Southern medical journal
-
Southern medical journal · Nov 2020
Evidence for Cancer Literacy Knowledge Retention among Kentucky Middle and High School Students after a Brief Educational Intervention.
Although cancer is seen in every state in the United States, it does not affect every geographic area and population equally. Kentucky has the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in the country, with an unusually high number of cases localized in its Appalachian region. Risk factors such as sun exposure, tobacco use, poor diet/exercise, poverty, and lack of access to healthcare centers contribute to this disparity. Because education levels in the area are low, cancer literacy (defined as how well a person can understand the advice of a healthcare professional and make appropriate lifestyle decisions) also is low. In this study, we examined the short-term and long-term effects of a brief cancer-related intervention on the cancer literacy of Kentucky middle and high school students. ⋯ These results provide evidence that a brief educational intervention can increase cancer literacy, improve cancer knowledge retention, and encourage behavior change in Appalachian Kentucky students. Increasing cancer literacy may result in increased participation in preventive cancer screenings and improved health habits, which could ultimately lower cancer rates in the region.
-
Southern medical journal · Nov 2020
Randomized Controlled TrialA Game Show-Based Curriculum for Teaching Principles of Reproductive Infectious Disease (GBS PRIDE Trial).
The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a game show-based curriculum improves obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) residents' confidence in and understanding of the principles of reproductive infectious disease (RID), clinical manifestations and sequelae of sexually transmitted infection (STI), and management of serious long-term consequences of STIs. ⋯ A game show-based curriculum improves OBGYN residents' confidence and retention of knowledge regarding RIDs, clinical manifestations and sequelae of STIs, and management of serious long-term consequences of STIs. Additional studies that include longer posttest time intervals are needed to assess the longer-term impact of game show-based curriculum on knowledge retention among OBGYN residents.
-
Preoperative chemotherapy produces tumor shrinkage in most patients with locally advanced breast cancer, including some pathological complete responses (pCRs). We attempted this using a much less toxic sequential regimen, given with concurrent bevacizumab. ⋯ The preoperative chemotherapy used appears to be comparably effective, but much less toxic than that used in most conventional regimens and should be studied further. Concurrent treatment with bevacizumab (reported separately) did not provide any additional benefit.
-
Southern medical journal · Nov 2020
Observational StudyImpact of Obesity in Hospitalized Patients with Heart Failure: A Nationwide Cohort Study.
Obesity and cardiovascular disease remain significant burdens on the overall provision of health care in the United States. Obesity has been shown to be a direct risk factor for heart failure (HF). We conducted a nationwide cohort study to assess the short-term impact of obesity in hospitalized patients with HF. ⋯ In this cross-sectional study of patients hospitalized for HF in the United States, obesity was not associated with a higher risk of inpatient mortality, but it was associated with a lower 30-day readmission rate. Obese patients with HF, however, had longer LOSs and higher costs of index admission. Our findings support the obesity paradox seen in patients with HF.