Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Addressing Gaps In Care Through A Medical Student-Led Cancer Screening Project, Matthew Green, Hannah Ngo, Dakota B. Pastore, Jenna Zappetti, Olivia Siciliano, Meghan Mcquade, John Sauer, Anne Jones

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC), breast cancer (BrCa), and cervical cancer are three of the most preventable cancers. Despite the known significance for early detection and treatment, barriers to screening remain. We developed a medical student-led project to improve adherence to national cancer screening guidelines in patients across Rowan-Virtua Family Medicine (FM) practices. This study assesses the initiative’s efficacy in improving adherence to CRC, BrCa, and cervical cancer screenings.

Methods: Rowan-Virtua FM patients between the ages of 21-75 (n=735) were identified as due or up-to-date on cancer screenings based on chart review. Student volunteers were trained to contact patients to discuss …

Impact Of Acceptance Date On Medical Students' Stress & Academic Success, Portia Tasnim Shaheed, Alissa Hochman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Each year, medical school admissions committees use various predictive factors to determine the demographics of their incoming cohorts, including undergraduate or graduate GPAs, MCAT scores, socioeconomic background, gap years, and more. Put together, these factors can paint a picture of how ready an applicant is to face the rigors of medical school. Once applicants are accepted, they face similar life stressors accompanied by the transition to medical school, but the amount of time they have to handle these life stressors is variable depending on when they are admitted. This study aimed to determine if late acceptance into medical school would …

The Effect Of Guided Meditation On Student Doctor-Patient Interactions, Aneela Rampersad, Samantha Plasner

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Healthcare students are under stress and can use different methods to cope with it. Mindfulness techniques such as guided meditation has been used as a way of helping these students reduce their stress levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether guided meditation has an effect on student doctors that translates into more positive interactions with patients. This study found that the student doctors who completed guided meditation felt less frustrated and less impatient while interacting with patients than student doctors who did not perform the guided meditation. Future studies on this topic should recruit more participants so …

Mental Health Of Medical Students Regarding The Covid-19 Pandemic, Parth Patel, Richard Jermyn, Arvind Venkataraman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Mental health has taken a global priority as more realize that it is just as important as physical health in the overall health of a person. Medical students have faced mental health issues for decades and have been shown to suffer more than the general population. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has only deteriorated this issue. Many primary databases such as PubMed were used. The results indicate that medical students have extremely high rates of depression, burnout, anxiety, and stress that can affect their education but also carry over into their professions. Although many interventions increase mental wellness in medical school, …

Assessing Correlation Between Manual Dexterity, Specialty Choice And Desire To Practice Omt In Newly Admitted Osteopathic Medical Students, Valerie Rome, Nils Brolis

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Is there any relationship between manual dexterity, specialty choice, and the use of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) in newly-admitted osteopathic medical students? Hand dexterity has previously been associated with surgical skill development in medical residents. There is currently a gap in the scientific literature in regards to the use of one’s hands and the career choice they ultimately pursue, in addition to interest in performing OMT in their respective fields. To help elucidate the answer this question, this SMRF project aimed to evaluate the relationship between manual dexterity, specialty choice, and use of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) in newly admitted …

The Effectiveness Of Cleaning Protocols In Medical School Omm Labs By Medical Students, Harrison Patrizio, Riley Phyu, Thomas Boyle, Todd Schachter

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, disinfection in healthcare has taken center stage. Healthcare has adjusted workflows to accommodate for more robust cleaning regimens to help protect the community. This has resulted in the need for medical institutions to reevaluate the current cleaning protocols down to the student level. Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) lab provides an optimal avenue for assessing medical student’s examination table cleaning effectiveness. With OMM labs being an activity with a high level of interaction, the quality of examination table cleaning is important for the health and safety of students and teaching faculties. Our study highlights that …

Improvements In Cardiac Auscultation Utilizing Multisensory Learning In Medical Students: A Preliminary Study, Harrison Patrizio, Riley Phyu, Bum Kim, Nils V. Brolis

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Objective: To explore interweaving visual, auditory, and tactical stimulus into traditional education methods to improve cardiac auscultation teaching outcomes.

