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Cuadros DF, Gutierrez JD, Moreno CM, Escobar S, Miller FD, Musuka G, Omori R, Coule P, MacKinnon NJ. Impact of healthcare capacity disparities on the COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the United States: A cross-sectional study. LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. AMERICAS 2022; 18:100409. [PMID: 36536782 PMCID: PMC9750060 DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2022.100409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background The impact of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the US has been hampered by a substantial geographical heterogeneity of the vaccination coverage. Several studies have proposed vaccination hesitancy as a key driver of the vaccination uptake disparities. However, the impact of other important structural determinants such as local disparities in healthcare capacity is virtually unknown. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we conducted causal inference and geospatial analyses to assess the impact of healthcare capacity on the vaccination coverage disparity in the US. We evaluated the causal relationship between the healthcare system capacity of 2417 US counties and their COVID-19 vaccination rate. We also conducted geospatial analyses using spatial scan statistics to identify areas with low vaccination rates. Findings We found a causal effect of the constraints in the healthcare capacity of a county and its low-vaccination uptake. Counties with higher constraints in their healthcare capacity were more probable to have COVID-19 vaccination rates ≤50, with 35% higher constraints in low-vaccinated areas (vaccination rates ≤ 50) compared to high-vaccinated areas (vaccination rates > 50). We also found that COVID-19 vaccination in the US exhibits a distinct spatial structure with defined "vaccination coldspots". Interpretation We found that the healthcare capacity of a county is an important determinant of low vaccine uptake. Our study highlights that even in high-income nations, internal disparities in healthcare capacity play an important role in the health outcomes of the nation. Therefore, strengthening the funding and infrastructure of the healthcare system, particularly in rural underserved areas, should be intensified to help vulnerable communities. Funding None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego F. Cuadros
- Digital Epidemiology Laboratory, Digital Futures, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA,Department of Geography and Geographic Information Science, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA,Corresponding author. Digital Epidemiology Laboratory, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA.
| | - Juan D. Gutierrez
- Universidad de Santander, Facultad de Ingeniería, Grupo Ambiental de Investigación Aplicada-GAIA, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Claudia M. Moreno
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Santiago Escobar
- Digital Epidemiology Laboratory, Digital Futures, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA,Department of Geography and Geographic Information Science, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - F. DeWolfe Miller
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Godfrey Musuka
- International Initiative for Impact Evaluation, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Ryosuke Omori
- Division of Bioinformatics, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Phillip Coule
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Neil J. MacKinnon
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
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Tye EY, Taylor AJ, Kay RD, Bryman JA, Andrawis JP, Runner RP. An Orthopedic Surgeon's Dental Examination: Reducing Unnecessary Delays in Joint Replacement Surgery for Marginalized Patients in a Safety Net Hospital System. Arthroplast Today 2021; 12:76-81. [PMID: 34805467 PMCID: PMC8585792 DOI: 10.1016/j.artd.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Selective dental clearance before total joint arthroplasty (TJA) has been proposed; however, effective strategies of carrying out this practice are lacking. This study aims to determine the positive predictive value (PPV) of a novel oral examination performed by an orthopedic surgeon to better direct limited resources for marginalized patients in a safety net hospital system. Methods A retrospective review was conducted on 105 consecutive patients who had an oral examination performed by a single surgeon before elective TJA. Patients who screened negative proceeded to surgery without further formal dental clearance. Patients who screened positive underwent formal examination/intervention by a dentist before surgery. The rate of correct referral that resulted in patients undergoing an oral surgical intervention was determined. Complications during a minimum 90-day postoperative follow-up period were collected and compared. Results Thirty patients (28.6%) screened positive while 75 patients (71.4%) screened negative and proceeded to surgery without referral. The PPV of the screening test was high, with 73.3% of patients receiving a major surgical oral intervention before TJA. Patients sent for formal referral required 89.1 more days to receive their surgery than those that screened negative (54.9 days ± 4.24 vs 144.0 days ± 82.4, P < .001). Conclusion An orthopedic surgeon’s oral examination demonstrates a high PPV to identify high-risk patients in need of an oral surgical intervention before TJA. This provides a unique solution regarding over-referral for preoperative dental clearance and avoids delays for marginalized patients considering elective TJA in a safety net hospital system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Y Tye
- Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation and Medical Center, Downey, CA, USA.,Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Adam J Taylor
- Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation and Medical Center, Downey, CA, USA.,Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Robert D Kay
- Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation and Medical Center, Downey, CA, USA.,Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Jason A Bryman
- Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation and Medical Center, Downey, CA, USA.,Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - John P Andrawis
- Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation and Medical Center, Downey, CA, USA.,Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Robert P Runner
- Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation and Medical Center, Downey, CA, USA
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3
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Britt BC, Britt RK, Hayes JL, Panek ET, Maddox J, Musaev A. Oral Healthcare Implications of Dedicated Online Communities: A Computational Content Analysis of the r/Dentistry Subreddit. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2021; 36:572-584. [PMID: 32091259 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2020.1731937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The current study explores communication expressed by participants in a subreddit surrounding oral health care, moderated by dentists and dental hygienists. The corpus was analyzed through Leximancer, a computer-assisted program used for computational content analyses of large data sets. Users' personal disclosures about ongoing dental concerns, advice about others' self-care, and the role of interpersonal communication with and among health care providers emerged as dominant themes. The findings suggest that online communities may serve an important role that dentists are unable to fill in their limited interactions with individual patients. Such interaction spaces may therefore offer a fertile environment for future interventions to promote beneficial practices and achieve positive health-related outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian C Britt
- Department of Advertising and Public Relations, University of Alabama
| | - Rebecca K Britt
- Department of Journalism and Creative Media, University of Alabama
| | - Jameson L Hayes
- Department of Advertising and Public Relations, University of Alabama
| | - Elliot T Panek
- Department of Journalism and Creative Media, University of Alabama
| | - Jessica Maddox
- Department of Journalism and Creative Media, University of Alabama
| | - Aibek Musaev
- Department of Computer Science, University of Alabama
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4
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Alkureishi MA, Johnson T, Nichols J, Dhodapkar M, Czerwiec MK, Wroblewski K, Arora VM, Lee WW. Impact of an Educational Comic to Enhance Patient-Physician-Electronic Health Record Engagement: Prospective Observational Study. JMIR Hum Factors 2021; 8:e25054. [PMID: 33908891 PMCID: PMC8116991 DOI: 10.2196/25054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Electronic health record (EHR) use can impede or augment patient-physician communication. However, little research explores the use of an educational comic to improve patient-physician-EHR interactions. Objective To evaluate the impact of an educational comic on patient EHR self-advocacy behaviors to promote patient engagement with the EHR during clinic visits. Methods We conducted a prospective observational study with adult patients and parents of pediatric patients at the University of Chicago General Internal Medicine (GIM) and Pediatric Primary Care (PPC) clinics. We developed an educational comic highlighting EHR self-advocacy behaviors and distributed it to study participants during check-in for their primary care visits between May 2017 and May 2018. Participants completed a survey immediately after their visit, which included a question on whether they would be interested in a follow-up telephone interview. Of those who expressed interest, 50 participants each from the adult and pediatric parent cohorts were selected at random for follow-up telephone interviews 8 months (range 3-12 months) post visit. Results Overall, 71.0% (115/162) of adult patients and 71.6% (224/313) of pediatric parents agreed the comic encouraged EHR involvement. African American and Hispanic participants were more likely to ask to see the screen and become involved in EHR use due to the comic (adult P=.01, P=.01; parent P=.02, P=.006, respectively). Lower educational attainment was associated with an increase in parents asking to see the screen and to be involved (ρ=−0.18, P=.003; ρ=−0.19, P<.001, respectively) and in adults calling for physician attention (ρ=−0.17, P=.04), which was confirmed in multivariate analyses. Female GIM patients were more likely than males to ask to be involved (median 4 vs 3, P=.003). During follow-up phone interviews, 90% (45/50) of adult patients and all pediatric parents (50/50) remembered the comic. Almost half of all participants (GIM 23/50, 46%; PPC 21/50, 42%) recalled at least one best-practice behavior. At subsequent visits, adult patients reported increases in asking to see the screen (median 3 vs 4, P=.006), and pediatric parents reported increases in asking to see the screen and calling for physician attention (median 3 vs 4, Ps<.001 for both). Pediatric parents also felt that the comic had encouraged them to speak up and get more involved with physician computer use since the index visit (median 4 vs 4, P=.02) and that it made them feel more empowered to get involved with computer use at future visits (median 3 vs 4, P<.001). Conclusions Our study found that an educational comic may improve patient advocacy for enhanced patient-physician-EHR engagement, with higher impacts on African American and Hispanic patients and patients with low educational attainment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Alkureishi
