SMJ // December 2021, Volume 114 - Issue 12

Original Article

CME Article: Clinical Outcomes of Noninvasive Ventilation in Asthma, Bronchiectasis, and Other COPD

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) appears to be associated with a significant decrease in frequency of exacerbation, hospital admissions, and mortality in patients with COPD. In this study, we sought to determine clinical outcomes, prevalence,…

Posted in: Pulmonary Disease16

Perspectives

Physicians’ Role in the COVID-19 Infodemic: A Reflection

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been marked by abundant conflicting information, especially in social media.1–4 Widespread Internet access enabled rapid distribution of information while also opening the door to the dissemination of fear-provoking, inaccurate data that, when superimposed upon an election year and political unrest, led to tension…

Posted in: Infectious Disease139

Review Article

Management of Muscle Spasms in Adult Patients with Cerebral Palsy

As medical care advances, there is a growing number of adult patients with cerebral palsy. The spastic form is characterized by muscle hypertonicity, hyperreflexia, and spasticity, which are associated with worse quality of life, poor functionality, and pain. This literature review attempts to explore the existing treatments for spasticity in…

Posted in: Neurology16

Original Article

Medical Education and the Ethics of Self-Care: A Survey of Medical Students Regarding Professional Challenges and Expectations for Living Healthy Lifestyles

Objectives: Little is known about medical students’ attitudes regarding the healthy lifestyle habits they are taught to recommend to patients and whether they believe they have a professional responsibility to live a healthy lifestyle. Understanding students’ attitudes and practices regarding healthy lifestyles may provide insights into the personal and professional…

Original Article

Predicting Concussion Recovery with PHQ-9 and GAD-7

Objective: To determine whether scores obtained from Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) or the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) instruments administered following a concussion can be used to predict recovery time. Method: Retrospective cohort study in a university-based specialty concussion center of 502 concussed participants. Participants completed a PHQ-9 and GAD-7 during…

Posted in: Neurology16

Original Article

Factors Associated with Acceptance of Repeat MCAT Test Takers into a West Virginian Allopathic Medical School

Objectives: A paucity of information exists to advise medical school applicants who have had to retake the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to achieve a competitive score. To better advise repeat test takers from West Virginia and other Appalachian and southern areas, MCAT data from West Virginia applicants were analyzed…

Original Article

Prevalence of Planned Abdominal Binder Use after Vaginal Delivery

Objectives: Pregnancy and vaginal delivery are risk factors for pelvic floor dysfunction. Abdominal binder use may increase intraabdominal pressure, affecting pelvic floor healing or function in recently traumatized postpartum pelvic floor muscle. This study assesses the prevalence of postpartum abdominal binder use, timing, and reasons for use. Methods: In this…

Posted in: Obstetrics and Gynecology45 Pregnancy33

Original Article

A High-Value Care Curriculum Using Individual and Group Structured Reflection

Objective: One-third of all healthcare dollars are wasted, primarily in the form of clinician-ordered unnecessary diagnostic tests and treatments. Medical education has likely played a central role in the creation and perpetuation of this problem. We aimed to create a curriculum for medical students to promote their contribution to high-value…

Original Article

Lower Intent to Comply with COVID-19 Public Health Recommendations Correlates to Higher Disease Burden in Following 30 Days

Objectives: We sought to determine whether self-reported intent to comply with public health recommendations correlates with future coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease burden. Methods: A cross-sectional, online survey of US adults, recruited by snowball sampling, from April 9 to July 12, 2020. Primary measurements were participant survey responses about their…

Posted in: Infectious Disease139

Perspectives

Blending Virtual and In-Person Simulation Encounters to Teach Clinical Skills to Preclerkship Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has required significant innovation because of the physical distancing requirements and decreased in-person activities. Creative solutions were needed throughout medical education, but particularly in courses teaching students history taking, communication, and physical examination skills. These unique adaptations to delivering education have advanced the understanding…

Posted in: Infectious Disease139

Letter to the Editor

Narrative Medicine in the Time of Pandemics: A Brief Course for Third-Year Medical Students

To the Editor: In March 2020, as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases increased in the United States, the Association of American Medical Colleges recommended that medical students not participate in direct patient contact because of concerns about their safety.1 There were particularly marked effects on clinical rotations, which were quickly…

Posted in: Infectious Disease139

Review Article

COVID-19 Legacy

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infection caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 virus that led to a pandemic. Acute manifestations of COVID-19 include fever, cough, dyspnea, respiratory failure, pneumonitis, anosmia, thromboembolic events, cardiogenic shock, renal injury, ischemic strokes, encephalitis, and cutaneous eruptions, especially of hands or feet. Prolonged…

Posted in: Infectious Disease139

Original Article

Association of Obesity on Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients with Cerebral Palsy

In hospitalized adult patients with cerebral palsy, obesity did not lead to significantly higher resource utilization.

Posted in: Neurology16

Original Article

A Virtual Wellness and Learning Communities Program for Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives: Numerous studies have demonstrated the high risk for burnout and mental illness in medical students. Because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, our medical school transitioned to an all-virtual learning environment from March to June 2020, which raised concerns among student leaders and administrators, as reduced interpersonal attachments…

Posted in: Infectious Disease139

Original Article

Body Image and Sexual Function Improve after Both Myomectomy and Hysterectomy for Symptomatic Fibroids

Objectives: To determine the factors that influence the choice of myomectomy, uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), or hysterectomy in women with symptomatic uterine fibroids and to assess women’s perception of body image and sexual functioning before and after treatment. Methods: In this prospective observational cohort pilot study, women scheduled to undergo…

Posted in: Family Planning & Reproductive Health15

Original Article

CME Article: Prevalence of, Qualities, and Barriers Associated with Mentoring Relationships from Medical Students’ Perspective: A Multi-Institutional Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: Reports of medical student mentorship prevalence range between 26% and 77%. This broad range likely reflects the tendencies of studies to focus on specific populations of medical students. There is little consensus about the characteristics of mentoring relationships among medical students. The primary goal of this study was to…

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