SMJ // August 2026, Volume 119 - Issue 8

Original Article

Perceived Barriers and Needs Related to Chronic Disease Self-Management among Rural Appalachian Kentucky Residents

Objectives: In rural Appalachian Kentucky, managing chronic conditions presents a challenge due to limited healthcare access, inadequate health education, and poor dietary resources. This study explores factors contributing to healthcare barriers and examines how social support may help individuals better manage chronic illness.Methods: We interviewed residents of rural Appalachian Kentucky…

Posted in: Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism37

Original Article

Medicare Insurance Is Associated with Reduced Hip Arthroscopy Patient–Reported Outcome Measures

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after hip arthroscopy (HA) among patients with commercial insurance as compared with those with government-provided insurance, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE or Veterans Affairs (VA). Methods: This retrospective cohort study queried an institutional…

Posted in: Rheumatology and Orthopedics26

Original Article

Mind the Gap: Rethinking Procedural Skill Assessment in Medical Residency

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of various assessment tools in accurately evaluating resident proficiency in bedside procedures and to determine the potential value of incorporating self-assessment as a means to bridge the “competency gap” between perceived and actual procedural skill. Methods: This retrospective, observational…

Original Article

Gender-Affirming Care of Transgender Patients in Primary Care: An Asynchronous, Online Case-Based Curriculum for Internal Medicine Residents

Objectives: Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals represent a growing demographic in the United States. This population, however, faces many health inequities, in part attributable to a lack of education for physicians in training on transgender health care at both the graduate and undergraduate medical education levels. We developed a curriculum…

Original Article

Cultural Competency in Medical Education through the Arts and Humanities: An Innovative Immersive Community-Based Workshop

Objective: Teaching cultural competency is a critical but challenging task for clinician educators. Immersive experiential learning in the local community through the arts and humanities remains underexplored in medical education. To address this gap, a novel arts and humanities–based cultural competency workshop was developed. Methods: This half-day cultural competency workshop…

Original Article

Perspectives of Academic VA Clinician Educators: A Qualitative Analysis from a Single Facility

Objective: As part of a quality improvement initiative focused on medical educator faculty development, we sought to explore the perspectives of clinician-educators based at a large urban Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) who navigate the workplace communities of both their VAMC and academic medical center (AMC). Methods: Informed by the…

Review Article

Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Primary Care: A Practical, Multidisciplinary Review of Data Interpretation and Billing Updates

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) offers real-time and longitudinal insights into glycemic patterns, time in range, and hypoglycemia. Adopting CGMs into practice can improve clinical outcomes while strengthening patient engagement and enabling data-driven care across routine visits and population health programs. Despite strong evidence of benefit, CGM remains underused in primary…

Posted in: Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism37

Review Article

When HbA1c Lies: Recognizing and Managing HbA1c-Glucose Discordance in Clinical Practice

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) remains a cornerstone of glycemic assessment in diabetes mellitus care, yet discordance between HbA1c and measured glucose values is common in clinical practice. Failure to recognize this discordance can lead to inappropriate treatment escalation, increased hypoglycemia risk, and patient distress. This article reviews the biological and clinical…

Posted in: Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism37

Original Article

The Aftermath of Hurricane Helene: Orthopedic Injury Epidemiology at a Level I Trauma Center

Objectives: Hurricane Helene was one of the most devastating natural disasters in US history, with 249 known fatalities and damages exceeding US$75 billion. This study evaluates the impact of Hurricane Helene on orthopedic injury epidemiology and patterns at a level I trauma center. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of…

Posted in: Rheumatology and Orthopedics26

Original Article

Use of Nitrous Oxide during Labor in an Academic Medical Center in a Rural State

Objectives: This study examined the use of inhaled nitrous oxide as a pain management option during labor. Nitrous oxide offers a noninvasive, self-administered pain relief option that allows patients greater autonomy compared with other methods such as epidural analgesia or intravenous opioids. Its effectiveness and patient satisfaction remain a debated…

Posted in: Obstetrics and Gynecology57

Original Article

Projections for Urogynecologic Surgeries in the United States, 2025–2060

Objectives: Using the most recent US population projections data, we sought to update the estimated number of women who will undergo surgery for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in the United States from 2025 through 2060. We hypothesize that the number of pelvic floor surgeries will…

Posted in: Obstetrics and Gynecology57
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