Recent ucsfemergmed items

Humanistic Charting: Empowering Person-centered Emergency Care Through Reimagining the Electronic Health Record

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Objectives: The rise in health care standardization has increased the focus on documentation, subsequently leading to the depersonalization of patient care. Humanistic Charting attempts to enhance person-centered care (PCC) by streamlining the integration of a patient's narrative into the electronic health record (EHR), while reducing a clinician's administrative workload. The Humanistic Charting Tool (HCT) transitions the collection and documentation of person-centric data to patients, empowering them to convey their values, preferences, and individuality. Methods: We carried out a pilot study in an academic emergency department (ED) at the University of California, San Francisco, between February and April 2023, involving 6 clinicians and 29 adult patients using the HCT. Clinicians reviewed HCT entries prior to patient encounters. The feasibility and impact of HCT were assessed using surveys and interviews pre- and postuse. The statistical significance of patient and clinician...

Navigating Nonlinear Pathways: Challenges and Opportunities for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leaders in Academic Emergency Medicine

Thu, 3 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Objectives: Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) leadership roles have grown in academic emergency medicine (EM). We sought to elucidate specific pathways to DEI leadership roles among current DEI leaders in academic EM. Methods: From March to May 2023, we conducted semistructured, qualitative interviews with DEI leaders in academic EM across 5 US regions to investigate their pathways to leadership. Participants were recruited via email using Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited EM residency websites and the Academy for Diversity and Inclusion in EM. After recording and transcribing the interviews, we used an inductive approach to identify major themes. Results: Of 56 DEI leaders contacted, 25 agreed to participate, and 21 were interviewed. The median (range) interview duration was 34 (25-63) minutes. Leadership titles included directors, chairs, vice chairs, committee chairs, chiefs, advisors, and deans. Three major themes emerged: (1) nonlinear pathways-participants...

Global research priorities for intrauterine suction and sponge tools for postpartum haemorrhage management in low-income and middle-income countries: a modified Delphi approach

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) remains the leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity globally. Innovative PPH management tools have emerged using suction and sponge tamponade but currently lack substantial evidence. Broader understanding and collaborative research prioritisation are needed, especially in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the burden of PPH-related mortality is highest. We aimed to describe the current state of evidence and to solicit stakeholder input to identify research priorities related to emerging tools for PPH management. Methods: We used a four-phase modified Delphi approach to identify research priorities for emerging suction and sponge tools. In phase 1, we conducted a literature review and key informant interviews (KIIs) with 19 stakeholders. In phase 2, we distributed an online survey, receiving 66 responses. In phase 3, we virtually convened an expert panel of stakeholders (n=24) and a separate midwife-only focus...

Prehospital Buprenorphine in Treating Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal – A Descriptive Review of the First 131 Cases in San Francisco, CA

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVES: Opioid use disorder (OUD) remains a common cause of overdose and mortality in the United States. Emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians often interact with patients with OUD, including during or shortly after an overdose. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients receiving prehospital buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid withdrawal in an urban EMS system. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of all initial cases of administration of buprenorphine-naloxone from April 2023 to July 2024 during the first 16 months of a program involving prehospital EMS administration of buprenorphine-naloxone by EMS clinicians to patients with OUD experiencing acute opioid withdrawal in San Francisco. The primary outcome involved reduction in Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Score (COWS) and other adverse events including worsened withdrawal (or increased COWS), nausea, patient destination, and loss to follow up were also assessed. RESULTS:...

Implementation of an EMS‐based naloxone distribution program: A qualitative evaluation

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Objectives: We evaluated a novel leave-behind naloxone (LBN) program that allows Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel to distribute naloxone after an opioid overdose. Our objective was to explore EMS engagement and experiences with the program, as well as interest in education on addiction and harm reduction. We also assessed the acceptability of LBN programs among people who use drugs (PWUD). Methods: We conducted telephone interviews with EMS personnel and residents of substance use recovery housing between February and September 2023. EMS personnel described their direct experiences with the LBN program and perceived facilitating factors and barriers to naloxone distribution. First responder interactions and support for LBN were explored with PWUD. A rapid assessment method was used to analyze the interview data. Results: Eighteen of the 23 EMS participants had distributed LBN; most agreed EMS agencies should have an LBN program. Barriers included forgetting, patient...

