Family Medicine Commons^™

Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: A Case Report Of Rapidly Progressive Dementia, Diane Olski, Karissa Charles, Cristin Grant, Courtnee Harpine, Shannon Leonard, Sarah Puim

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Preparation Of Physician Assistant Students To Manage Patients Living With Hiv/Aids In A Primary Care Setting, Austin Parrish

SIU Journal of Medical Science Scholarly Works

This study examined Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) educational exposure among clinical-phase physician assistant (PA) students and evaluated how well current curricula prepare future providers for HIV prevention and care. A cross-sectional survey of 109 PA students assessed HIV-related knowledge, clinical exposure, and awareness of key public health concepts, while lecture materials from 30 PA programs were analyzed for curricular content. Students demonstrated moderate but incomplete baseline knowledge, and fewer than one-quarter reported observing PrEP prescribing during primary care rotations. Awareness of Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) was limited, with only …

Barriers To Breast Cancer Screening In Native Hawaiian Women, Luna M. Noel

SIU Journal of Medical Science Scholarly Works

ABSTRACT:

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to identify barriers for breast cancer screening in Native Hawaiian (NH) Women, identify ways to overcome those barriers, and increase breast cancer screening in NH Women.

Method: A PubMed literature search was conducted with search terms barriers to reasons to screen for breast cancer, barriers to breast cancer screening, barriers to breast cancer screening in Hawaii, barriers to breast cancer screening in Native Hawaiian women, breast cancer screening AND Native Hawaiian Women. Seventeen pertinent articles were retrieved and serve as the basis for this clinical review.

Results: Some barriers to mammography for …

Factors Associated With Colorectal Cancer Screening Decision-Making Among Older Adults At The Comprehensive Geriatric Clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Chalisa Thanapura, Nawasiri Siriprasert, Thacha Pithayapibulpong, Bhorn-Ake Manasvanich, Vichai Viriyautsahakul

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Abstract

Background: The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Thailand is constantly increasing, and is highest in individuals aged 60-75 years. However, the number of older individuals undergoing CRC screening remains suboptimal.

Objective: This study aimed to identify factors associated with CRC screening decision-making among Thai older adults attending the Comprehensive Geriatric Clinic at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. The secondary objective was to identify factors associated with the choice of screening method—colonoscopy versus fecal occult blood testing (FOBT)

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a data record form at the Comprehensive Geriatrics Clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, …

Measuring Family Involvement In Early Intervention Services For Children Who Are Dhh: A Scoping Review, Marie Martinez, Blair Richlin, Kristina Blaiser

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Background: Family involvement after a child has been identified as deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) is often recommended as “best practice” for Family Centered Early Intervention (FCEI; Szarkowski et al., 2024) and a catalyst for improved outcomes. Defining actions of a family will inform high-quality family support programs. This scoping review aims to explore and document family involvement as well as the current systems of measurement used in early intervention DHH family-centered services.

Purpose: The specific aim of this scoping review was to identify the operational definitions of family involvement and metrics used with families of children who are …

"I Can See Where This Is Taking Me": Medical Students' Perceptions Of Humanities Courses At Aga Khan University, Kenya, Catherine Gathu, Marthaclaire Zammit, Urvi Saboo, Robert Opoka

Family Medicine, East Africa

Background Humanities courses in medical training are increasingly recognized as essential for developing empathetic, reflective and socially responsive physicians. Although well-established globally, their integration into medical education in African contexts remains limited. In Kenya, humanities are often peripheral within curricula dominated by biomedical sciences and clinical medicine. Aga Khan University (AKU), Nairobi, has introduced a novel medical curriculum that embeds seven core humanities courses as central components of the initial phase of its MBChB program. This study explored students’ perceptions and lived experiences of these humanities courses.

