Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Physical And Mental Health Impacts Of Covid-19 On Healthcare Workers: A Scoping Review, Natasha Shaukat, Daniyal Mansoor Ali, Junaid Razzak

Community Health Sciences

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has spread to 198 countries, with approximately 2.4 million confirmed cases and 150,000 deaths globally as of April 18. Frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) face a substantially higher risk of infection and death due to excessive COVID-19 exposure. This review aimed at summarizing the evidence of the physical and mental health impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on health-care workers (HCWs).
Methods: We used the Arksey O'Malley framework to conduct a scoping review. A systematic literature search was conducted using two databases: PubMed and Google Scholar. We found 154 studies, and out of which 10 met our criteria. …

Where There's Smoke, There's Fire: What Current And Future Providers Do And Do Not Know About Electronic Cigarettes., Josephine Hwang, Mdc, Mphc, Crystal Lee, Eric Mastrolonardo, Rosemary Frasso Phd, Msc, Cph

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Health care providers play a pivotal role as educators on health-related matters ranging from vaccination to smoking cessation. With the rising popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), providers face a new challenge. To date, studies have identified a general lack of knowledge among providers regarding e-cigarettes and discomfort with counseling patients on e-cigarette use. This study aims to systematically explore the perspectives of different health care providers on e-cigarettes and their health implications. With a growing availability of research on the health consequences of e-cigarette use, our study also aims to assess the familiarity of our participants with this literature. …

A Qualitative Exploration To Understand Hospitalists’ Attitude Toward The Patient Experience Scoring System, Ankur Segon, Yogita Segon, Vivek Kumar, Hirotaka Kato

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Patient’s perception of their inpatient experience is measured by the Center for Medical Services’ (CMS) administered Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems (HCAHPS) survey. There is scant existing literature on physicians’ perceptions toward the HCAHPS scoring system. Understanding hospitalist knowledge and attitude toward the HCAHPS survey can help guide efforts to impact HCAHPS survey scores by improving the patient’s perception of their hospital experience. The goal of this study is to explore hospitalists’ knowledge and perspective of the physician communication domain of the HCAHPS survey at an academic medical center. Seven hospitalists at an academic medical center were …

“Right To Work” And Life Or Death For Georgia Teachers, Austin Mcneill Brown

Population Health Research Brief Series

Georgia is a “right to work” state, in which teachers can be fired or have their state license revoked if they strike or utilize collective bargaining. This leaves few legal options for teachers to challenge the state mandate to reopen without adequate preparation.

Pregnancy Rates From Intrauterine Insemination Are Equivalent Following 1- Versus 5-Day Letrozole Administration For Ovulation Induction: A Retrospective Study, Kaitlin Mcgrail, Susan Conway, John Storment, Sarah Buzhardt, Neil Chappell

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Objective: To compare the efficacy of single-dose letrozole (25 mg) with a 5-day course (5 mg/day) for ovulation induction (OI). Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Hospital. Patient(s): Patients undergoing first round of OI and intrauterine insemination with letrozole from January 2015 through December 2017. Intervention(s): Patients received letrozole as either a single 25 mg dose for 1 day (1D) versus 5 mg daily for 5 days (5D). A secondary analysis was performed on patients also receiving gonadotropins (GND). Main Outcome Measure(s): Pregnancy rate (PR) determined by positive human chorionic GND. Result(s): There were 847 patients included in the study, 302 …

Deep Learning Vs. Atlas-Based Models For Fast Auto-Segmentation Of The Masticatory Muscles On Head And Neck Ct Images, Wen Chen, Yimin Li, Brandon A. Dyer, Xue Feng, Shyam Rao, Stanley H. Benedict, Quan Chen, Yi Rong

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Impaired function of masticatory muscles will lead to trismus. Routine delineation of these muscles during planning may improve dose tracking and facilitate dose reduction resulting in decreased radiation-related trismus. This study aimed to compare a deep learning model with a commercial atlas-based model for fast auto-segmentation of the masticatory muscles on head and neck computed tomography (CT) images.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Paired masseter (M), temporalis (T), medial and lateral pterygoid (MP, LP) muscles were manually segmented on 56 CT images. CT images were randomly divided into training (n = 27) and validation (n = 29) cohorts. Two …

