Southern medical journal
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According to a 2007 US Census Bureau report, Mississippi is the poorest state in the United States and is ranked last among all 50 states for overall quality of health. The objective of the study was to describe gastrointestinal (GI) cancers in Mississippi overall and the Mississippi Delta region in particular. ⋯ The majority of GI cancers had higher incidence rates in the Mississippi Delta than non-Delta counties and in the entire state than the United States. These disparities observed on a regional and ethnic basis call for targeted prevention efforts to eliminate disparities in GI cancer incidence rates.
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Southern medical journal · Apr 2014
Surge in US outpatient vitamin D deficiency diagnoses: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey analysis.
In light of the growing medical interest in the potential consequences of vitamin D deficiency, it is important that clinicians are informed about the varying factors that may complicate the assessment of vitamin D status and the diagnosis of deficiency. To better understand the frequency of vitamin D deficiency diagnoses in the ambulatory setting over time, the objective of this investigation was to examine unspecific, general, and bone-related vitamin D deficiency diagnoses between 2007 and 2010 and to determine whether the rate of diagnoses differed by patient age and sex. ⋯ Although the rate of diagnoses for vitamin D deficiency increased between 2007 and 2010, many diagnoses rendered were for nonspecific disease; therefore, vitamin D deficiency screening may have been ordered for preventive care purposes rather than as a diagnostic aid.
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Southern medical journal · Mar 2014
Underrepresented minorities in academic medicine: is Florida better off?
The state of Florida has experienced challenges recruiting and retaining underrepresented minority faculty in academic medicine, as well as maintaining a population-like balance of minority physicians practicing in the state. We sought to quantify the percentage of practicing minority physicians as compared to the general population of Florida and focus specifically on black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander physicians in academic medicine. We hypothesized that because of the diversity of the state, the number of underrepresented minority academic physicians in Florida would be higher than the national average. ⋯ There is disparity in clinical practice and academic medicine for blacks and Hispanics. Despite the diversity of the state, the disparity of blacks in academic medicine in Florida only marginally exceeds the national average. Asians and Hispanics make up the same percentage of academic physicians, but there are 10 times more Hispanics in the state. More research and programming are needed to further define and arrive at solutions to this problem.
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Southern medical journal · Mar 2014
Epidemiology of the reported severity of cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) snakebite.
The goal of this study was to analyze trends in the annual rates of reported medical outcomes of cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) snakebites in the United States, published in the annual reports of the American Association of Poison Control Centers in the course of 29 years. ⋯ Annual rates of cottonmouth snakebites producing no effects decreased significantly, those producing minor outcomes did not change significantly, those producing moderate outcomes increased significantly, and those producing major outcomes did not change significantly, from 1985 through 2011.
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Southern medical journal · Mar 2014
Perceived access to health services and provider information and adverse birth outcomes: findings from LaPRAMS, 2007-2008.
Despite targeted public health efforts, racial disparities and poor birth outcomes are still apparent, particularly in the southern United States. Previous research through qualitative and modest quantitative research demonstrates a possible link between disparities in patient-provider conversations during prenatal visits, perceived access to prenatal care, and poor birth outcomes. ⋯ Findings support the need for a better understanding of discriminatory experiences and their impact on women's experiences during prenatal care and poor birth outcomes.