Rationale and development of a prehospital goal‐directed bundle of care to prevent rearrest after return of spontaneous circulation

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) who attain return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), rearrest while in the prehospital setting represents a significant barrier to survival. To date, there are limited data to guide prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) management immediately following successful resuscitation resulting in ROSC and prior to handoff in the emergency department. Post-ROSC care encompasses a multifaceted approach including hemodynamic optimization, airway management, oxygenation, and ventilation. We sought to develop an evidenced-based, goal-directed bundle of care targeting specified vital parameters in the immediate post-ROSC period, with the goal of decreasing the incidence of rearrest and improving survival outcomes. Here, we describe the rationale and development of this goal-directed bundle of care, which will be adopted by several EMS agencies within California. We convened a group of EMS experts, including EMS Medical Directors,...

Evaluating the current breadth of randomized control trials on cardiac arrest: A scoping review

Fri, 8 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Objectives: Despite the significant disease burden due to cardiac arrest, there is a relative paucity of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to inform definitive management. We aimed to evaluate the current scope of cardiac arrest RCTs published between 2015 and 2022. Methods: We conducted a search in October 2023 of MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science for cardiac arrest RCTs. We included trials published between 2015 and 2022 enrolling human subjects suffering from non-traumatic cardiac arrest. Descriptive statistics were reported and the Mann Kendall test was used to evaluate for temporal trends in the number of trials published annually. Results: We identified 1764 unique publications, 87 RCTs were included after title/abstract and full-text review. We found no significant increase in trials published annually (eight in 2015 and 16 in 2022, p = 1.0). Geographic analysis of study centers found 31 countries represented; Denmark (n = 13, 15%)...

The San Francisco Health Systems Collaborative: Public Health and Health Care Delivery Systems' Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Tue, 5 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Covid-19 pandemic challenged health care delivery systems worldwide. Many acute care hospitals in communities that experienced surges in cases and hospitalizations had to make decisions such as rationing scarce resources. Hospitals serving low-income communities, communities of color, and those in other historically marginalized or vulnerable groups reported the greatest operational impacts of surges. However, cross-institutional collaborations within jurisdictions offer unique opportunities to prevent or mitigate health disparities in resource utilization and access to care. In January 2020, in response to the emerging coronavirus epidemic, the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) and local hospital and health systems partners convened to align and coordinate medical surge planning and response. Adopting a governance structure of mutual accountability and transparency, the San Francisco Health Systems Collaborative guided local medical and public health response...

Naloxone and Patient Outcomes in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests in California

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Importance: The incidence of opioid-associated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OA-OHCA) has grown from less than 1% of OHCA in 2000 to between 7% and 14% of OHCA in recent years; American Heart Association (AHA) protocols suggest that emergency medical service (EMS) clinicians consider naloxone in OA-OHCA. However, it is unknown whether naloxone improves survival in these patients or in patients with undifferentiated OHCA. Objective: To evaluate the association of naloxone with clinical outcomes in patients with undifferentiated OHCA. Design, Setting, and Participants: Retrospective cohort study of EMS-treated patients aged 18 or older who received EMS treatment for nontraumatic OHCA in 3 Northern California counties between 2015 and 2023. Data were analyzed using propensity score-based models from February to April 2024. Exposure: EMS administration of naloxone. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge; the secondary outcome was sustained...

