Primary Care Commons^™

Promoting Physical Activity Using Walking Poles In Senior Citizens Of Southern Vermont's Deerfield Valley Region, Siyeon A. Seong

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Walking poles have been shown to be beneficial in increasing physical activity and improving functional outcomes. Walking poles have been recommended during patient encounters using an informational pamphlet at Deerfield Valley Health Center in Wilmington, VT.

Promoting Strategies To Overcome Low Health Literacy And Improve Patient Understanding In Outpatient Setting, Samantha M. Siskind

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Over 36% of US adults have low health literacy. This contributes to poorer health outcomes and increased costs for individuals and health care systems. Many strategies can be used to overcome the barrier of low health literacy and improve patient understanding in clinical encounters. As health care providers have been shown to underestimate patient's needs for information and overestimate their own ability to communicate effectively with patients, these strategies should be used universally. We prepared a presentation on health literacy, its epidemiology, risk factors and implications, and strategies to overcome low health literacy and improve patient understanding. We focused most …

Attitudes Toward Influenza Vaccination, Miles W. Grunvald

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Influenza contributes to millions of dollars in healthcare expenses, lost economic productivity and morbidity and mortality of the Chittenden County, VT population. Despite the dire costs of influenza illness, yearly vaccination rates remain low in Vermont and Chittenden County. This study utilized a survey that aimed to gauge the attitudes toward influenza vaccination of patients at the Hinesburg Family Practice. Results of this study suggest that patients under 35 have lower attitude scores (p= 0.035) and that patients with high school level education or bachelor’s level education are more likely to have a negative attitude towards influenza vaccination. Only 60 …

Development Of Guidelines For Refugee Screening At Cmmc Family Medicine Residency, Lewiston, Maine, Catherine Hayes

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Lewiston Maine has the second highest number of refugees in the state of Maine, with 191 total intakes in 2015. Refugee populations face unique health concerns, and providing care for refugees requires education and development of a specialized skill set. This project provided a reference for clinic providers to assist with medical intake screening visits for refugees.

Suboxone Treatment In Caribou, Me: Evaluating Barriers And Engaging With Mid-Level Providers, Michael Ialeggio

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

The Medication Assisted Recovery (Suboxone) program in Caribou, ME was started in 2004 as a cooperative endeavor by Aroostook County Mental Health Center and "Pines Health Servies". Since its inception, the program has experienced provider attrition. This project aimed to evaluate barriers to becoming and remaining a provider of Opiate Replacement Therapy, and to engage and inform local mid-level providers who will soon be eligible to become providers under the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act passed in July 2016.

Fighting The Flu - Devising A Novel Approach To Address Patient Concerns With The Seasonal Influenza Vaccine - South Burlington, Vt, Theodore Cisu

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

In Vermont, it is estimated that influenza-like illness is responsible for $8.9 million annually in direct medical costs. The flu vaccination rate ranges from 33% to 56% across the nation, and Vermonters are vaccinated at a rate of approximately 49% each year. This program aims to provide a novel educational material to patients, specifically addressing concerns with the safety of the seasonal influenza vaccine.

Williston, Vt: Increasing The Awareness Of Hypertension Implications And Sequelae, Tinh Thanh Huynh

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Hypertension is the most common reason for health office visits in the US and for the use of prescription drugs. Many patients fail to truly understand the diagnosis of high blood pressure and the various health consequences that comes with poor regulation such as cardiovascular disease, stroke and renal disease. This project was aimed to increase patient education on the implications of hypertension and its complications.

Translating Knowledge For Action Against Stroke--Using 5-Minute Videos For Stroke Survivors And Caregivers To Improve Post-Stroke Outcomes: Study Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial (Movies4stroke)., Ayeesha Kamran Kamal, Adeel Khoja, Bushra Usmani, Nargis Asad, Asma Ahmed, Iqbal Azam, Sarah Saleem, Saleem Sayani

Department of Medicine

Background: Two thirds of the global mortality of stroke is borne by low and middle income countries (LMICs). Pakistan is the world’s sixth most populous country with a stroke-vulnerable population and is without a single dedicated chronic care center. In order to provide evidence for a viable solution responsive to this health care gap, and leveraging the existing >70 % mobile phone density, we thought it rational to test the effectiveness of a mobile phone-based video intervention of short 5-minute movies to educate and support stroke survivors and their primary caregivers.