Methods A retrospective descriptive study using an embedded mixed-methods design was conducted among …

The Primary Care Brief Intervention Competency Assessment Tool (Bi-Cat): Examining Reliability And Validity, Arielle Guillod

Dissertations

Within primary care, the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model integrates behavioral health services into medical settings through brief, population‑based interventions delivered by behavioral health consultants (BHCs). Although effective performance in this role requires competencies distinct from traditional mental health practice, few psychometrically sound tools exist to assess clinical skills in primary care. The Brief Intervention Competency Assessment Tool (BICAT) is commonly used for this purpose but lacks published evidence supporting its reliability and validity. This dissertation examined the psychometric properties of the BICAT across two studies. Study 1 evaluated factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity in a heterogeneous …

Feasibility Study Of An Artificial Intelligence Chatbot-Powered Cognitive-Behavioral Lifestyle Modification Program, Evans Forman, Charlotte Hagerman, Asher Hong, Zhuoran Huang, Hannah Mccausland, Jasmine Sun, Lauren Taylor, Meghan Butryn, Preetha Chatterjee, Ramtin Ehsani, Nawal Syed

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

Background: Approximately 2 billion adults seek lifestyle modification to improve their health and well-being. However, because of cost and access barriers, only a tiny fraction receive gold-standard lifestyle modification programs led by trained coaches. Digital programs without human coaches are more disseminable but have limited efficacy. Recent advances in large language model (LLM) AI chatbots have the potential to revolutionize digital programs by emulating human coaches, offering a safe, low-cost, and scalable lifestyle modification intervention. Yet, no studies have developed and tested such a program. Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and user engagement of a new …

Assessment And Intervention For Health Behavior Change In Primary Care Across The Lifespan: A Guide For Residents In Primary Care Specialties, Stacy A. Ogbeide, Alexis Ramos, Bridget Murphy, Angel Ogbeide

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

More than 45% of Americans have at least 1 chronic disease, with chronic disease also being a leading cause of death in the United States. In primary care settings, about 75% of visits are for management of multiple chronic diseases. Due to the increasing medical complexity of patients who present to primary care, these numbers make it more challenging for Primary Care Clinicians (PCCs) to manage these conditions alone and point to the need for innovative solutions to chronic disease care. One evidence-based innovation is team-based care to improve the treatment of these conditions. Clinicians such as clinical pharmacists, registered …

The Geography Of Faces, Faith Abraham

be Still

The Geography of Faces takes its title from the idea that a face, seen across decades, becomes a kind of landscape—something you learn to read not at a glance but through accumulated return visits. For Dr. Vasquez, an older physician who has seen so much, her patients' faces are the territory she has spent a lifetime learning to navigate.

The patients are chosen to represent different dimensions of that longevity. They show affection built on years of small battles, continuity across a family, autonomy that is respected. Together, these patients make the case that primary care is less about problems …

Determinants Of Corporal Punishment And Severe Physical Punishment In Egypt: A Mixed-Methods Analysis For Child Protection Policy, Marwa Moustafa Nassef

Theses and Dissertations

Corporal punishment (CP) and severe physical punishment (SPP) remain a major public health, child rights, and child protection policy concern. In Egypt, despite legislative reforms, survey-weighted analysis of the 2021 Egypt Family Health Survey (EFHS) 2021 (CAPMAS, 2022) reveals prevalence rates of 60.5% for CP and 27.4% for SPP among children aged 1–14 (author’s calculations using EFHS-2021, n=7623), yet evidence distinguishing the determinants of routine corporal punishment from escalation to severe physical punishment remains limited in low- and middle-income contexts. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological framework, this mixed-methods study identifies key drivers of CP and its escalation to SPP among Egyptian …

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Use In The Management Of Type 2 Diabetes In Primary Care: Cross-Sectional Survey Of Provider Comfort, Ryley Harris, Catherine Guariglia, Amy Cunningham

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

This study assessed primary care providers’ comfort with prescribing and using continuous glucose monitoring technology for type 2 diabetes management, identifying key barriers and educational needs.

