Family Medicine Commons^™

Implementation Of Standardized Longitudinal Emr-Based Monitoring Of Patients With Post-Covid Conditions, Michael K. Espino, Jean Bombach, Richard Andrews, Karin Dunn

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2022

No abstract provided.

Improving Efficiency Of Locating Consultants Outpatient Contact Information, Derek Pride, Anthony Shadiack

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2022

No abstract provided.

Flight To A Hospital In Paradise: A Case Of Acute Onset Ataxia In A Healthy Child, Prasad Munusamy, David Rosenberg

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2022

No abstract provided.

Plethora Of Cranial Nerve Palsies: A Problematic Presentation Of Myasthenia Gravis, Nichole Birdsong, Sean Gibbs, Jerry Banks

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2022

No abstract provided.

Acute Chest Syndrome In Sickle Cell Disease In The Setting Of Covid-19 Pneumonia, Michael K. Espino, Nioti Karim

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2022

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of Standardized Protocols For Office Blood Pressure Measurement, Steven Nevers, Alice Tran, Carol Gambrill, Anush Pillai

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2022

No abstract provided.

Hypertension Pharmacological Treatment In Adults: A World Health Organization Guideline Executive Summary, Akram Al-Makki, Donald Dipette, Paul K. Whelton, M Hassan Murad, Reem A. Mustaf, Shrish Acharya, Hind Mamoun Beheiry, Beatriz Champagne, Kenneth Connell, Unab I. Khan

Department of Family Medicine

Hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular disease and deaths worldwide especially in low- and middle-income countries. Despite the availability of safe, well-tolerated, and cost-effective blood pressure (BP)-lowering therapies, <14% of adults with hypertension have BP controlled to a systolic/diastolic BP <140/90 mm Hg. We report new hypertension treatment guidelines, developed in accordance with the World Health Organization Handbook for Guideline Development. Overviews of reviews of the evidence were conducted and summary tables were developed according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations approach. In these guidelines, the World Health Organization provides the most current and relevant evidence-based guidance for the pharmacological treatment of nonpregnant adults with hypertension. The recommendations pertain to adults with an accurate diagnosis of hypertension who have already received lifestyle modification counseling. The guidelines recommend BP threshold to initiate pharmacological therapy, BP treatment targets, intervals for follow-up visits, and best use of health care workers in the management of hypertension. The guidelines provide guidance for choice of monotherapy or dual therapy, treatment with single pill combination medications, and use of treatment algorithms for hypertension management. Strength of the recommendations was guided by the quality of the underlying evidence; the tradeoffs between desirable and undesirable effects; patient's values, resource considerations and cost-effectiveness; health equity; acceptability, and feasibility consideration of different treatment options. The goal of the guideline is to facilitate standard approaches to pharmacological treatment and management of hypertension which, if widely implemented, will increase the hypertension control rate world-wide.

A Survey On Self-Medication For The Prevention Or Treatment Of Covid-19 And Distrust In Healthcare Of Veterans In A Primary Care Setting In The United States, Eva Amenta, Larissa Grigoryan, Laura Dillon, Casey Hines-Munson, John Van, Barbara Trautner

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic brought the public overwhelming and conflicting information. Rates of trust in healthcare professionals have been declining among laypersons over the past five decades. In this setting, we sought to evaluate the use of medications, both with or without a prescription, to prevent and treat SARS-CoV-2 as well as trust in healthcare among patients in a primary care clinic.

DESIGN: We surveyed 150 veterans in primary care clinic waiting rooms at a large southwestern tertiary care Veterans Affairs hospital. This survey was performed in March-November 2021.

METHODS: The survey asked about respondents' demographics, use of medications, …

Evaluation Of A Comprehensive Diabetes Mellitus Protocol At A Rural, Federally Qualified Health Center In Southern West Virginia, Hannah D. Davis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that affects nearly 34 million Americans. In rural Appalachia, the population is affected disproportionately at a rate of 14% compared to the national average of 10%. Diabetes is a lifelong, chronic condition managed best by a multidisciplinary team-based approach to achieve optimal disease control. Best practices in the care of diabetes support the use of evidenced based care protocols and leveraging technology to decrease the burden of disease. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most common type, making it the focal population for evaluation.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to …

Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring: A Patient Empowerment Project, Alison Cusmano

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Hypertension is a public health issue estimated to affect 112 million adults by 2030. Primary care patients in an outpatient clinic in Southern California with elevated blood pressure readings in the office did not have an organized system for close follow-up. The purpose of this evidence-based project (EBP) was to educate patients on self-measured blood pressure monitoring (SMBP), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), diet interventions, and healthy weight loss to improve hypertension rates. Through these interventions, patients developed an understanding of their systolic and diastolic blood pressure goals. Nurse practitioners, medical assistants, and licensed vocational nurses screened for high …

