Southern medical journal
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Previous studies have characterized the negative effects of graduate medical education on physicians; however, there is limited longitudinal data on how physicians' well-being changes during their training. This study aimed to demonstrate and quantify changes to trainees' wellness and health habits during the course of their first 2 years of graduate medical education. ⋯ Residents' health and wellness habits deteriorated during internship and did not improve in the second year of residency. Efforts to promote healthy habits in this population should be a priority.
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Southern medical journal · Feb 2020
Utilization of Healthcare Resources by HIV-Positive Children in the United States: A National Perspective.
We characterized and estimated the cost of inpatient hospital utilization by US pediatric patients who tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). ⋯ The results suggest that pediatric patients who were HIV positive were significantly older, from lower-income areas, and members of minority groups. They underwent more procedures during hospitalization, incurred more than twice the total cost, stayed in the hospital twice as long, and had statistically higher in-hospital mortality than children who were HIV negative. As we continue to explore effective and judicious treatment options for patients who are HIV positive, our national estimates of resource utilization can be used to conduct a more detailed examination of current medical practices and specific patterns of diagnoses associated with HIV infection in the US pediatric population.
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Southern medical journal · Feb 2020
Sex Differences in the Association between Local Government Spending and Mortality: Evidence from Tennessee.
A growing body of research has demonstrated the effect of local government spending on health outcomes; however, the effect of spending on different demographic groups is unclear. We combined national and local data to examine the impact of public spending on mortality rates in Tennessee. ⋯ This study provides further evidence that local government spending plays a role in addressing and improving population health and suggests that public spending can have differential effects within a population.
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Southern medical journal · Feb 2020
Increasing Comfort with Sensory Processing Difficulties in the Prehospital Setting: Pre-Post Study of Education and Sensory Tools in EMS Providers.
Interfacing with patients with sensory processing difficulties is challenging to healthcare providers and even more problematic for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel in the acute care setting. Sensory training may be an effective nonpharmacologic method to deal with these patient populations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether an educational session and placement sensory tools would improve the comfort of EMS providers in the prehospital setting. ⋯ Sensory training can be an effective method for EMS providers to increase comfort levels in taking care of patients with sensory difficulties. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm/refute these findings.
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Southern medical journal · Feb 2020
Prevalence and Clinical Impact of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been suggested as a cause for pulmonary embolism (PE). We aimed to explore the prevalence and clinical impact of AF in patients with PE. ⋯ AF is associated with a higher rate of massive PE, higher in-hospital mortality, a longer length of hospital stay, and a higher incidence of in-hospital complications and nonhome discharge.