnancy-related dis- orders, with a course of trophoblastic proliferation, including hydatidiform mole (Agha et al., 2020), invasive and metastatic mole, choriocarcinoma, placental-site trophoblastic tumor, and epithelial trophoblastic tumor. Choriocarcinoma and trophoblastic tumor of the placenta are the most important tumors associated with pregnancy.

Case findings: A 52-year-old woman Para 2 Living 3, 3 years post-menopausal presented with prolong per vaginal bleeding for five weeks accompanied by lower abdominal pain. Diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease (choriocarcinoma type) was made by using beta HCG, radiology, and histology report. Patient underwent total …

Implementing The Use Of The Emergency Severity Index Triage Tool In Urgent Care, Sakeena Spencer

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: The urgent care sector has quickly grown in the last decade. Patients who visit healthcare facilities seeking treatment for exacerbations of chronic conditions or episodic illnesses such as asthma without scheduled appointments receive healthcare services from Urgent Care Centers (UCC) or Emergency Departments (E.D.s). Upon visiting the UCC, these patients report life-threatening symptoms; hence require immediate medical attention. UCC healthcare workers should distinguish between non-acute and acute patients to prioritize providing healthcare to patients, ensuring they are not at risk for fatal outcomes. Using the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triage tool while delivering healthcare services to these patients has …

A Response To: Letter To The Editor Regarding "Importance Of Early Screening And Diagnosis Of Chronic Kidney Disease In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes"., Neil Skolnik, Alyssa Style

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Communication Skills Of General Practitioners In Nairobi, Kenya: A Descriptive Observational Study, Gulnaz Mohamoud, Robert Mash

Family Medicine, East Africa

Background High-quality primary care needs to be person-centred, and GPs must communicate effectively to ensure continuity and coordination of care. In Kenya, there is little knowledge about the quality of communication in consultations by GPs.

Aim To evaluate the quality of communication in consultations by GPs.

Design & setting Descriptive, observational study of 23 GP consultations in 13 private sector primary care facilities in Nairobi, Kenya.

Method One consultation with a randomly selected adult patient was recorded per GP, and 16 communication skills evaluated with the Stellenbosch University Observation Tool (SUOT). A total percentage score was calculated per consultation, and …

Efficacy Of Various Interventions For Achieving Target Hba1c Levels For Patients With Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus And On Exogenous Insulin, Caitlin S. Welch, Archie Troxel

Longitudinal Scholar's Project

Objective: To learn the rates at which patients at UT Family Medicine–St. Francis (UTFM–SF) with type II diabetes mellitus are being prescribed recommended medications—namely metformin, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1RAs)—whether these rates correspond to the severity of hyperglycemia (as indicated by HbA1C level). A secondary goal of the study was to investigate if HbA1C levels are being checked at recommended intervals.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted using records of patients seen at the clinic in the previous four years between the ages of 18 and 65 who had visits with ICD …

The Hearst Health Prize: The First Five Years, Alexa M. Waters, Alexis Skoufalos, Emily Frelick, Gregory Dorn, David B. Nash

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

The Hearst Health Prize is the first national annual award for excellence in population health. The prize was established "to discover, support, and showcase the work of an individual, group, organization, or institution that has successfully implemented a population health program or intervention that has made a measurable difference" in health outcomes. Now, 5 years since the award's inception, this article reflects on how submissions for the prize collectively mirror - and may even predict - changes within the field of population health. It examines how the most successful programs demonstrated genuine, measurable improvements in health outcomes and/or health behaviors. …

A Qualitative Exploration Of The Functional, Social, And Emotional Impacts Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On People Who Use Drugs, Erin L Kelly, Megan K Reed, Kathryn M Schoenauer, Kelsey Smith, Kristina Scalia-Jackson, Sequoia Kay Hill, Erica Li, Lara Weinstein

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

Since 2020, people who use drugs (PWUD) experienced heightened risks related to drug supply disruptions, contamination, overdose, social isolation, and increased stress. This study explored how the lives of PWUD changed in Philadelphia over a one-year period. Using semi-structured interviews with 20 participants in a Housing First, low-barrier medication for opioid use (MOUD) program in Philadelphia, the effects of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic on the daily lives, resources, functioning, substance use, and treatment of PWUD were explored. Interviews were analyzed using a combination of directed and conventional content analysis. Six overarching themes emerged during data analysis: (1) …

Global Child And Family-Centered Care Fellowship, Education And Mentorship For Pediatric Healthcare Professionals: A Literature Review, Ashley Zheng, Bobbijo Pansier

Patient Experience Journal

Child- and family-centered care (FCC) is increasingly accepted and implemented to optimize the healthcare experience for patients, their families, and healthcare professionals. Standish Foundation for Children, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, has designed and piloted a fellowship to educate pediatric healthcare professionals in FCC & psychosocial care via an inquiry and mentorship model in Tbilisis, Georgia. This review aimed to evaluate and synthesize existing literature on psychosocial and FCC mentorship for pediatric healthcare professionals in four parts: ongoing need, effects on healthcare professionals, effects on children and their families and/or caregivers, and in cross-country healthcare settings. Reviewers searched open-source databases for articles …

