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.     

Emergency department patient payer status after implementation of the Affordable Care Act: A nationwide analysis using NHAMCS data

ObjectiveTo evaluate changes in insurance status among emergency department (ED) patients presenting in the two years immediately before and after full implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).MethodsWe evaluated National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) Emergency Department public use data for 2012–2015, categorizing patients as having any insurance (private; Medicare; Medicaid; workers' compensation) or no insurance. We compared the pre- and post-ACA frequency of insurance coverage—overall and within the older (≥65), working-age (18–64) and pediatric (<18) subpopulations—using unadjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. We also conducted a difference-in-differences analysis comparing the change in insurance coverage among working-age patients with that observed for older Medicare-eligible patients, while controlling for sex, race and underlying temporal trends.ResultsOverall, the proportion of ED patients with any insurance did not significantly change from 2012 to 2013 to 2014–2015 (74.2% vs 77.7%) but the proportion of working-age adult patients with at least one form of insurance increased significantly, from 66.0% to 71.8% (OR 1.31, CI: 1.13–1.52). The difference-in-differences analysis confirmed the change in insurance coverage among working-age adults was greater than that seen in the reference population of Medicare-eligible adults (AOR 1.70, CI: 1.29–2.23). The increase was almost entirely attributable to increased Medicaid coverage.ConclusionIn the first two years following full implementation of the ACA, there was a significant increase in the proportion of working-age adult ED patients who had at least one form of health insurance. The increase appeared primarily associated with expansion of Medicaid.     

微信小程序合并时间管理器在眼科患儿监护人出院宣教中的应用效果

目的 探讨微信小程序合并时间管理器在眼科患儿出院宣教中的应用效果,为眼科护士出院宣教干预提供借鉴。方法 采用便利抽样法,选取98例眼科患儿监护人作为研究对象,将2021年2月-5月住院的49例患儿的监护人作为对照组,进行眼科常规出院宣教,将2021年6月-9月住院的49例患儿的监护人作为观察组,使用微信小程序合并时间管理器进行出院宣教干预。比较2组患儿监护人对疾病相关知识知晓情况、满意度及按时复诊人数。结果 干预1个月后,观察组疾病相关知识问卷得分、满意度得分及按时复诊率均高于对照组(t=-5.223,P=0.001;t=-5.419,P=0.001;χ²=6.874,P=0.009)。结论 使用微信小程序合并时间管理器在眼科病房进行出院宣教,能有效提高患儿监护人出院后疾病相关知识水平、按时就诊率及监护人满意度,提升护理服务质量。     

Encouraging COVID-19 vaccination via an evolutionary theoretical approach: A randomized controlled study in Japan

ObjectiveWe aimed to examine the effect of a message that target the fundamental human motive of kin care on COVID-19 vaccination recommendations among participants with young children, based on an evolutionary theoretical approach.MethodsParticipants with young children (n = 969) were randomly assigned either to a group that received an intervention message that targeted the fundamental motive of kin care, or that targeted the fundamental motive of disease avoidance, or a control message. Intention to receive COVID-19 vaccination was assessed both before and after reading the messages. A one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s or Games–Howell test was conducted.ResultsAn intervention message targeting the fundamental motive of kin care and disease avoidance significantly increased intention of vaccination versus a control message (p < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionThe evolutionary theoretical approach that focuses on fundamental human motives has the potential to extend the communication strategy for COVID-19 vaccination recommendations.Practice implicationsHealth professionals should deliver messages that target the fundamental motive of kin care as well as messages about the susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 and vaccine efficacy (e.g., “Get vaccinated against COVID-19 for your child’s sake, because if you are infected, you will be unable to care for your child.”)     