Enhancing emergency department charting: Using Generative Pre‐trained Transformer‐4 (GPT‐4) to identify laceration repairs

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Enhancing emergency department charting: Using Generative Pre‐trained Transformer‐4 (GPT‐4) to identify laceration repairs

Centralization and democratization: Managing crisis communication in health care delivery

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Communication is an essential organizational process for responding to adversity. Managers are often advised to communicate frequently and redundantly during crises. Nonetheless, systematic investigation of how information receivers perceive organizational communication amid crises has remained lacking. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to characterize features of effective internal crisis communication by examining how information-sharing processes unfolded during the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODOLOGY: Between June and August 2020, we conducted 55 semistructured interviews with emergency department workers practicing in a variety of roles. We analyzed interview transcripts following constructivist constant comparative methods. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that at the onset of COVID-19 pandemic response, emergency department workers struggled with immense fear and anxiety amid high uncertainty and equivocality. Frequent and redundant communication,...

Barriers and facilitators to depression care among Latino men in a primary care setting: a qualitative study

Thu, 1 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundIn the United States, Latinos face a wide array of cultural and structural barriers to accessing and utilizing mental health care. Latino men specifically are at high risk of receiving inadequate mental health care, possibly due to additional obstacles they experience that are related to masculinity. Among men more generally, greater adherence to emotional control and self-reliance is associated with higher depression severity and less depression help-seeking. Men experience more stigma toward depression and help-seeking and are less likely to be diagnosed with depression than women. However, Latino men’s barriers and facilitators to depression care remain largely unexplored. The objective of this study was to examine barriers and facilitators to depression care that are related to masculinity among English- and Spanish-speaking Latino men in a primary care setting.MethodsWe used convenience and purposive sampling to recruit primary care patients who self-identified...

Associations between historical residential redlining and current age-adjusted rates of emergency department visits due to asthma across eight cities in California: an ecological study

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Asthma disproportionately affects communities of colour in the USA, but the underlying factors for this remain poorly understood. In this study, we assess the role of historical redlining as outlined in security maps created by the Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC), the discriminatory practice of categorising neighbourhoods on the basis of perceived mortgage investment risk, on the burden of asthma in these neighbourhoods. METHODS: We did an ecological study of HOLC risk grades and asthma exacerbations in California using the security maps available for the following eight cities: Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, and Stockton. Each census tract was categorised into one of four risk levels (A, B, C, or D) on the basis of the location of population-weighted centroids on security maps, with the worst risk level (D) indicating historical redlining. We obtained census tract-level rates of emergency department visits due to...

Trends in presumed drug overdose out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in San Francisco, 2015–2023

Mon, 8 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

INTRODUCTION: Estimates of the prevalence of drug-related out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) vary, ranging from 1.8% to 10.0% of medical OHCA. However, studies conducted prior to the recent wave of fentanyl deaths likely underestimate the current prevalence of drug-related OHCA. We evaluated recent trends in drug-related OHCA, hypothesizing that the proportion of presumed drug-related OHCA treated by emergency medical services (EMS) has increased since 2015. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of OHCA patients treated by EMS providers in San Francisco, California between 2015 and 2023. Participants included OHCA cases in which resuscitation was attempted by EMS. The study exposure was the year of arrest. Our primary outcome was the occurrence of drug-related OHCA, defined as the EMS impression of OHCA caused by a presumed or known overdose of medication(s) or drug(s). RESULTS: From 2015 to 2023, 5044 OHCA resuscitations attended by EMS (average 561 per year) met...

Open-source electronic data capture system offered increased accuracy and cost-effectiveness compared with paper methods in Africa

Sat, 6 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVES: Existing electronic data capture options are often financially unfeasible in resource-poor settings or difficult to support technically in the field. To help facilitate large-scale multicenter studies in sub-Saharan Africa, the African Partnership for Chronic Disease Research (APCDR) has developed an open-source electronic questionnaire (EQ). STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: To assess its relative validity, we compared the EQ against traditional pen-and-paper methods using 200 randomized interviews conducted in an ongoing type 2 diabetes case-control study in South Africa. RESULTS: During its 3-month validation, the EQ had a lower frequency of errors (EQ, 0.17 errors per 100 questions; paper, 0.73 errors per 100 questions; P-value ≤0.001), and a lower monetary cost per correctly entered question, compared with the pen-and-paper method. We found no marked difference in the average duration of the interview between methods (EQ, 5.4 minutes; paper, 5.6 minutes). CONCLUSION:...