Overview Of Transition Care Clinics And Patient No-Shows, Manul Awasthi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction

Transition care clinics (TCCs) have proven to be effective in meeting the time-sensitive needs of patients in the post-discharge period and ensuring smooth transitions of patients from hospital to home. These clinics have led to lower readmissions, lower emergency department visits, cost savings, and lower rates of other adverse events following discharge. However, TCCs, including the East Tennessee State University Family Medicine (ETSU-FM) TCC have been facing high rates of patient no-shows.

Aim

The aim of this dissertation is to identify the different components and outcomes of TCC based on the literature. We further aim to analyze the TCC …

Implementation Of Vitamin D Screening And Planned Intervention Of Supplementation For Deficient Collegiate Athletes Of The Rio Grande Valley, Amanda J. Wheeler

MEDI 8127 Scholarly Activities Pre-Clerkship

In the past decade, studies on vitamin D levels and relationships to orthopaedic patients have increased exponentially worldwide. Journals have established risk factors, proper assessment of vitamin D levels, supplementation standards, and dependent variables that effect prevalence.¹

More specifically, many vitamin D studies in the field of orthopaedics and sports medicine have been conducted by analyzing NFL teams and NCAA Division I athletes and dividing the cohorts into player parameters such as age, BMI, race, team position, and supplement type. The results of these studies concluded that there is a large prevalence of vitamin D deficiency amongst athletes and …

Is Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Effective At Controlling Hypertension In African American Patients? A Clin-Iq, Rebecca Nye, Wilhelm Lehmann, Deborah Simpson

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

African Americans are disproportionately affected by hypertension, a modifiable contributor to multiple chronic diseases and premature death. Primary care physicians play an important role in hypertension control. Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) is an evidence-based method for confirming diagnosis and monitoring hypertension over time. Some studies have found that HBPM may lead to clinically relevant reductions in blood pressure when combined with additional interventions, but few studies have focused specifically on African American populations. Evidence of effectiveness could increase clinical recommendation of HBPM. This clinical inquiry examined whether HBPM improves blood pressure control in African Americans with uncontrolled hypertension. Reviewed …

Increasing Naloxone Co-Prescribing Among At-Risk Individuals: Evaluation Of A Quality Improvement Project In A Large Health System, Sarah Hemphill Ba, Kristen Silvia Md, Marc D. Kimball Md

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Background: Naloxone availability and early administration is key in preventing death following opioid overdose. The CDC advises that naloxone should be made available to all at-risk individuals. In 2017, providers at Maine Medical Center noted that only 6% of at-risk patients had naloxone prescriptions

Methods: Included in this study were all patients of MaineHealth, a health system comprising 9 hospitals and 30 primary care practices, serving approximately 1.1 million patients. Between 2017 and 2020, we implemented several system-wide quality improvement interventions to increase rates of naloxone co-prescribing among at-risk individuals. Risk factors included prescribed opioids ≥50 morphine milligram equivalents, concurrent …

Life Matters, Marina Fischer

Dissertations

Problem: One of the challenges facing many primary care providers is managing hypertension. Hypertension contributes to cardiovascular disease events. Consequently, the high occurrence of hypertension related visits signifies a clinical practice gap in hypertension management resulting in substandard blood pressure outcomes. The purpose of this clinical scholarship project was to assess the difference of pre and post Quality of Life Scale (QOLS) scores in a hypertensive population.

Methods: This quality improvement project used a longitudinal, observational design with prospective data collection. The sample included newly diagnosed hypertensive adults ages 21 to 64 years old. The sample was administered the World …

Finding The Right Scope: Dermoscopy For Primary Care, Peggy Cyr, Elizabeth Seiverling

Maine Medical Center

Background

• Primary care physicians (PCPs) frequently address skin concerns and perform clinical skin examinations1

• For PCPs, the use of dermoscopy has been shown to increase the sensitivity for skin cancer diagnosis compared to unassisted examinations2,3

• Prior to this study, no formal consensus existed on the fundamental knowledge and skills that PCPs should have with respect to dermoscopy

Objectives

• To develop an expert opinion consensus statement on 2 proficiency standards for PCPs using dermoscopy

Impact Of Dermoscopy Training For Pcps On Nnb To Detect Melanoma, Madeline Prentiss, Kathryn Stevens, Henry Stoddard, Peggy Cyr, Laura Houk, Hadjh Ahrns, Elizabeth Seiverling

Maine Medical Center

The goal of this project was to analyze the impact of dermoscopy training on the number of melanocytic nevi needed to biopsy (NNB) to detect a melanoma in the primary care setting .