A discourse analysis of health provider interactions with parents who are reluctant to vaccinate

ObjectiveVaccine hesitancy is a persistent barrier to vaccination uptake, and health professionals report interactions with such parents to be difficult. Using discourse analytic techniques, we examine the foundation of a therapeutic relationship: the display of empathy and attempts to build rapport, in consultations between immunisation specialists and vaccine reluctant parents.MethodsConsultations between consenting clinicians and parents in two Specialist Immunisation Clinics in Australia were recorded. Twelve conversations between the clinicians and parents were analysed using interactional sociolinguistic (IS) discourse analytic methods.ResultsThis paper takes a case study approach by citing two interactions that exemplify the interactional work of the consultants as they strive to engender mutual understanding and goodwill, noting examples of discursive choices that demonstrate empathy and the building of rapport.ConclusionAwareness of discourse strategies that interweave relational and clinical goals enable a more nuanced understanding of communication skills that support a guiding partnership in vaccine related decisions with parents.Practical implicationsThrough highlighting the strategic interactional work that displays empathy and builds rapport, we can inform educational approaches and build a repertoire of communication choices that strengthen the communication skills of health professionals.     

Cardioprotective effects of sinomenine in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat model

BackgroundIschemia reperfusion (I/R) play an imperative role in the expansion of cardiovascular disease. Sinomenine (SM) has been exhibited to possess antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anticarcinogenic properties. The aim of the study was scrutinized the cardioprotective effect of SM against I/R injury in rat.MethodsRat were randomly divided into normal control (NC), I/R control and I/R + SM (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg), respectively. Ventricular arrhythmias, body weight and heart weight were estimated. Antioxidant, inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory mediators and plasmin system indicator were accessed.ResultsPre-treated SM group rats exhibited the reduction in the duration and incidence of ventricular fibrillation, ventricular ectopic beat (VEB) and ventricular tachycardia along with suppression of arrhythmia score during the ischemia (30 and 120 min). SM treated rats significantly (P < 0.001) altered the level of antioxidant parameters. SM treatment significantly (P < 0.001) repressed the level of creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), creatine kinase (CK) and troponin I (Tnl). SM treated rats significantly (P < 0.001) repressed the tissue factor (TF), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and plasma fibrinogen (Fbg) and inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators.ConclusionOur result clearly indicated that SM plays anti-arrhythmia effect in I/R injury in the rats via alteration of oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction.     

T1~T2期乳腺癌保乳术后化疗后程同步大分割放疗前瞻性Ⅰ期临床研究

目的 前瞻性评估T1~T2期乳腺癌保乳术后化疗后程大分割放疗的不良反应和耐受性，以及在缩短治疗时间、减轻患者经济负担等方面的价值。方法 共入组20例T1~T2期乳腺癌保乳术后患者，所有患者于末次多西他赛化疗前开始大分割放疗。观察急性放射反应、治疗完成率及无病生存率、住院时间及住院费用等。结果 治疗完成率100%。主要不良反应为血液学毒性（白细胞减少）及皮肤反应，患者均可耐受。中位随访时间为30.1个月，随访率100%。美容效果良好率100%。平均总治疗时间为4周，总住院治疗费用节省约1万元。21个月无病生存率为100%。结论 T1~T2期乳腺癌保乳术后可耐受同步大分割放化疗，局部控制好，美容效果佳，且具有较高的卫生经济学价值。     

中医院校预防医学课程思政的教学改革和实践

“课程思政”是当前高等教学中加强大学生思想政治教育的主要途径之一。本文通过探索中医院校“预防医学”课程思政的建设,从教学内容、教学方法、教学团队建设、考核方式四个方面论述了专业知识传授和思政教育育人的有机融合,在教学中实施“知识传授”与“价值引领”同向同行,培养德术兼备的“卓越医生”。     

浅谈口腔医学硕士研究生科研作图能力的培养

科研作图是展示研究数据的主要形式,也是科研素养的重要体现。口腔医学硕士研究生是接触科学研究的第一站,然而目前的研究生教育环节对科研作图能力缺乏系统性培养,许多研究生在科研作图中存在许多不规范的问题,本文针对这一问题进行初步探讨。本文分析比较了常用作图工具Microsoft Excel、Origin和Graphpad Prism的特点;以学校口腔医学硕士的培养过程为参考,分析目前硕士研究生科研作图方面存在的主要问题及应对策略。发现不同作图软件具有不同的风格特点,当前硕士研究生作图存在风格不统一、拼图不规范、图注不规范等问题,应当根据自身需求合理选择作图工具,提升作图能力。科研作图是科研能力的重要方面,应当加强口腔医学硕士研究生作图能力的培养。