The impact of neighborhoods and friendships on interracial anxiety among medical students and residents: A report from the medical student CHANGES study

Objective

To examine the experience of interracial anxiety among health professionals and how it may affect the quality of their interactions with patients from racially marginalized populations. We explored the influence of prior interracial exposure—specifically through childhood neighborhoods, college student bodies, and friend groups—on interracial anxiety among medical students and residents. We also examined whether levels of interracial anxiety change from medical school through residency.

Data Source

Web-based longitudinal survey data from the Medical Student Cognitive Habits and Growth Evaluation Study.

Study Design

We used a retrospective longitudinal design with four observations for each trainee. The study population consisted of non-Black US medical trainees surveyed in their 1st and 4th years of medical school and 2nd and 3rd years of residency. Mixed effects longitudinal models were used to assess predictors of interracial anxiety and assess changes in interracial anxiety scores over time.

Principal Findings

In total, 3155 non-Black medical trainees were followed for 7 years. Seventy-eight percent grew up in predominantly White neighborhoods. Living in predominantly White neighborhoods and having less racially diverse friends were associated with higher levels of interracial anxiety among medical trainees. Trainees' interracial anxiety scores did not substantially change over time; interracial anxiety was highest in the 1st year of medical school, lowest in the 4th year, and increased slightly during residency.

Conclusions

Neighborhood and friend group composition had independent effects on interracial anxiety, indicating that premedical racial socialization may affect medical trainees' preparedness to interact effectively with diverse patient populations. Additionally, the lack of substantial change in interracial anxiety throughout medical training suggests the importance of providing curricular tools and structure (e.g., instituting interracial cooperative learning activities) to foster the development of healthy interracial relationships.     

Key Social Determinants to Narrow the Gap between Health-adjusted Life Expectancy and Life Expectancy in Megacities

ObjectiveImprovement in the quality of life is reflected in the narrowing of the gap between health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) and life expectancy (LE). The effect of megacity expansion on narrowing the gap is rarely reported. This study aimed to disclose this potential relationship.MethodsAnnual life tables were constructed from identified death records and population counts from multiple administrative sources in Guangzhou, China, from 2010 to 2020. Joinpoint regression was used to evaluate the temporal trend. Generalized principal component analysis and multilevel models were applied to examine the county-level association between the gap and social determinants.ResultsAlthough LE and HALE in megacities are increasing steadily, their gap is widening. Socio-economic and health services are guaranteed to narrow this gap. Increasing personal wealth, a growing number of newborns and healthy immigrants, high urbanization, and healthy aging have helped in narrowing this gap.ConclusionIn megacities, parallel LE and HALE growth should be highly considered to narrow their gap. Multiple social determinants need to be integrated as a whole to formulate public health plans.     

Hacia el buen gobierno por la salud: incorporación de la diversidad de percepciones en salud urbana

ObjectiveTo analyse the similarities and differences in the discourse surrounding the conceptualisation of health and the perceived health assets and needs in the neighborhoods and city of Bilbao in a participatory process.MethodParticipatory workshops were held with professionals, neighbors and associated citizens. The differences in perceptions of the three content blocks were analysed on the basis of the health model referred, as well as the typologies —of a more individual or structural nature— of identified health needs and assets.ResultsThe conceptualisation of health from a biopsychosocial perspective was clearer among professionals, although both profiles pointed to the importance of its social determinants. The formulation of needs and assets in health by the neighbors was made from the impact on their daily life and from a position of users with respect to a service provider administration. Among the associated citizens and professionals, intermediate and structural determinants were more frequently mentioned, as well as issues related to the administration's scope of action.ConclusionsThe inclusion of the multiplicity and diversity of perceptions in planning is key to good local government for health. To address their contradictions, a commitment by governments to effectively incorporate citizen participation is needed.     