Methods: Movies4Stroke will be a randomized control, outcome assessor …

Dashing Away Hypertension: Evaluating The Efficacy Of The Dietary Approaches To Stop Hypertension Diet In Controlling High Blood Pressure, Preeya Shah Phd, Kyle D. Maxwell, Joseph I. Shapiro Md

Biochemistry and Microbiology

The dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet has been developed and popularized as a non-pharmaceutical intervention for high blood pressure reduction since 1995. However, to date, a comprehensive description of the biochemical rationale behind the diet’s principal guidelines has yet to be compiled. With rising interest for healthy and reliable life-style modifications to combat cardiovascular disease, this review aims to compile the most recent and relevant studies on this topic and make an informed assessment as to the efficacy of and underlying mechanisms operant in the DASH diet. Specifically, the merits of lowering dietary intake of sodium and saturated …

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: A Case-Based Review, Kristen H. Reynolds

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition of increased microbial load in the small intestine. The microbes feed on dietary carbohydrates and starches via fermentation, leading to gas production, inflammation and damage to the lining of the small intestine. Clinical presentation is varied, including abdominal pain, bloating, malabsorption and systemic symptoms. SIBO is associated with many challenging and chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and chronic pain syndromes, and has been shown to be a causative factor in two out of three cases of irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms improve with antimicrobial treatment, but recurrence is common. Many providers …

Should Primary Care Physicians Address Sleep To Improve Weight Loss In Obese Patients? A Clin-Iq, Kjersti E. Knox

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Obesity is a commonly encountered problem in the primary care setting. Simultaneously, sleep is seen to hold an increasingly important role in many components of health and wellness. A review of the literature was performed to determine if improving sleep positively impacts weight loss in obese adults. The evidence reviewed suggests that improving patients’ sleep may initially improve patient weight loss; however, current studies do not show a sustained statistically significant impact. Until higher powered and higher quality studies are completed, there are no clear evidence-based guidelines for primary care physicians to follow regarding sleep and obesity.

Velamentous Cord: A Dangerous Case Complicated By A Rural Population#11;#11;, Adam M. Franks, Carolyn Curtis, Shawndra Barker

Shawndra Barker MD

A velamentous cord insertion occurs when the umbilical cord’s Wharton jelly fails to reach the placenta, due to early placental atrophy around the insertion site, leaving a segment of unprotected vessels running through the thin membranes of the amniotic sac. Figure 1 depicts the velamentous cord insertion.

Velamentous Cord: A Dangerous Case Complicated By A Rural Population, Adam Franks, Md, Carolyn Curtis, Md, Shawndra Barker, Md

Shawndra Barker MD

A velamentous cord insertion occurs when the umbilical cord’s Wharton jelly fails to reach the placenta, due to early placental atrophy around the insertion site, leaving a segment of unprotected vessels running through the thin membranes of the amniotic sac. This area of weakness exposes a threat to the well-being of the fetus through acute hemorrhage and both acute and chronic restriction of nutrition. With advances in technology, resolution capabilities of ultrasounds allow for antenatal diagnosis, when previously this was impossible. With this knowledge, considerations for screening and management of this pathology are essential when dealing with a rural population …

Velamentous Cord: A Dangerous Case Complicated By A Rural Population#11;#11;, Adam M. Franks, Carolyn Curtis, Shawndra Barker

Adam M. Franks, MD

A velamentous cord insertion occurs when the umbilical cord’s Wharton jelly fails to reach the placenta, due to early placental atrophy around the insertion site, leaving a segment of unprotected vessels running through the thin membranes of the amniotic sac. Figure 1 depicts the velamentous cord insertion.

