J Natl Med Assoc
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Editorial Randomized Controlled Trial
Tomosynthesis mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (TMIST): An Invitation and Opportunity for the National Medical Association Community to Shape the Future of Precision Screening for Breast Cancer.
To determine the best screening modality for breast cancer, a large randomized clinical trial is underway to compare the mammographic accuracy between the standard digital and tomosynthesis mammography. The Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (TMIST) is also building the world's largest biorepository of breast cancer specimens from all biopsies at screening and wants to ensure it is representative of the US population. ⋯ The outcome of the trial will help to advance precision screening, individually tailoring screening decisions based on breast density, tumor subtyping and genomics. The partnership with NMA is essential to building trust, dispelling misconceptions about clinical trials in the community as well as to support a cadre of African American physicians and researchers who can contribute to the current understanding of the social determinants of breast cancer.
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Charlottesville is a resettlement site for Liberian refugees. Many receive care at the International Family Medicine Clinic (IFMC). IFMC physicians note reduced adherence to chronic disease medications among refugee patients. ⋯ Topics included concept of disease, health care access, disease burden, acculturation, and socioeconomic factors. Transcripts were analyzed according to the explanatory model of disease and Krueger's framework analysis. This study can assist providers in tailoring their practices to meet the needs of refugee patients and inform future public health interventions.
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Our study aims to build on existing literature by assessing factors that may be associated with an increased risk of burnout amongst medical students, particularly students of color. ⋯ Although factors assessed during this study showed no significant effect, the data trends suggest that both women and Black students experienced higher rates of burnout. Further discussion regarding solutions to burnout is required in order to intervene early on in training for those at highest risk.
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Cervical cancer, a preventable cancer, has disproportionately affected African American women. To better understand the burden of cervical cancer, we assessed incidence and mortality rates and analyzed trends among non-Hispanic (NH) African American and White women in the US from 1999 to 2015. ⋯ NH African American women had significantly higher cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates than NH Whites. Even as incidence and mortality trends declined significantly, older NH African Americans had three times the rate of cervical cancer than NH Whites. Prevention and treatment programs need to be enhanced for African Americans as failure to do so may widen cancer disparities.
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Dimensions of HIV Stigma perceptions have not been examined in medical providers in the southern U.S. This study examined the prediction of HIV knowledge on multiple dimensions of stigma beliefs. ⋯ The relatively low knowledge score and link between knowledge and stigma beliefs indicated a need for continued basic HIV education. Increased education around HIV risk is critical in the eradication of HIV given the link between high stereotyping beliefs and low testing rate.