Effectiveness Of Simulation-Based Clinical Skills Training For Medical Students In Respiratory Medicine: A Pilot Study, Russell S. Martins, Saniya Sabzwari, Meesha Iqbal

Medical College Documents

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of high-fidelity simulation-based medical education (HF-SBME) in teaching and learning respiratory clinical examination in medical students.
Study design: Quasi-experimental pilot study.
Place and duration of study: The Aga Khan University, Karachi, from November 2018 to January 2020. Methodology: This study was conducted amongst third year medical students at the University. Students were assigned to intervention (IG) or control groups (CG). The IG underwent training for the respiratory clinical examination on a high-fidelity simulator mannequin, while the CG received the conventional practice session on standardised patients. Students were assessed on their respiratory clinical examination skills in …

Improving Sexually Transmitted Infection Knowledge In Community College Students: A Path To Prevention, Rebecca F. Halford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This DNP project was conducted to identify gaps in knowledge focusing on sexually transmitted infections within Texas and Region one. The research study gathered data from first-year nursing students who have chosen to participate in a sexually transmitted infection-focused educational module. Participants were first-year nursing students and understood the research study was strictly voluntary with no forms of compensation. Currently, the curriculum in the nursing program at which the study took place does not focus on sexually transmitted infections and is directed to speak minimally on the subject. This is a contributing factor to why the rise in sexually transmitted …

Alpha-Gal Allergy: A New Threat To Appalachia, Adam M. Franks Md, Makala Murphy Bs, Madison Griffis Md, Rebekah Franks Ba, Cwr, Colin M. Franks, Gary Petty Md

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Abstract

Alpha-gal allergy, or mammalian meat allergy, is described as the development of IgE antibodies to the oligosaccharide galactose-a-1,3-galactose following a bite from the tick species Amblyomma americanum (Lone Star tick) or Dermacentor variabillis (Wood tick). Dermatologic or gastrointestinal symptoms are usually delayed by four to six hours after exposure, making the diagnosis difficult. Due to the use of mammalian proteins in many common medications, surgical equipment and prosthesis, unexpected reactions can occur. In the United States, this pathology is predominately seen in the southeast, but has been associated with other tick species on every continent except Antarctica. As the …

Improving Cancer Screening Rates In Primary Care Via Practice Facilitation And Academic Detailing: A Multi-Pbrn Quality Improvement Project, Christopher P. Morley, Laura A. Schad, Laurene M. Tumiel-Berhalter, Laura A. Brady, Alexandrea Bentham, Karen Vitale, Amanda Norton, Gary Noronha, Carlos Swanger

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: In the United States, cancer screening rates are often below national targets. This project implemented practice facilitation and academic detailing aimed at increasing breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening rates in safety-net primary care practices.

Methods: Three practice-based research networks across western and central New York State partnered to provide quality improvement strategies on breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening. Pre/postintervention screening rates for all participating practices were collected annually, as were means across all practices over 7 years. Simple ordinary least squares linear regression was used to calculate the trend for each cancer type and test for statistical …

Patient And Clinician Characteristics That Predict Breast Cancer Screening Behavior In 40–49-Year-Old Women, Sarina Schrager, Claudia Evaristo, Terry Little, Lori Dubenske, Elizabeth S. Burnside

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Guidelines recommend that clinicians practice shared decision-making (SDM) with women in their 40s to discuss breast cancer screening. Traditionally, SDM includes discussion of values and preferences to help determine a decision that is congruent with what the patient desires. We analyzed 54 women’s breast cancer screening decisions after a SDM conversation with their clinician. We looked at both patient and clinician characteristics that predicted whether or not a woman would get a screening mammogram. Women with a family history of breast cancer or who had a previous abnormal mammogram had higher rates of screening. Screening rates also varied widely between …

Conference Proceedings: Select Abstracts Presented At 2021 Advocate Aurora Health Scientific Day

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Abstracts published within this supplement were presented at the 47th annual Advocate Aurora Health Scientific Day, held virtually on May 26, 2021. This research symposium provides a forum for disseminating results from studies conducted by faculty, fellows, residents, and other allied health professionals associated with Midwest-based health system Advocate Aurora Health, which publishes the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews.