- Department of Academic Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Tyrone Johnson
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jacqueline Nichols
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Meera Dhodapkar
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - M K Czerwiec
- Center for Medical Humanities & Bioethics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Kristen Wroblewski
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Vineet M Arora
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Wei Wei Lee
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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5
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Caratelli LA, Bostwick JR, Templin T, Fitzgerald M, Filter MS, Ginier E. Development and evaluation of an interprofessional seminar pilot course to enhance collaboration between health professions at a student-run clinic for underserved populations. J Interprof Care 2019; 34:422-426. [DOI: 10.1080/13561820.2019.1676208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jolene R. Bostwick
- College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Michigan Center for Interprofessional Education, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Thomas Templin
- Michigan Center for Interprofessional Education, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mark Fitzgerald
- Michigan Center for Interprofessional Education, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Marilyn S. Filter
- Michigan Center for Interprofessional Education, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Flint, MI, USA
| | - Emily Ginier
- Taubman Health Sciences Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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6
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Velan B, Pinchas-Mizrachi R. Health concerns of young Israelis moving from the ultra-orthodox to the secular community: vulnerabilities associated with transition. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN MEDICINE & HEALTHCARE 2019. [DOI: 10.4081/qrmh.2019.8051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Many young Israelis leave the Ultra-Orthodox religious community to join the secular world. In this study we examine health considerations of ex-Orthodox (ExOr) individuals in an attempt to define their vulnerabilities and needs.12 young adults were asked to relate to health problems that trouble the ExOr community. The semi-structured interviews were analyzed qualitatively to identify relevant motives. Interviewees indicated that the ExOr population could be affected by mental health problems, including stress and depression, by sexual health problems, and by risks related to substance abuse and hazardous behavior. Interviewees suggested that these problems are associated with difficulties encountered prior and during the transition process, as well as with the hardships of acculturation and assimilation in the secular world. Comparisons to previous findings on the health of immigrants, young adults and LGBT populations suggest that the process of transition per-se could engender vulnerability and trigger health problems.
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Ebersöhn L, Loots T, Mampane R, Omidire F, Malan-Van Rooyen M, Sefotho M, Nthontho M. An indigenous psychology perspective on psychosocial support in Southern Africa as collective, networking, and pragmatic support. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/casp.2371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Liesel Ebersöhn
- Centre for the Study of Resilience (CSR), Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education; University of Pretoria; Pretoria South Africa
| | - Tilda Loots
- Centre for the Study of Resilience (CSR), Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education; University of Pretoria; Pretoria South Africa
| | - Ruth Mampane
- Centre for the Study of Resilience (CSR), Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education; University of Pretoria; Pretoria South Africa
| | - Funke Omidire
- Centre for the Study of Resilience (CSR), Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education; University of Pretoria; Pretoria South Africa
| | - Marlize Malan-Van Rooyen
- Centre for the Study of Resilience (CSR), Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education; University of Pretoria; Pretoria South Africa
| | - Maximus Sefotho
- Centre for the Study of Resilience (CSR), Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education; University of Pretoria; Pretoria South Africa
| | - Maitumeleng Nthontho
- Department of Education Management and Policy Studies, Faculty of Education; University of Pretoria; Pretoria South Africa
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Pippi R, Bagnato F, Ottolenghi L. Oral Health Literacy: How much Italian people know about the dental hygienist. J Clin Exp Dent 2017; 9:e13-e20. [PMID: 28149457 PMCID: PMC5268122 DOI: 10.4317/jced.52950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People with poor OHL have the highest level of oral diseases and the worst oral treatment results. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the degree of knowledge of the role of the dental hygienist in patients who go to a public dental facility for the first time. MATERIAL AND METHODS A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to the patients with the "face-to-face" mode during a 12-month period. The principal component analysis, the general linear model and the chi-square test were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS A total number of 900 questionnaires were completed. Sixty-seven per cent of patients know that a specific degree is needed to practice dentistry and 93.1% of them know that a specific educational qualification is required to practice the dental hygienist profession. Sixty-three per cent of the subjects were aware of dental hygienist's activities. There is no patient preference of gender as far as both dentist (84.11%) and dental hygienist (85.11%) are concerned. Seventy-five per cent of patients claimed to know what "dental hygiene" means and 65% of them believed that a good level of oral hygiene was important for oral disease prevention. Both qualification and marital status of patients are significantly associated with the patient's level of knowledge of the dental hygienist profession. Patients with "High" scholastic qualifications showed significantly higher scores than those with "Low" qualifications. Married patients have less knowledge than widows/widowers, while divorced patients have greater knowledge than widows/widowers. CONCLUSIONS Patients' educational qualification itself only partially justifies the apparent high level of knowledge of patients about the dental hygienist's role. Key words:Oral disease prevention, dental professional qualification, public dental knowledge, patient educational qualification, dental hygienist, oral heath literacy, public dental facility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Pippi
- Associate Professor, Oral Surgery Unit, Department of Odontostomatological and Maxillo Facial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome
| | - Flavia Bagnato
- Dental hygienist, Department of Odontostomatological and Maxillo Facial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome
| | - Livia Ottolenghi
- Full Professor, Preventive and Community Dentistry, Department of Odontostomatological and Maxillo Facial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome
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Mattheus D, Shannon M, Lim E, Gandhi K. The Association Between Socio-demographic Factors, Dental Problems, and Preterm Labor for Pregnant Women Residing in Hawai'i. HAWAI'I JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & PUBLIC HEALTH : A JOURNAL OF ASIA PACIFIC MEDICINE & PUBLIC HEALTH 2016; 75:219-227. [PMID: 27563498 PMCID: PMC4982327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Periodontal disease during pregnancy has the potential to increase the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes including preterm labor (PTL), prematurity, and low birth weight (LBW). Despite professional recommendations on the importance and safety of dental assessments and treatments, the rate of dental care utilization during pregnancy remains low. The purpose of this study was to document the utilization of dental services and explore the relationships among socio-demographic factors, dental problems, and PTL in pregnant women residing in Hawai'i. Hawai'i Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey results were analyzed from 4,309 women who experienced live births between the years 2009-2011. Results revealed that 2 in 5 women in Hawai'i had their teeth cleaned during pregnancy, while 1 in 5 reported seeing a dentist for a dental problem. Women who reported having a dental problem during pregnancy were more likely to experience PTL (OR=1.46, 95% CI=1.10-1.94, P=.008) compared to women without a dental problem. In addition, Native Hawaiian and Part-Hawaiian women were more likely to experience PTL (OR=1.73, 95% CI=1.22-2.46, P=.002) compared to Caucasian women. These findings document the underutilization of dental services in pregnant women in Hawai'i and reveal an association between poor dental care and PTL. Identification of groups at risk for maternal complications may assist in the development of programs that are sensitive to the diverse cultures and variability of community resources that exist throughout Hawai'i.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maureen Shannon
- School of Nursing, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI (DM,MS)
| | - Eunjung Lim
- School of Nursing, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI (DM,MS)
| | - Krupa Gandhi
- School of Nursing, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI (DM,MS)
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10
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Vanderbilt AA, Baugh RF, Hogue PA, Brennan JA, Ali II. Curricular integration of social medicine: a prospective for medical educators. MEDICAL EDUCATION ONLINE 2016; 21:30586. [PMID: 26782722 PMCID: PMC4716551 DOI: 10.3402/meo.v21.30586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
In the United States, the health of a community falls on a continuum ranging from healthy to unhealthy and fluctuates based on several variables. Research policy and public health practice literature report substantial disparities in life expectancy, morbidity, risk factors, and quality of life, as well as persistence of these disparities among segments of the population. One such way to close this gap is to streamline medical education to better prepare our future physicians for our patients in underserved communities. Medical schools have the potential to close the gap when training future physicians by providing them with the principles of social medicine that can contribute to the reduction of health disparities. Curriculum reform and systematic formative assessment and evaluative measures can be developed to match social medicine and health disparities curricula for individual medical schools, thus assuring that future physicians are being properly prepared for residency and the workforce to decrease health inequities in the United States. We propose that curriculum reform includes an ongoing social medicine component for medical students. Continued exposure, practice, and education related to social medicine across medical school will enhance the awareness and knowledge for our students. This will result in better preparation for the zero mile stone residency set forth by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education and will eventually lead to the outcome of higher quality physicians in the United States to treat diverse populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison A Vanderbilt