Beta2-Agonist And Anti-Inflammatory Combination Therapy For Asthma Rescue: A Paradigm Shift In Asthma Care, Neil Skolnik, Jessica Stieritz, Julie Akers, Timothy Hudd, Wendy L. Wright, Ileen Gilbert, Nazrin Yusufova, Bill Cook, Emily Robb, Henry Naddaf

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) report and national and international guidelines have shifted away from short-acting beta2-agonist (SABA)-only bronchodilators as first-line asthma rescue therapy, recognizing that both bronchoconstriction and inflammation underlie the increase in symptoms preceding an exacerbation. Instead, the GINA Committee supports strategies to reduce inflammation, such as anti-inflammatory reliever (AIR) therapy (as-needed, low-dose inhaled corticosteroid [ICS]–formoterol or SABA–ICS for symptom relief) and single maintenance and reliever therapy (SMART) or maintenance and reliever therapy (MART; i.e., ICS–formoterol used as both maintenance and as-needed rescue therapy). This narrative review discusses the rationale behind the move toward AIR and SMART …

Where Housing And Healthcare Meet: Ed Utilization Through On-Site Nursing And Fmr Collaboration, Bennett Gosiker, Tara Ahmadi, Bessie Liu, Naeemah Munir, Viet Nguyen, Carrie B Rubenstein

All Poster Presentations

No abstract provided.

Silent Bones, Visible Changes: Increasing Osteoporosis Screening At Swedish Fmr, Alissa Kummer, Devin Beecher, Tara Ahmadi, Amanda Maxwell

All Podium Presentations

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of A Provider-Focused Multimodal Educational Initiative To Address Polypharmacy And High-Risk Medication Use In A Home And Community Medicare Advantage Setting, Jennifer Butler-Rickard, Kellie Olsen, Eileen Stuart-Shor, Craig Drew

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

BACKGROUND: Community-dwelling adults are at risk for adverse drug events such as falls, hospitalizations, cognitive decline, drug-to-drug interactions, and mortality related to high-risk medication use and polypharmacy, often defined as concurrent use of five or more different medications. Lack of provider knowledge of polypharmacy and high-risk medication use as well as suboptimal communication with primary care providers can lead to gaps in medication management in this vulnerable population.

LOCAL PROBLEM: Patients seen by the Comprehensive Annual Health Assessment Program advanced practice clinicians (APCs) at the project Medicare Advantage insurer organization often experience polypharmacy. Given the lack of provider knowledge of …

Health Practices And Use Of Traditional Medicine Among Asian Indian Immigrants In The United States: A Pilot Study, Parita Patel, Anil N.F. Aranha

Medical Student Research Symposium

Title: Health Practices and Use of Traditional Medicine Among Asian Indian Immigrants in the United States: A Pilot Study

Authors

Parita Patel, MPH¹; Anil N.F. Aranha, PhD^1,2

Medical Education¹, Internal Medicine², Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Traditional and alternative medicine (TAM), including Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, and home remedies, remains widely used among Asian Indian (AI) immigrants in the United States alongside Western medicine. Cultural familiarity, family influence, and perceived safety shape these practices. This pilot study examined TAM prevalence, patterns, and perceptions among AI immigrants and …

Getting To The Heart Of The Problem: Blood Pressure Management Through Medication Adherence, Mallory G. Livengood

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Clinical hypertension affects one in four adults globally, making it the most common chronic condition. Despite its widespread impact, hypertension can be prevented, as it represents the most modifiable risk factor in preventing cardiovascular disease. The primary purpose of this evidence-based project was to determine whether a one-month follow-up with a healthcare provider improved medication adherence through enhanced hypertension management. Twelve eligible participants were selected from a primary clinic located in Northwest Indiana, based on their newly initiated anti-hypertensive medications or who required a medication adjustment due to poor hypertension management. Each participant’s preferred method of communication was noted, and …

Navigating The Nicu Without Words: A Case Study Of A Spanish-Speaking Mother’S Healthcare Experience, Emma Norris

Poster Presentations

Research on NICU experiences largely focuses on majority-language families; non-English-speaking families are understudied (Cleveland, 2008). The Family Integrated Care model promotes parent-infant connection and shared decision-making to improve outcomes (Wreesmann et al., 2020). Language barriers impede parent-provider communication, increasing miscommunication and parental anxiety (Kynoe et al., 2020; Ardal et al., 2011). The purpose of this research is to explore communication experiences and barriers between English-speaking and bilingual NICU nurses and a Spanish-speaking NICU mother.

