Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · May 2022
ReviewA Narrative Review of Medical Interpretation Services and their Effect on the Quality of Health Care.
Half of the foreign-born population in the United States speaks English "less than very well." The extant literature suggests that low-English-proficient (LEP) patients experience poorer healthcare outcomes than do language-concordant patients. It remains unclear which methods of interpreter services are best for communicating effectively and achieving positive health outcomes for LEP patients. This review examines interpretation methods to compare their effectiveness and frequency of use and identifies the remaining gaps in our knowledge. ⋯ Even with this knowledge, use of interpreter services is unacceptably low and gaps remain. Further research is needed to isolate and examine different methods of interpretation and measure objective health outcomes. In addition, education is needed for interpreters and healthcare providers to ensure the most effective communicative strategies for LEP patients.
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Southern medical journal · May 2022
Facilitating the Advance Care Planning Conversation with Patients: An Interactive Virtual 1.5-Hour Session.
The Liaison Committee on Medical Education requires that the curriculum of medical schools includes end-of-life care. Most medical students feel reluctant to discuss end-of-life issues with their patients, but would like to learn more. ⋯ The brief didactic presented here on facilitating advance directives conversations constitutes an easily implemented and well-received session for medical students. Students reported high levels of confidence and comfort around having advance directive conversations after participating in this didactic session.
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Southern medical journal · May 2022
Sex Education and Sexual Risk Behavior among Adolescents and Youth in the Deep South: Implications for Youth HIV Prevention.
Adolescents and young adults represent the largest group of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in the United States, especially in the South. We wanted to determine whether abstinence only until marriage (AOUM) sex education programs were effective in reducing HIV vulnerability among youth in Mississippi. ⋯ AOUM sex education programs are ineffective in reducing HIV vulnerability among youth in Mississippi. There is an urgent need to implement comprehensive sex education if we are to reduce the numbers of new HIV infections among youth and achieve our goals of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030.
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Southern medical journal · May 2022
Relationship between Sociodemographic Factors, Perceived COVID-19 Risk, and Engagement with Health Protective Behaviors.
This study describes the relationship between sociodemographic factors, chronic conditions, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) fears and stressors, and the perception of risk from COVID-19 and the use of health protective behaviors among Arkansans during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ In future pandemic planning, there will be a need to create messaging and interventions to increase health protective behaviors directed at young adults, men, and those with lower education levels. Providers will need to address fears related to COVID-19 and help their patients to manage those fears and anxieties.
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Southern medical journal · May 2022
Annual FEV1 Loss in Patients with Noncystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis and Affecting Factors.
Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by sputum production, cough, and several bronchial infections. Lung function is an important parameter to evaluate and study in patients with bronchiectasis. This study aimed to evaluate the annual changes in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and related factors in patients with with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. ⋯ An annual mean FEV1 loss of 39 mL was found in adult patients with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. The annual mean FEV1 decline was found to be associated with the baseline FEV1 value. Physicians should exercise caution in this regard in patients with bronchiectasis with low FEV1 values.