Quantitative Gross and CT measurements of Cadaveric Cervical Vertebrae (C3 - C6) as Guidelines for the Lateral mass screw fixation.

Sat, 6 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Lateral mass screw fixation is the treatment of choice for posterior cervical stabilization. Long or misdirected screws carry a risk of injury to spinal nerve roots or vertebral artery. This study was aimed to assess the gross anatomic and CT measurements of typical cervical vertebrae for the selection of lateral mass screws. METHODS: Dimensions of the articular pillars were measured on 1) Dry cervical vertebrae with Vernier calipers and 2) Multiplanar reformations of CT scans of the same vertebrae with Viewer software package. The data was statistically evaluated. RESULTS: The transverse diameter of the articular pillars with Vernier calipers varied from 6.0 to 15.4 mm (mean=10.5 mm ± 1.5) and on CT scans ranged from 8.2 - 16.1 mm (mean=11.6 mm ± 1.4). The antero-posterior diameter, an estimate of the screw length by Roy-Camille technique varied from 3.9 to 12.7 mm (mean=8.6 mm ± 1.6) by Vernier calipers and from 6.4 to 13.3 mm (mean=9.1 ± 1.2) on CT scans. The oblique...

A systematic review of definitions of extreme phenotypes of HIV control and progression

Sat, 6 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The study of individuals at opposite ends of the HIV clinical spectrum can provide invaluable insights into HIV biology. Heterogeneity in criteria used to define these individuals can introduce inconsistencies in results from research and make it difficult to identify biological mechanisms underlying these phenotypes. In this systematic review, we formally quantified the heterogeneity in definitions used for terms referring to extreme phenotypes in the literature, and identified common definitions and components used to describe these phenotypes. We assessed 714 definitions of HIV extreme phenotypes in 501 eligible studies published between 1 January 2000 and 15 March 2012, and identified substantial variation among these. This heterogeneity in definitions may represent important differences in biological endophenotypes and clinical progression profiles of individuals selected by these, suggesting the need for harmonized definitions. In this context, we were able to identify common...

Screening performance of the chest X-ray in adult blunt trauma evaluation: Is it effective and what does it miss?

Tue, 2 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Although chest x-ray (CXR) is often used as a screening tool for thoracic injury in adult blunt trauma assessment, its screening performance is unclear. Using chest CT as the referent standard, we sought to determine the screening performance of CXR for injury. METHODS: We analyzed data from the NEXUS Chest CT study, in which we prospectively enrolled blunt trauma patients older than 14 years who received chest imaging as part of their evaluation at nine level I trauma centers. For this analysis, we included patients who had both CXR and chest CT. We used CT as the referent standard and categorized injuries as clinically major or minor according to an a priori expert panel classification. RESULTS: Of 11,477 patients enrolled, 4501 had both CXR and chest CT; 1496 (33.2%) were found to have injury, of which 256 (17%) were classified as major injury. CXR missed injuries in 818 patients (54.7%), of which 63 (7.7%) were classified as major injuries. For injuries of major...

Emergency department visits and hospitalizations by tube-fed nursing home residents with varying degrees of cognitive impairment: a national study

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundNumerous studies indicate that the use of feeding tubes (FT) in persons with advanced cognitive impairment (CI) does not improve clinical outcomes or survival, and results in higher rates of hospitalization and emergency department (ED) visits. It is not clear, however, whether such risk varies by resident level of CI and whether these ED visits and hospitalizations are potentially preventable. The objective of this study was to determine the rates of ED visits, hospitalizations and potentially preventable ambulatory care sensitive (ACS) ED visits and ACS hospitalizations for long-stay NH residents with FTs at differing levels of CI.MethodsWe linked Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services inpatient & outpatient administrative claims and beneficiary eligibility data with Minimum Data Set (MDS) resident assessment data for nursing home residents with feeding tubes in a 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries residing in US nursing facilities in 2006 (n = 3479)....