Negative Appendectomy Rate In Urban Referral Hospitals In Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Associated Factors, Masawa Klint Nyamuryekung’E, Ali Syed Muhammad Akhtar, Miten Ramesh Patel, Aidan Njau, Omar Sherman, Ahmed Jusabani, Ali Akbar Zehri

General Surgery, East Africa

Background: Acute appendicitis (AA) has a lifetime risk of 8.3% with a consequent 23% lifetime risk of emergency appendectomy. In atypical presentation, making a clinical diagnosis is difficult, leading to a high perforation rate (PR) or misdiagnoses and high negative appendectomy rates (NAR). This study aimed to establish NAR and explore the associated factors and possible attainable solutions to reduce it in urban referral hospitals in Tanzania.

Methods: This was a crosssectional study with 91 consecutive patients, aged 10 years and older undergoing appendectomy for suspected AA with histological evaluation of specimens. The study was powered to detect the NAR …

Negative Appendectomy Rate In Urban Referral Hospitals In Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Associated Factors, Nyamuryekung'e Klint Masawa, Authar Ali, Miten Ramesh Pate, Aidan Njau, Omar Sherman, Ahmed Jusabani, Ali Akbar Zehri

General Surgery, East Africa

Background: Acute appendicitis (AA) has a lifetime risk of 8.3% with a consequent 23% lifetime risk of emergency appendectomy. In atypical presentation, making a clinical diagnosis is difficult, leading to a high perforation rate (PR) or misdiagnoses and high negative appendectomy rates (NAR). This study aimed to establish NAR and explore the associated factors and possible attainable solutions to reduce it in urban referral hospitals in Tanzania.

Methods: This was a crosssectional study with 91 consecutive patients, aged 10 years and older undergoing appendectomy for suspected AA with histological evaluation of specimens. The study was powered to detect the NAR …

The Relationship Between Mucosal Inflammatory Cells, Specific Symptoms, And Psychological Functioning In Youth With Irritable Bowel Syndrome., Meenal Singh, Vivekanand Singh, Jennifer Verrill Schurman, Jennifer Colombo, Craig A. Friesen

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Both mucosal inflammation and psychologic dysfunction have been implicated in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). While some relationships between inflammation (mast cells and eosinophils) and depression have been reported in adults with IBS, relationships between inflammation and psychologic function have not been studied in children and adolescents. The aims of the current study were to: (1) assess densities of colonic mast cells, eosinophils, and TH17 cells in youth with IBS; and, (2) explore relationships between these cells and specific IBS symptoms and psychologic functioning. Utilizing previously obtained biopsies from the descending and rectosigmoid colons, densities were determined for mast cells, eosinophils, …

Sound Levels With Aural Suctioning: Effects Of Suction Size, Canal Moisture, And Distance From The Eardrum, Allen Young Md, Nathaniel H. Reeve Md, Albert Yang Md, Jacob Kahane Md, Chad Cross Phd, Anita Albanese Bs, Matthew Ng

School of Medicine Faculty Research

Objective To determine sound levels resulting from aural suctioning of the external auditory canal. Methods Unweighted decibels (dB) and A‐weighted decibels (dBA) sound pressure level measurements were recorded using a retrotympanic microphone in cadaveric human temporal bones. Sound measurements were made with common otologic suctions, size 3, 5, and 7 French, within the external ear canal at the tympanic membrane, 5, and 10 mm from the tympanic membrane in the dry condition. In the wet condition, the ear canal was filled with fluid and completely suctioned clear to determine sound effects of suctioning liquid from the ear canal. Results Sound …

Exogenous Lipoid Pneumonia Complicated By Mineral Oil Asperation In A Patient With Chronic Constipation: A Case Report And Review, Hafiz Muhammad Jeelani, Muhammad Mubbashir Sheikh, Belaal Sheikh, Hafiz Mahboob, Anchit Bharat