VIROLOGICAL AND SEROLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF RABIES IN BATS FROM AN URBAN AREA IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON

The outbreaks of rabies in humans transmitted by Desmodus rotundus in 2004 and 2005, in the northeast of the Brazilian State of Para, eastern Amazon basin, made this a priority area for studies on this zoonosis. Given this, the present study provides data on this phenomenon in an urban context, in order to assess the possible circulation of the classic rabies virus (RABV) among bat species in Capanema, a town in the Amazon basin. Bats were collected, in 2011, with mist nets during the wet and dry seasons. Samples of brain tissue and blood were collected for virological and serological survey, respectively. None of the 153 brain tissue samples analyzed tested positive for RABV infection, but 50.34% (95% CI: 45.67-55.01%) of the serum samples analyzed were seropositive. Artibeus planirostris was the most common species, with a high percentage of seropositive individuals (52.46%, 95% CI: 52.31 52.60%). Statistically, equal proportions of seropositive results were obtained in the rainy and dry seasons (c² = 0.057, d.f. = 1, p = 0.88). Significantly higher proportions of males (55.96%, 95% CI: 48.96-62.96%) and adults (52.37%, 95% CI: 47.35-57.39%) were seropositive. While none of the brain tissue samples tested positive for infection, the high proportion of seropositive specimens indicates that RABV may be widespread in this urban area.     

狂犬病蛰伏数年后卷土重来的警示

[目的]警示各级政府务必重视和坚持“预防为主”的方针,采取有力措施,加强对犬类的管理,从根本上控制住“狂犬病”疫情。[方法]广泛地开展防治狂犬病健康教育,提高群众的防范意识和自我保护能力;加强部门协作,对犬只实行“管、免、灭、测”的综合性防疫措施;通过多渠道、多途径全面掌握犬伤人员的伤口处理与疫苗注射情况,对经济困难的犬伤者由政府报销疫苗费等措施保障犬伤人员得到及时处理。[结果]2005年犬伤人员伤口处置与疫苗注射率达99.67%;犬只免疫87320只,免疫率占58.21%;农村捕杀野犬、恶犬22408只、城镇限养区捕杀1189只;随机对3只家犬进行了带毒检测,带毒率达66.67%;2005年1～7月发病数10例,8～12月发病2例。[结论]政府重视,部门协作,措施具体,宣传到位,犬伤人员能及时得到正确处置是控制和降低狂犬病发病的关键。     

福州市区蚊虫孳生习性调查分析

目的:探讨福州城区蚊虫孳生习性与分布现状。方法:调查不同环境孳生地种类与分布,捕捞幼虫计数密度（条/勺）,以人工小时诱捕蚊数计算刺叮率（只/h.m）。结果:调查各类水体 33种 16257处,发现阳性水体32种45522处,阳性率27.8％。建筑工地、高层建筑地下层积水池、开放式排水沟和下水道口等环境积水是城区致倦库蚊的主要孳生环境,建筑工地积水池最高幼虫密度1065～2342条/勺,成蚊刺叮率141.5只/h.m,是普通居民区的16.2倍。白纹伊蚊的孳生环境多达28种,主要为建筑工地和高层建筑地下层水泥池、阳台积水和水缸、桶类、轮胎等容器型积水。结论:城市蚊虫孳生环境与50～60年代明显不同,建筑工地、高层建筑地下层、阳台等建筑类积水和花圃蓄水缸成为现代都市蚊虫重要的孳生环境。     

农村居民医疗服务潜在需求量及影响因素分析

目的 了解农村居民医疗服务的潜在需求及其影响因素。方法 采用分层多阶段整群抽样方法，对湖北省宜昌地区5县1839名农村居民进行问卷调查。结果 该地区治病未就诊率为13．21％，男女性未就诊率分别为12．01％，15．56％，采用Logistic回归分析方法，筛选出影响患病未就治的主要因素为性别、健康状况、对健康的重视程度、婚姻状况以及不同县等。结论 在农村要完善合作医疗保障制度，对医疗机构建设应以提高服务质量、降低成本、遏制费用增长为主要目的，并能提供更多的医疗服务，使患能及时利用医疗服务。