Velamentous Cord: A Dangerous Case Complicated By A Rural Population, Adam Franks, Md, Carolyn Curtis, Md, Shawndra Barker, Md

Adam M. Franks, MD

A velamentous cord insertion occurs when the umbilical cord’s Wharton jelly fails to reach the placenta, due to early placental atrophy around the insertion site, leaving a segment of unprotected vessels running through the thin membranes of the amniotic sac. This area of weakness exposes a threat to the well-being of the fetus through acute hemorrhage and both acute and chronic restriction of nutrition. With advances in technology, resolution capabilities of ultrasounds allow for antenatal diagnosis, when previously this was impossible. With this knowledge, considerations for screening and management of this pathology are essential when dealing with a rural population …

Residual Barriers For Utilization Of Maternal And Child Health Services: Community Perceptions From Rural Pakistan., Zahid Memon, Shehla Zaidi, Atif Riaz

Community Health Sciences

Low utilization of maternal and child care services in rural areas has constrained Pakistan from meeting targets of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5. This study explores community barriers in accessing Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services in ten remote rural districts of Pakistan. It further presents how the barriers differ across a range of MCH services, and also whether the presence of Community Health Workers (CHWs) reduces client barriers. Qualitative methods were used involving altogether sixty focus group discussions with mothers, their spouses and community health workers. Low awareness, formidable distances, expense, and poorly functional services were the …

Can Contracted Out Health Facilities Improve Access, Equity, And Quality Of Maternal And Newborn Health Services? Evidence From Pakistan., Shehla Zaidi, Atif Riaz, F. Rabbani, Iqbal Azam Syed, Syeda Nida Imran, Nousheen Pradhan, Gul Nawaz Khan Nawaz Khan

Community Health Sciences

BACKGROUND:

The case of contracting out government health services to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has been weak for maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services, with documented gains being mainly in curative services. We present an in-depth assessment of the comparative advantages of contracting out on MNCH access, quality, and equity, using a case study from Pakistan.

METHODS:

An end-line, cross-sectional assessment was conducted of government facilities contracted out to a large national NGO and government-managed centres serving as controls, in two remote rural districts of Pakistan. Contracting out was specific for augmenting MNCH services but without contractual performance incentives. A …

Velamentous Cord: A Dangerous Case Complicated By A Rural Population, Adam Franks, Md, Carolyn Curtis, Md, Shawndra Barker, Md

Marshall Journal of Medicine

A velamentous cord insertion occurs when the umbilical cord’s Wharton jelly fails to reach the placenta, due to early placental atrophy around the insertion site, leaving a segment of unprotected vessels running through the thin membranes of the amniotic sac. This area of weakness exposes a threat to the well-being of the fetus through acute hemorrhage and both acute and chronic restriction of nutrition. With advances in technology, resolution capabilities of ultrasounds allow for antenatal diagnosis, when previously this was impossible. With this knowledge, considerations for screening and management of this pathology are essential when dealing with a rural population …

Exploring Attitudes Toward Physician-Nurse Collaboration Within A Team-Based Primary Care Environment, Tom Karagiannis Pharmd, C. Coschignano, Sarah E. Hegarty Mphil, L. Polenzani, E. Messina, R. Zoli, Mohammadreza Hojat Phd, Vittorio Maio Pharmd,Msph

Sarah E Hegarty

No abstract provided.

Severity Of Depression, Anxious Distress And The Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease In A Swedish Population-Based Cohort., Aysha Almas, Yvonne Forsell,, Romaina Iqbal, Imre Janszky,, Jette Moller

Department of Medicine

Background: Depression is known to be associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This population-based cohort study aimed to determine the association between depression of varying severity and risk for CVD and to study the effect of concomitant anxious distress on this association.

Methods: We utilized data from a longitudinal cohort study of mental health, work and relations among adults (20–64 years), with a total of 10,443 individuals. Depression and anxious distress were assessed using psychiatric rating scales and defined according to DSM-5. Outcomes were register-based and self-reported cardiovascular diseases.

Findings: Overall increased odds ratios of 1.5 to 2.6 were seen …