School of Medicine Faculty Research

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia is a rare and frequently misdiagnosed lung disease. It occurs as an inflammatory reaction secondary to either aspiration or inhalation of lipids. Our patient had a history significant for recurrent pneumonia and the use of mineral oil for chronic constipation. A chest computed tomography showed multifocal consolidative opacities with areas of low attenuation, highly suspicious of exogenous lipid pneumonia. The diagnosis was confirmed with combined bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial lung biopsy that showed lipid-laden macrophages consistent with exogenous lipoid pneumonia. After thorough medication review, apart from mineral oil, no other contributing factors were found. A diagnosis of …

The Health Wagon Partners With The Virginia Department Of Health To Provide Covid-19 Testing In Rural Southwest Virginia, Tauna Gulley, Teresa Tyson, Ethan Collins, Rachel Helton, Paula Hill-Collins, Nicole France, Sarah Hubbard

Journal of Appalachian Health

The Health Wagon has been providing care for the rural population of southwest Virginia for the past 40 years. The mission of the Health Wagon is to provide quality health care to the medically underserved people in the mountains of Appalachia. It has expanded to two stationary clinics, three mobile units, and a mobile dental unit, logging over 19,000 patients encounters in the past year.

Listening To Voices In Appalachia: Gathering Wisdom From The Field About Substance-Abuse Recovery Ecosystems, Bruce Behringer

Journal of Appalachian Health

New qualitative data collected through six regional community-based listening sessions and community meetings are presented that describe elements of the Appalachian Regional Commission’s Recovery Ecosystem Model. These data informed the Model, which was used in formulating the new ARC Recovery-to-Work initiative. Input was intentionally solicited from multiple sectors, including persons recovering from substance abuse disorder, treatment and recovery service providers, workforce development agencies, employers, and community advocacy groups.

Responding To Appalachian Voices: Steps In Developing Substance-Use Recovery Ecosystems, Bruce Behringer

Journal of Appalachian Health

A description is presented of the four-step process used by the Appalachian Regional Commission to develop a new Recovery to Work initiative. The Commission identified, defined, and described issues facing individuals who complete substance abuse disorder treatment and who seek reentry into the workforce. Key elements were identified for resources and supports to develop and maintain community-based substance abuse recovery ecosystems. The steps included conceptualization, data collection, analysis, and review to formulate recommendations for program and policy development. The full process of development was accomplished in twelve months.

Experiencing Cancer In Appalachian Kentucky, Melanie Mccomsey, David Ahern, Robin C. Vanderpool, Timothy W. Mullett, Ming-Yuan Chih, Meghan Johnson, Michele Ellison, Karen Onyeije, Bradford W. Hesse, Eliah Aronoff-Spencer

Journal of Appalachian Health

Nothing tells the story of people working together better than a community quilt. A diversity of talents, colors, and materials brought together through skill and shared purpose. Perhaps never before have we as Americans needed a stronger reminder that many hands make short work of big problems. The work presented here by the L.A.U.N.C.H. Collaborative offers a new framework for health care that could be compared to a digital quilt, powered by community-based participatory design, with lived expertise and the newest advances in broadband-enabled connected health solutions. This work demonstrates the value and need to engage local communities and what …

Preface: Experiencing Cancer In Appalachian Kentucky, Michele Ellison, Robin C. Vanderpool

Journal of Appalachian Health

Connected cancer care is of increasing importance in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Linking & Amplifying User-Centered Networks through Connected Health (L.A.U.N.C.H.) Collaborative in Appalachian Kentucky has pioneered a new roadmap for equipping communities with the transformative power of broadband to innovate around the future of cancer care and to better scale their ideas. The roadmap involves reaching across disciplines, including public health, anthropology, telecommunications, and user-centered design. The goal is to leverage connectivity and cancer communication research and practice to make a real difference for patients and families.

