Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · May 2012
Diversity of patients' beliefs about the soul after death and their importance in end-of-life care.
Because beliefs about the soul after death affect the dying experience, patients and survivors may want to discuss those beliefs with their healthcare provider; however, almost no medical research describes such beliefs, leaving healthcare professionals ill prepared to respond. This exploratory study begins the descriptive process. ⋯ As death nears, patients or survivors may want to discuss beliefs about the soul after death with their healthcare provider. This preliminary study characterizes some of those beliefs. By suggesting questions to ask and responses to give, the study provides healthcare professionals a supportive, knowledgeable way to participate in such discussions.
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Southern medical journal · Apr 2012
Comparative StudyPreexposure prophylaxis for HIV infection: healthcare providers' knowledge, perception, and willingness to adopt future implementation in the southern US.
Understanding providers' perspective on preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) would facilitate planning for future implementation. ⋯ To improve the acceptance of PrEP among providers, there is a need to develop tailored education/training programs to alleviate their concerns about the safety and efficacy of PrEP.
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Southern medical journal · Apr 2012
Intimate partner violence education for medical students: toward a comprehensive curriculum revision.
Previous studies examined the prevalence and efficacy of intimate partner violence (IPV) education in medical school. We documented IPV content exposure shortage in medical school curriculum at a southern university health science center and measured personal IPV experience among medical students. ⋯ Student IPV experience (whether directly by way of personal exposure to IPV or indirectly through family members or acquaintances who were victims of IPV) can be applicable in classrooms, clinics, and students' careers, but it may not necessarily increase perceived or actual IPV knowledge; however, our results show that any IPV education that students receive can be effective in increasing confidence and perceived preparedness to address IPV with patients. Comprehensive approaches to teaching IPV should be integrated fully into medical school curricula.
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Southern medical journal · Apr 2012
Disparities in firearms ownership and storage practices in North Carolina.
Because household firearms pose a risk to children, this study examined firearms accessibility in North Carolina households with children. ⋯ Many North Carolina youth have access to household firearms, with white youth being more likely to have firearms, a greater number of firearms, and less safely stored firearms than other race/ethnicity groups. Further interventions and policies to reduce youth access to household firearms are needed. Future research should examine and address why whites, married couples, and those with socioeconomic advantages are more likely than individuals not belonging to these groups to own household firearms and store them unsafely.
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Southern medical journal · Mar 2012
ReviewApplication of the principles of evidence-based medicine to patient care.
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is the conscientious and judicious use of the best evidence available collected from clinical trials, guidelines, and consensus statements. This article provides simple ways to practice EBM using five steps (assess the patient, ask a clearly focused clinical question, acquire the best evidence available from the medical literature, appraise the evidence, and apply the evidence to patient care) and how to execute each step properly, multiple examples of how to apply EBM to patient care, and examples of how to apply the PICO mnemonic (patient, intervention, comparison, and outcome) to the process of EBM.