Participant Recruitment, Baseline Characteristics And Burden Of Cardiometabolic Risk Markers Among Adults With Prediabetes In Kenya: Insights From The Fermented Foods And Prediabetes Study, Rosebella Iseme, Alex Muia, Jacob Shabani, Samuel Mucheru, Catherine Gathu, Eliphas Gitonga, Redempta Mutisya, Peter Kioko, Jalal Safipour, Cornelia Witthöft

Population Health, East Africa

Aims

Methods

Results …

Training Fm Residents In Prep Is "Hiv Possible", M Ellis Jaruzel, Carlie Nikel

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) offers the promise of dramatically reducing the risk of HIV transmission. Institutions in public health believe that PrEP is key to ending the HIV epidemic and improving access is central to this program. Prior literature has suggested that discomfort discussing sexual behaviors and STIs inhibit prescribing PrEP in primary care settings. Given the anticipated need for competent prescription of PrEP in primary care settings as a future routine part of clinical practice, a large (10/10/10) midwestern family medicine residency program designed and implemented a sexual health and PrEP OSCE in consultation with experts from the state (Michigan) …

Residency As A Rite Of Passage: Assessing Liminality In Night Float And Improving Competency Evaluations, Lily Anderson-Chavarria, James Meza, Frank Mueller, Jianming Lau

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Purpose/Background: ACGME emphasizes competency-based evaluation of post-graduate education. However, written evaluations using averaged Likert Scales with minimal anchoring to real experiences is a sub-optimal method of evaluating resident competence. Through qualitative research, we explored resident’s own reflections on their transition into competent physicians and attempted to identify an alternative model for resident assessment. Based on informal observations, we predicted that night float rotations in the second-year curriculum are determinative for residents to achieve competence in clinical care. We further hypothesized that residents’ experiences mirror a Rite of Passage marked by rituals of separation, transition and reintegration, with night float serving …

Impact Of Innovative Interprofessional Practice And Education Intervention Led By Graduate Medical Education Resident Physicians With School-Based Nursing In 32 School Districts, Christoffer A. Amdahl, Hans Drawbert, Sadra Forati, Tyler Fields, James Mantil, Afsha Rais Kaisani, Marci Ayers, Michele L. Mccarroll Phd

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

School nurses play a critical role in student well-being, underscoring their growing importance in both education and health care systems. Research consistently demonstrates their contributions to individual student care and broader population health.

Methods

This resident-led project explored community-based partnerships to facilitate mutual learning between school nurses and graduate medical education (GME) physicians. Conducted during the 2023–2024 academic year, this quality initiative (QI) involved the Medical City Healthcare (HCA Healthcare) GME programs and North Texas school districts. Educational resources were delivered through in-person teaching sessions led by resident physicians and hands-on medical simulations. School nurses who attended the Continuing …

Powering Up Clinical Scholarship In Santa Fe Family Medicine, Evelyn Wang

HSLIC Faculty and Staff Instructional Resources

This presentation introduces family medicine residents and faculty in Santa Fe to clinical scholarship pathways, highlighting research question formulation, literature search strategies, full-text access tools, and HSLIC services that support evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and publication.