Methods: A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted at our institution’s simulation center with 32 first year medical students from a single medical institution. Participants were randomly divided into two groups, and completed an educational module on identifying and understanding the pathophysiology of five common cardiac sounds. Participants in the control group (n=16) utilized traditional education methods, while the interventional group (n=16) incorporated visual, auditory, and tactical stimuli. Afterwards, participants listened to randomly selected cardiac sounds and competency data was collected …

Patient Perception Of The Semantics Of Medical Students Am I A “Medical Student” Or A “Student Doctor”, Brianna Nghiem, Samantha Plasner

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Patients may perceive medical students differently depending on one of two titles that are traditionally used in clinical settings: “medical student” or “student doctor.” Previous studies have indicated that patient understanding of the medical hierarchy is poor and that a misunderstanding of the role of providers has been found to adversely affect patient satisfaction. To further understand this relationship, this study investigates differences in patient perceptions of the terms “medical student” and “student doctor" in university-affiliated and private family practices. Awareness of patient preferences can help guide the student’s clinical behaviors.

Does Simulation-Based Education For Cardiac Auscultation Improve Competency And Retention Rate Compared With Traditional Education?, Harrison Patrizio, Riley Phyu, Bum Kim, Nils V. Brolis

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Cardiac auscultation is a critical part of clinical examination. Stethoscope allows for early detection of numerous important cardiac pathologies and appropriate referral for further management. Improper use of stethoscopes leads to inappropriate referral resulting in unnecessary financial stress or a delay in proper treatment of time-sensitive pathologies like VSD in children. Multiple studies have documented that competency among medical professionals in cardiac auscultation skills is in steady decline and this is due to the ineffective teaching method of cardiac auscultation starting in medical school.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of simulated education in cardiac auscultation.

Challenging The Stigma Of Sex Work: Creating The Framework To Train Student Doctors In Providing Affirming Care, Noelle De Marco, Trishauna Bennett, Oghenerukevwe Inweh, Ali Harb

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The intention of this proposed intervention is to provide a foundation for medical students to include affirming care for sex workers in their future practice by understanding the complex institutional violence & discrimination experienced by this community. Additionally, dispelling misconceptions surrounding sex work is another of the foci of the service project. Future physicians can combat the stigma by providing patient care that centers sex worker agency, harm reduction, & judgement free strategies. Making the workshop guide open access allows other medical schools and special interests groups to incorporate a social justice framework into their medical practice.

Comparative Assessment Of Grit In The Allopathic Versus Osteopathic Physician, Amber Cheesman, Meagan Vermeulen, Joanna Petrides, Charalampos Papachristou

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Matriculating into medical school is a strenuous process, including numerous roadblocks unique to both allopathic and osteopathic schools, with osteopathic applicants often jumping more hurdles in the journey.

Grit: passion and perseverance towards long term goals, especially in the setting of failure/adversity

High levels of grit correlate with low levels of burnout

Purpose: examine grit in allopathic versus osteopathic physician to help identify resources to prevent physician burnout

Giving Feedback [To Residents And Students], Alan Lucerna, James Espinosa, Andrew Vasta

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Advice for giving effective, constructive feedback to residents and students. Part of a Faculty Development Series.

Implementing A Case Management Program At A Free Student-Run Clinic, Shelly Sharma, Mark Conforti, Wali Kamran, Fatou Drame, Mary Kate Heard, Samuel Irungu

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

• The Rowan Community Health Center (RCHC) located in Lindenwold, New Jersey, reopened in September of 2019
• Patients come to RCHC for physicals/wellness checks or medical ailments
• Many patients are from underserved communities and may not have a primary care physician or insurance
• Trend in lack of follow up among patients
  • o Leads to discontinuity of care
  • o Unaware if patients are obtaining their prescribed medications, following up with recommended specialists, or if chief complaints/primary diagnosis are improving
• RCHC’s Special Projects Department decided to implement a Case Management program to improve patient follow-up and adherence to care