Patient-Centered Home Cancer Screening Attitudes During Covid-19 Pandemic, Christelle El Khoury, Elizabeth Haro, Martha Alves, Marie Claire O'Dwyer, Kate Meixner, Laura Crespo Albiac, J Nicoll Capizzano, Manasi Ramakrishnan, Cullen Salada, Sherri Sheinfeld Gorin, Masahito Jimbo, Ananda Sen, Diane M. Harper

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted health care delivery of cancer screenings. The primary aim of our work was to evaluate the degree to which populations were accepting of home-based screenings for colorectal cancer (CRC) and cervical cancer (ie, primary human papillomavirus [HPV] testing). Three groups of adults having distinct health burdens that may affect acceptance of home-based cancer screening were identified through outpatient electronic medical records: those having survived a COVID-19 hospitalization; those having been positive for a non-COVID-19 respiratory illness; or those having type 2 diabetes. A total of 132 respondents (58% female) completed an online survey with hypothetical cases …

Neuroimaging Referral For Reassurance In Evaluation Of Headache With Low-Risk Features, Omar E. Fernandez

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report using:

Howard L, Wessely S, Leese M, et al. Are investigations anxiolytic or anxiogenic? A randomised controlled trial of neuroimaging to provide reassurance in chronic daily headache. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2005;76(11):1558-1564. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.2004.057851

for a patient with daily headache.

Using A Single Tablet Regimen Of Darunavir, Cobicistat, Emcitrabine, And Tenofovir Alafenamide In Virally Suppressed Hiv-1 Patients Is An Adequate Treatment Option For Controlling Hiv, Priya Kathuria

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report using:

Orkin C, Molina JM, Negredo E, et al. Efficacy and safety of switching from boosted protease inhibitors plus emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate regimens to single-tablet darunavir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide at 48 weeks in adults with virologically suppressed HIV-1 (EMERALD): a phase 3, randomised, non-inferiority trial. Lancet HIV. 2018;5(1):e23-e34. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(17)30179-0

for a patient with viriologically suppressed HIV-1.

Utilization Of Patient-Controlled Analgesia Reduces Length Of Stay Of Sickle Cell Crisis Hospitalizations, Brett M. Prestia, Talha Ramzan, Catherine Waldron, Ameer Malik, Robert M. Pallay, Candace R. Murbach, Mike Flynn, Eric Shaw Phd, Abdullah Kutlar, Daniel Lowe

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Sickle cell crisis hospitalizations are emotionally and financially burdensome to patients and healthcare systems, and processes to decrease the frequency or length of stay of these crises should be examined.

Methods

This is a multicenter retrospective hospital record review of sickle cell crisis hospitalizations as defined by ICD-10 codes (D57.1-4), from January 2016 through December 2019, examining inpatient medication administration records and length of stay among admitted adults aged 18–65 years. Patient controlled analgesia orders using morphine, hydromorphone, fentanyl and/or merperidine at any point of an admission (n=188) were compared to admissions without any patient-controlled analgesia orders (n=2,159). The …

Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis: A Diagnosis Obscured By Concomitant Recreational Drug Use, Paige Lester Ms Ii, Adam M. Franks Md, William Rollyson Ms Iv, Jenna K. Barbour Md, Matthew B. Curry Md

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (aNMDAre) is a relatively newly discovered autoimmune and inflammatory disorder affecting the limbic system. It has a clinical course that includes Prodromal, Psychiatric, Unresponsive and Hyperkinetic stages. These stages are often confused with mental health issues in the medical literature, but they also share symptoms of various drug intoxication and withdrawal states. Implicit bias in physicians regarding substance use disorder and patient demographics can impair delivery of care and outcomes in patients with aNMDAre, especially in an environment of recreational drug use. When clinical presentation aligns, this diagnosis should be investigated as soon as possible, even in …

The Relation Of Abo Blood Group To The Severity Of Coronavirus Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study From A Tertiary Care Hospital In Karachi, Fazal Ur Rehman, Syed Furrukh Omair, Fatima Memon, Bakhtawar J. Rind, Danish Ahmed Memon, Syed Ahsan Ali, Bilal Ahmed, Naureen Ali

Section of Internal Medicine

Background: Blood groups are considered to have an impact on the occurrence and severity of coronavirus disease. While among Chinese and Caucasian, blood group O individuals were less and group A were more likely to have severe disease and mortality, data on South Asians aren’t available.
Objective: This study aimed to find out the association of disease severity with blood group among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.
Materials and methodology: Data were collected on a predesigned questionnaire containing details of patient demographics, medical comorbidities, clinical presentation, and laboratory parameters. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the association of the …

Covid-19 Deliveries: Maternal Features And Neonatal Outcomes, Viviana Zlochiver, Blair Tilkens, Ana Cristina Perez Moreno, Fatima Aziz, M. Fuad Jan

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Integrated, data-driven criteria are necessary to evaluate delivery outcomes in pregnancies affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This study analyzed maternal demographics, clinical characteristics, treatments, and delivery outcomes of 85 ethnically diverse, adult pregnant women who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the time of delivery. Median maternal and gestational ages were 27 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 23–31) and 39 weeks (IQR: 37.3–40.0), respectively. Of the 85 SARS-CoV-2–positive participants, 67 (79%) had no COVID-19 symptoms at the time of routine COVID-19 admission testing, 14 (16%) reported mild COVID-19 symptoms, and 4 (5%) presented …