Breakthroughs In Cervical Cancer Screening: Hpv Self-Collection At Pmg Milwaukie Family Medicine Clinic, Brandon Bartlett, Sataj Johnson, Emily Miyasako, Rachel Gallagher, Daniel Ruegg

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Background: Cervical cancer screening is a cornerstone of preventative healthcare and cancer screening in primary care. Based on data from the CDC, in the US alone, the rate of new cervical cancers each year is ~13,000, accounts for ~4,000 deaths annually, and disproportionally effects people of color and people of low SES (CDC, 2025). In our clinic (PMG Milwaukie), the rate of cervical cancer screening has remained around 70% for years, which is below the national average of ~75% (Healthy People, 2021). Primary HPV screening with self-collected swabs has been used successfully for years outside of the US, improving screening …

Increasing Structured Inpatient Teaching In A Family Medicine Residency, Eric Waelbroeck, Mh Choe

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Background: What is not measured cannot be improved. Residents at Providence Milwaukie Family Medicine Residency identified a need to increase structured teaching on inpatient rotations. Other projects aimed at increasing structured teaching during family medicine training have demonstrated improvements in resident confidence in key areas of practice, licensing exam performance, and resident satisfaction with their training. However, without a system of measurement, the number of teaching opportunities cannot be reliably improved. Objectives: Develop a method of documenting structured inpatient teaching that occurs at Providence Milwaukie Hospital. Then, implement interventions using a quality improvement model to increase structured teaching over time. …

A Mild Case Of Pseudoachondroplasia In A Child: Lessons For Long-Term Primary Care, Alec J. Pupo D.O., Connor J. Stinson D.O., Autumn Dye D.O.

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

Background: Pseudoachondroplasia (PSACH) is a rare autosomal dominant skeletal dysplasia caused by pathogenic variants in the cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) gene. It is classically characterized by early-onset growth failure, disproportionate short stature, progressive epiphyseal dysplasia, and premature degenerative joint disease. Although phenotypic variability has been reported, PSACH is often regarded as a uniformly severe condition with predictable orthopedic morbidity.

Case Presentation: We report an eleven-year-old female with genetically confirmed PSACH who demonstrates an unexpectedly mild clinical phenotype, despite a maternal history of severe disease requiring bilateral total hip replacement during adolescence. The patient exhibited mild hip dysplasia, evolving genu …

Superior Mediastinal Cut-Off Measurements In Chest Radiographs For Screening Of Silent Thoracic Aortic Diseases, Kantheera Leesmidt, Boonyarit Sintuvikaiwong, Apichaya Sripariwuth

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Objective: To determine cut-off values for superior mediastinal width and the mediastinal width-to-thoracic cage ratio from chest radiographs for the early detection of unrecognized thoracic aortic diseases. Additionally, this study aims to enhance diagnostic strategies for identifying aortic abnormalities.

Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis included 152 subjects who underwent both computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the thoracic aorta and chest radiograph between April 2007 and January 2021. Superior mediastinal width was measured at 3 levels on chest radiographs. Thoracic CTA findings were categorized into normal and abnormal groups, the latter comprising aortic dissection, intramural hematoma, penetrating atherosclerotic …

Measurable Gains In Understanding Interprofessional Competencies: Insights From Medical Student Clerkship Observation Of A Nicu Graduate Follow-Up Clinic, Grace Berentson, Liliana Bronner, Neil Kalsi, Paige Hardy, Brianna Brei, Kerry Miller

Posters and Presentations: Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

Diagnosis And Characterization Of Thyroid Dysfunction In Patients Evaluated In Primary Care In A Rural Zone Of Honduras, Javier Shafick Asfura, Travis Wesley Harris, Amanda Reeck, María Fernanda Chévez

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Background: Thyroid disorders are prevalent and frequently underdiagnosed in primary care, particularly in resource-limited rural areas. Their nonspecific symptoms complicate early recognition and treatment. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and describe the clinical reasoning, diagnostic strategies, and laboratory findings among adults evaluated with TSH testing in rural Honduras. Methods: A retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at Hospital Loma de Luz in Balfate, Honduras. Adult patients aged ≥18 years who underwent diagnostic TSH testing between January 1, 2022, and January 31, 2023, were included. Patients with prior thyroid diagnoses or current pregnancy were …