Consumption Of Added Sugars By Rural Residents Of Southwest Virginia, Maryam Yuhas, Valisa Hedrick, Jamie Zoellner

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Nationally, rural residents have high consumption of added sugars, yet the top sources have not been explored. Characterizing added-sugar intake in high sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumers in rural areas is an important step to help inform interventions and policies.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to explore the top food and beverage sources of added sugar and to examine variations by sociodemographic characteristics.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from a randomized-controlled trial to reduce SSB in eight rural Appalachian counties. Data were obtained from baseline demographic surveys and three 24-hour dietary recalls. Dietary analyses included deriving AS …

Preventive Care And Chronic Disease Management: Comparison Of Appalachian And Non-Appalachian Community Health Centers In The United States, Julie P. Marcinek, Alek Sripipatana, Sue C. Lin

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: The Appalachian region is often characterized by poor health outcomes and economic depression. Health centers (HCs) are community-based and patient-directed organizations that deliver comprehensive, culturally competent, high-quality primary healthcare services in high need areas, including Appalachia, where economic, geographic, or cultural factors can hinder access to healthcare services.

Purpose: The study compares the clinical quality performance in preventive care and chronic disease management between Appalachian HCs and their non-Appalachian counterparts.

Methods: Using 2015 Uniform Data System (UDS) health center data, bivariate and multivariate linear regression analyses examine the association of Appalachian HC with performance on preventive and chronic care …

Parental Impact On Child Physical Activity And Sedentary Time In Appalachian North Carolina, Allison V. Farrell, Richard W. Christiana, Rebecca A. Battista, J. Joy James

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Physical activity has positive health benefits across the lifespan including reduced rates of chronic disease. Despite having ample availability of outdoor space for physical activity in the Appalachian Mountain region, there are low rates of physical activity along with high rates of sedentary time and increased prevalence of overweight individuals across all age groups. Therefore, there is a need to understand the factors that influence family’s physical activity and sedentary time.

Purpose: To assess whether parental attitudes and behaviors influence children’s physical activity and sedentary time.

Methods: The current study was a secondary analysis of the baseline data from …

Geographic Variation In The Structure Of Kentucky’S Population Health Systems: An Urban, Rural, And Appalachian Comparison, Rachel Hogg-Graham, Angela Carman, Glen P. Mays, Pierre Martin Dominique Zephyr

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Research examining geographic variation in the structure of population health systems is continuing to emerge, and most of the evidence that currently exists divides systems by urban and rural designation. Very little is understood about how being rural and Appalachian impacts population health system structure and strength.

Purpose: This study examines geographic differences in key characteristics of population health systems in urban, rural non-Appalachian, and rural Appalachian regions of Kentucky.

Methods: Data from a 2018 statewide survey of community networks was used to examine population health system characteristics. Descriptive statistics were generated to examine variation across geographic regions in …

Appalachian Regional Commission Recovery Ecosystem Background And Overview, Kostas Skordas, Andrew Howard

Journal of Appalachian Health

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has long addressed issues of substance abuse through funded community-based interventions, research, and sponsored conferences. Recently, the opioid crisis created a new urgency for cross-sector collaboration among various partners and funders dealing with this issue. This commentary provides an overview of recent efforts by the ARC to convene stakeholders to focus on assisting individuals with substance abuse disorder to access recovery services while pursuing education and training necessary to reenter the workforce and gain employment. Two papers have been prepared to describe this year-long effort. One paper focuses on the participatory methods used to gather …

Perspective On Substance-Abuse Recovery Ecosystem From The Appalachian Regional Commission Federal Co-Chair, Tim Thomas

Journal of Appalachian Health

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a local, state, and federal partnership focused on economic development in the communities of the Appalachian Region. ARC Federal Co-Chairman Tim Thomas provides his perspective on how an economic development entity, such as ARC, can support efforts to address the Region’s drug crisis in a way that both saves lives and strengthens economic opportunity in communities throughout Appalachia.

Fiscal Challenges And Anticipated Changes To Kentucky's Population Health System, Jeffrey Howard

Journal of Appalachian Health

The hallmark of public health is population-level intervention. However, current public health funding in Kentucky is largely programmatic or disease-based. As a result, public health leaders are not able to appropriately utilize present resources to pursue population health endeavors. However, a recent transformation of the public health system has emphasized multisector partnerships and efficient funding mechanisms that may increase resources to pursue population-level health interventions based on community health assessments.

Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - July 19, 2020, Lindsey Lyle

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the July 19 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine's Newsletter - Watercooler.

