Journal of general internal medicine
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Vitamin D deficiency, an important risk factor for osteoporosis and other chronic medical conditions, is epidemic in the United States. Uninsured women may be at an even higher risk for vitamin D deficiency than others owing to low intake of dietary and supplemental vitamin D and limited sun exposure. ⋯ These results demonstrate a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in an uninsured, medically underserved female population. Uninsured women should be strongly encouraged to increase their vitamin D intake.
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Screening elderly men for prostate cancer is not recommended because definitive treatments are unlikely to extend life expectancy. ⋯ High proportions of men ages 75+ underwent PSA testing and repeat prostate biopsies after an initial negative prostate biopsy. Given the known harms and uncertain benefits for finding and treating localized cancer in elderly men, most continued PSA testing after a negative biopsy is potentially inappropriate.
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Concern about the link between clinical supervision and safe, quality health care has led to widespread increases in the supervision of medical trainees. The effects of increased supervision on patient care and trainee education are not known, primarily because the current multifacted and poorly operationalized concept of clinical supervision limits the potential for evaluation. ⋯ This study elaborates a typology of clinical oversight activities including routine, responsive, and backstage oversight. This new typology provides a framework for clinical supervision policy and for research to evaluate the relationship between supervision and safety.
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Previous studies suggest that patients who are more involved in their medical care have better outcomes. ⋯ Although previous research suggests that more patient involvement in health care decisions is better, this benefit may be reduced when the patient wants to make decisions alone. Future research should explore the extent to which this preference is modifiable so as to improve outcomes.
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Patient safety is a core educational topic for medical trainees. ⋯ Patient safety knowledge is limited among medical trainees across a broad range of training levels, degrees, and specialties. Effective educational interventions that target deficiencies in patient safety knowledge are greatly needed.