Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · May 2021
Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Young Adolescents: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1988-2016.
Lifestyle behaviors relevant to cardiovascular health are learned during childhood and continued into adulthood. Children and adolescents who participate in unhealthy behaviors have a higher lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Public health institutions publish behavior and clinical recommendations designed for adolescents to reduce their lifetime cardiovascular risk. We assessed the prevalence and trends of cardiovascular-relevant behaviors and clinical tests among early adolescents using a nationally representative database. ⋯ Modern American teenagers aged 12 to 16 years have more cardiovascular risk factors relating mostly to diet, exercise, and obesity than those of a prior generation; however, smoking rates have also declined precipitously.
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Southern medical journal · May 2021
Erratum: Percentage of Black Population and Primary Care Shortage Areas Associated with Higher COVID-19 Case and Death Rates in Georgia Counties: Erratum.
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001212.].
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Southern medical journal · May 2021
Adapting Existing Resources for Serious Illness Communication Skills Training for Internal Medicine Residents.
Goals of care discussions are a vital component of patient care, but Internal Medicine residents receive limited training in these skills. Existing curricula often require simulated patients or faculty development, limiting implementation in many residency programs. Thus, we developed and implemented a curriculum leveraging existing educational resources with the goal of improving resident attitudes and confidence in conducting goals of care discussions in training settings. ⋯ This goals of care communication curriculum improves resident confidence and requires minimal resources. It may be ideal for programs that have limited access to simulated patients and/or faculty trained in communication skill simulation, but desire enhanced education on this important aspect of patient-doctor communication and high-quality patient care. Future studies measuring clinical outcomes and changes in learner behavior as a result of this intervention are needed. Ongoing observation and feedback on these skills will be important to solidify learning and sustain impact.
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Southern medical journal · May 2021
Observational StudyCOVID-19 in a Mississippi Community Hospital.
Mississippi recorded the first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on March 11, 2020. This report describes the initial COVID-19 experience of the single healthcare system serving Jackson County, Mississippi. The intent of this retrospective review of COVID-19 hospitalized patients was to identify any characteristics or interventions amenable to improving care management and clinical outcomes for patients within our community hospital. ⋯ This report describes a community hospital experience with COVID-19. Patient outcome was comparable to that reported at larger centers. Obesity was a major comorbidity and correlated with adverse outcomes. Amidst the initial wave of COVID-19 with high demand for inpatient treatment, it is reassuring that appropriate care can be provided in a community health system.