Does Exercise Prevent Gestational Diabetes Mellitus In Pregnant Women? A Clin-Iq, Olivia Lust, Tana Chongsuwat, Elizabeth Lanham, Ann F. Chou, Elizabeth Wickersham

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Excessive weight gain during pregnancy has been on the rise globally, leading to increased prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A diagnosis of GDM often leads to pregnancy and infant-related complications. Regular exercise may have the potential to prevent GDM. However, evidence surrounding the utility of exercise during pregnancy as an effective risk reduction intervention has been mixed. This clinical inquiry examined the role of regular exercise during pregnancy in preventing GDM in both obese and normal-weight women and analyzed specific aspects of exercise that make it an effective preventive measure. The review of evidence included 3 meta-analyses, 3 systematic …

Determining The Perception And Willingness Of Primary Care Providers To Prescribe Advanced Diabetes Technologies, Alexander O’Donovan, Sean M. Oser, Jessica Parascando, Arthur Berg, Donald E. Nease Jr., Tamara K. Oser

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Advanced diabetes technologies have produced increasingly favorable outcomes compared to older treatments. Disparities in practice resources have led to a treatment disparity by clinical setting, where endocrinologists typically prescribe far more such technologies than primary care providers (PCPs). Fully automated artificial pancreas systems (APS), which combine technologies to deliver and adjust insulin dosing continuously in response to automatic and continuous glucose monitoring, may be more straightforward for PCPs to prescribe and manage, therefore extending their benefit to more patients. We aimed to assess willingness of PCPs to prescribe advanced diabetes technologies through a cross-sectional survey of PCPs from 4 geographically …

Characteristics Of Patients Presenting With Covid-19 From Balochistan Province And Lessons Learnt, Abida Munir Badini, Aurangzeb Badini, Naeem M. Mengal, Kashmira Nanji

Department of Family Medicine

Objective: With the spread of COVID-19 in Pakistan, Balochistan province with its unique problems of lowest literacy rates in the country, limited resources and a flail health care system is reporting an increasing number of cases of COVID-19. This study discusses the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients from the Balochistan province.
Study design: Situation report Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Balochistan province of Pakistan. The completion date for the study was April 30, 2020.
Methodology: The data was retrieved from the daily situation report from the Health Department, Government of Balochistan. Descriptive statistics …

Increasing Staff Awareness And Screening Practices For Adverse Childhood Experiences At A Primary Care Clinic, Kayla Wright

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are present in approximately 60% of the adult population in the United States. There is a correlation between adverse childhood experiences and chronic health conditions as adults. Despite the evidence showing this correlation, there is a lack of screening for ACEs in the primary care setting. Many primary care providers and staff are unaware of ACEs or the correlation with chronic health conditions and substance abuse and, therefore, do not understand how to or recognize the benefits of screening in primary care. With education for providers and staff, primary care is the ideal setting to perform …

Reflections Of An Earliest Established Screening And Testing Facility For Covid-19 In The Largest Metropolis, Pakistan, Fatima Kanwal, Karishma Kanhya Lal, Asra Qureshi

Department of Family Medicine

As the world struggles to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, this article talks about the experience and findings of the first COVID-19 screening facility in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Department of Family Medicine at Aga Khan University (AKU) took initiative where COVID-19 screening of stable patients first began in a dedicated area. Since testing kits were limited and community spread had not started, nurses would screen every walk-in patient based on the presence of fever, cough, travel history and exposure to COVID-19 positive patient in the last 14 days, and advise swab testing if indicated. Out of …

Identifying Opportunities For Implementing Home Blood Pressure Monitoring In Newly Diagnosed Or Worsening Hypertension At A Family Health Clinic, Catherine Liikala

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Abstract

The literature is clear that the diagnosis, treatment, and plan of care for hypertension in adults should rely, at least in part, on ambulatory blood pressure. Using in-office blood pressures alone risks inaccurate measurements and can result in inappropriate treatments. Many clinics, however, do not adhere to this recommendation and will fall back on clinic readings which puts the patient at risk of mismanaged hypertension and polypharmacy. This project was formulated to identify the extent to which hypertensive patients were diagnosed and managed without the use of home blood pressure monitoring in a small local community clinic. This …

The Impact Of Exercise On Pregnant Women Aged 18-40 And Fetal Development, Jinisha Patwa

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

68% of those who performed minimum level exercise prior to pregnancy stopped completely during early pregnancy.

Women stop exercising during pregnancy due to worries about the impact it may have on the development of the fetus.

Starting moderate-intensity, weight-bearing exercise early in pregnancy increases placental growth rate and volume.

Exercise reduces the risks of excess gestational weight gain and high maternal body weight before pregnancy.

Physical exercise reduces the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus.