Journal of general internal medicine
-
Disparities in survival for black patients with HIV in the United States have been reported. The VA is an equal access health care system. ⋯ Survival during and after first hospitalization with HIV in the VA did not significantly differ for white and black patients, possibly indicating similar effectiveness of care for HIV. Further research is needed to understand the reasons for the lack of disparities for VA patients with HIV and whether the VA's results could be replicated.
-
Comparative Study
Racial differences in attitudes toward innovative medical technology.
New medical technologies are used at different rates among whites and blacks. This variation may be partially explained by racial differences in patient innovativeness-the propensity of patients to adopt unfamiliar therapies. ⋯ Blacks and whites have differing attitudes toward medical innovation. These differences are associated with significant racial differences in response to particular health care technologies. These findings suggest potentially remediable causes for racial differences in the utilization of innovative medical technologies.
-
Editorial Comparative Study
Race, ethnicity, culture, and disparities in health care.
-
To improve pain management, the Veterans Health Administration launched the "Pain as the 5th Vital Sign" initiative in 1999, requiring a pain intensity rating (0 to 10) at all clinical encounters. ⋯ Routinely measuring pain by the 5th vital sign did not increase the quality of pain management. Patients with substantial pain documented by the 5th vital sign often had inadequate pain management.
-
During clinical training, house officers frequently encounter intense experiences that may affect their personal growth. The purpose of this study was to explore processes related to personal growth during internship. ⋯ Efforts to support personal growth during residency training include fostering supportive relationships, encouraging reflection, and recognizing interns' core values especially in association with powerful triggers.