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA;
| | - Reginald F Baugh
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Patricia A Hogue
- Department of Physician Assistant Studies, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Julie A Brennan
- Family Medicine and Division, Adult Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Imran I Ali
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
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Vanderbilt AA, Dail MD, Jaberi P. Reducing health disparities in underserved communities via interprofessional collaboration across health care professions. J Multidiscip Healthc 2015; 8:205-8. [PMID: 25960659 PMCID: PMC4411015 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s74129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Health disparities can negatively impact subsets of the population who have systematically experienced greater socioeconomic obstacles to health. Health disparities are pervasive across the United States and no single health care profession can tackle this national crisis alone. It is essential that all health care providers work collaboratively toward the overarching goal of systematically closing the health disparities gap. Interprofessional collaboration is the foundation needed for health care providers to support patient needs and reduce health disparities in public health. Let us reach across the silos we work within and collaborate with our colleagues. Stand up and begin thinking about our communities, our patients, and the future overall health status of the population for the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison A Vanderbilt
- Center on Health Disparities, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Michael D Dail
- Family Health Clinic, McDonald Army Health Center, Fort Eustis, VA, USA
| | - Parham Jaberi
- Virginia Department of Health, Chesterfield Health District, Chesterfield, VA, USA
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12
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VanderWielen LM, Vanderbilt AA, Crossman SH, Mayer SD, Enurah AS, Gordon SS, Bradner MK. Health disparities and underserved populations: a potential solution, medical school partnerships with free clinics to improve curriculum. MEDICAL EDUCATION ONLINE 2015; 20:27535. [PMID: 25907001 PMCID: PMC4408316 DOI: 10.3402/meo.v20.27535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Health-care educators share the social responsibility to teach medical students about social determinants of health and health-care disparities and subsequently to encourage medical students to pursue residencies in primary care and medical practice in underserved communities. Free clinics provide care to underserved communities, yet collaborative partnerships with such organizations remain largely untapped by medical schools. Free clinics and medical schools in 10 US states demonstrate that such partnerships are geographically feasible and have the potential to mutually benefit both organizational types. As supported by prior research, students exposed to underserved populations may be more likely to pursue primary care fields and practice in underserved communities, improving health-care infrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn M VanderWielen
- Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA;
| | - Allison A Vanderbilt
- Center on Health Disparities, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Steven H Crossman
- Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Sallie D Mayer
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Alexander S Enurah
- Division of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Samuel S Gordon
- School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Melissa K Bradner
- Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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13
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Vanderbilt AA, Isringhausen KT, Bonwell PB. Interprofessional education: the inclusion of dental hygiene in health care within the United States - a call to action. ADVANCES IN MEDICAL EDUCATION AND PRACTICE 2013; 4:227-9. [PMID: 24235854 PMCID: PMC3826930 DOI: 10.2147/amep.s51962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
There is a lack of access to oral health care in the United States for rural, underserved, uninsured, and low-income populations. There are widely recognized problems with the US health care system, including rapidly increasing costs and access to oral health. During the last decade, there has been a huge influx and push toward interprofessional education programs; however, these programs conveniently leave out dental hygiene. Interprofessional education can bring forth the collaboration, communication, and teamwork necessary to provide a comprehensive health care plan to treat oral health care needs in patients. As the advanced practice for dental hygiene emerges, it is imperative that the educational qualifications of dental hygienists are sufficient to enable them to safely provide the scope of services and care encompassed in these new expanded roles and to effectively participate as an interprofessional team member.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison A Vanderbilt
- Center on Health Disparities and School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
- Correspondence: Allison A Vanderbilt, Virginia Commonwealth University, Theatre Row Building, 730 East Broad St, Suite 4116, Richmond, VA 23298, USA, Tel +1 804 828 2805, Email
| | - Kim T Isringhausen
- Department of Oral Health Promotion and Community Outreach, School of Dentistry, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Patricia Brown Bonwell
- Department of Oral Health Promotion and Community Outreach, School of Dentistry, Richmond, VA, USA
- Dental Hygiene Program, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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