Contents Include:

USA Health magazine highlights College of Medicine students, faculty

Welcome, Class of 2024 medical students

USA College of Medicine research examines novel genetic pathway that could treat COVID-19

The Impact Of Temporal Resolution On Clinical Decision-Making For Individuals With Dysphagia, Shauna Corinne Murray

Speech and Hearing Sciences ETDs

INTRODUCTION: Dysphagia, or a disordered swallow, affects up to 1 in 25 individuals in the United States. The gold standard for assessing dysphagia is the videofluoroscopic evaluation of swallowing (VFES). This allows the clinician to observe the swallow anatomy in motion via an X-ray movie, which historically was recorded at 30 frames per second. In recent years VFES have been performed at less frames per second due to radiation concern. This project investigates the effect of using lower temporal resolutions on assessment of video-fluoroscopic swallow studies.

METHODS: In this investigation, 30 swallow studies, all acquired at 30 frames per second, …

2020-07-19_Michiganoverview_Covidsymptoms, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Syndromic Surveillance System Data

The Syndromic Surveillance System Data report was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 dashboard, from under the link "​Coronavirus Symptoms": https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus. Data was compiled by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The information was updated daily.

Syndromic Surveillance System data is obtained from approximately 183 facilities participating in syndromic surveillance (132 Emergency Departments (ED), 51 Urgent Cares) across the State of Michigan. The reporting is based on individuals who present at EDs and may not be representative of the overall population. The coronavirus-like symptoms query searches visit free-text (chief complaint, triage notes, and clinical impression) for fever or …

2020-07-19_Michiganoverview_Covidstats, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Cumulative Michigan COVID-19 Data

The COVID Overview page was obtained from Michigan's main COVID-19 page: https:/www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163-520743--,00.html.

This report is provisional and subject to change. City of Detroit and Wayne County are reported separately. MDHHS began tracking probable cases April 5, 2020. FCI indicates federal correctional institute. MDOC indicates Michigan Department of Corrections. Diagnostic tests, including nucleic acid amplification/real-time polymerase chain reaction (NAAT/RT-PCR) and rapid virus antigen detection point of care (POC) tests, look for current infection. Serology (antibody) tests are used to look for the possibility of previous infection.
Source: Michigan Disease Surveillance System (MDSS) and Vital Records

The website contained the tables …

2020-07-19_Michigandaily_Covidmap, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Daily Michigan COVID-19 Update

The "WHERE WE STAND WITH COVID-19" map was obtained from Michigan's main COVID-19 page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus. Data was compiled by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The information was updated daily at 3p.m., Monday - Saturday.

The State of Michigan is working around the clock to test and treat COVID-19 patients. Below is the most recent data healthcare experts across the state have compiled.

The image contained a map, indicating total cases by county, and also provides statistics on Total Confirmed Cases, Total COVID-19 Deaths, Daily Confirmed Cases, and Daily COVID-19 Deaths. There …

2020-07-19_Michiganoverview_Covidlongtermcare, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Long Term Care Data

The COVID Long Term Care Facilities page was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 data page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163_98173-526911--,00.html.

This report is created by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services from data self-reported by long-term care facilities into EMResource. Data is updated on an ongoing basis.

The data below represents a cumulative total of confirmed COVID-19 resident cases, cumulative total of suspected and confirmed resident deaths, cumulative total of confirmed COVID-19 staff cases, and cumulative total of suspected and confirmed staff deaths reported by SNFs in Michigan since January 1, 2020. Case numbers are provisional and may change as facilities correct …

2020-07-18_Michigandaily_Covidmap, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Daily Michigan COVID-19 Update

The "WHERE WE STAND WITH COVID-19" map was obtained from Michigan's main COVID-19 page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus. Data was compiled by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The information was updated daily at 3p.m., Monday - Saturday.

The State of Michigan is working around the clock to test and treat COVID-19 patients. Below is the most recent data healthcare experts across the state have compiled.

The image contained a map, indicating total cases by county, and also provides statistics on Total Confirmed Cases, Total COVID-19 Deaths, Daily Confirmed Cases, and Daily COVID-19 Deaths. There …