Association of HIV and ART with cardiometabolic traits in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the highest burden of HIV in the world and a rising prevalence of cardiometabolic disease; however, the interrelationship between HIV, antiretroviral therapy (ART) and cardiometabolic traits is not well described in SSA populations. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis through MEDLINE and EMBASE (up to January 2012), as well as direct author contact. Eligible studies provided summary or individual-level data on one or more of the following traits in HIV+ and HIV-, or ART+ and ART- subgroups in SSA: body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TGs) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Information was synthesized under a random-effects model and the primary outcomes were the standardized mean differences (SMD) of the specified traits between subgroups of participants. RESULTS:...

Nicotine Intake in Adult Pod E-cigarette Users: Impact of User and Device Characteristics

Wed, 1 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

INTRODUCTION: This study examined user behavior, e-cigarette dependence, and device characteristics on nicotine intake among users of pod-mod e-cigarettes. AIMS AND METHODS: In 2019-2020, people who use pod-mods in the San Francisco Bay Area completed questionnaires and provided a urine sample for analysis of total nicotine equivalents (TNE). The relationship between TNE and e-cigarette use, e-cigarette brands, e-liquid nicotine strength, e-cigarette dependence, and urine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), as a measure of combustible cigarette exposure, were examined. RESULTS: Of 100 participants (64% male, 71% in the 18-34 age group, 45% white), 53 used JUUL primarily, 12 used Puff Bar primarily, and 35 used other brands, including Suorin; 48 participants reported current cigarette smoking. Participants most often reported use of e-liquid with 4.5%-6.0% nicotine (68%), fruit (35%), tobacco (28%), and menthol or mint flavors (26%), used e-cigarettes on 25.5...

Significant variation in computed tomography imaging of pregnant trauma patients: a retrospective multicenter study

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

PurposeFollowing motor vehicle collisions (MVCs), patients often undergo extensive computed tomography (CT) imaging. However, pregnant trauma patients (PTPs) represent a unique population where the risk of fetal radiation may supersede the benefits of liberal CT imaging. This study sought to evaluate imaging practices for PTPs, hypothesizing variability in CT imaging among trauma centers. If demonstrated, this might suggest the need to develop specific guidelines to standardize practice.MethodsA multicenter retrospective study (2016–2021) was performed at 12 Level-I/II trauma centers. Adult (≥18 years old) PTPs involved in MVCs were included, with no patients excluded. The primary outcome was the frequency of CT. Chi-square tests were used to compare categorical variables, and ANOVA was used to compare the means of normally distributed continuous variables.ResultsA total of 729 PTPs sustained MVCs (73% at high speed of ≥ 25 miles per hour). Most patients were mildly injured but...

Quality improvement collaboratives as part of a quality improvement intervention package for preterm births at sub-national level in East Africa: a multi-method analysis

Fri, 5 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Quality improvement collaboratives (QIC) are an approach to accelerate the spread and impact of evidence-based interventions across health facilities, which are found to be particularly successful when combined with other interventions such as clinical skills training. We implemented a QIC as part of a quality improvement intervention package designed to improve newborn survival in Kenya and Uganda. We use a multi-method approach to describe how a QIC was used as part of an overall improvement effort and describe specific changes measured and participant perceptions of the QIC. METHODS: We examined QIC-aggregated run charts on three shared indicators related to uptake of evidence-based practices over time and conducted key informant interviews to understand participants' perceptions of quality improvement practice. Run charts were evaluated for change from baseline medians. Interviews were analysed using framework analysis. RESULTS: Run charts for all indicators reflected...

Longitudinal ECG changes among adults with HIV in Tanzania: A prospective cohort study

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is rising among people with HIV (PWH) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite the utility of the electrocardiogram (ECG) in screening for CVD, there is limited data regarding longitudinal ECG changes among PWH in SSA. In this study, we aimed to describe ECG changes over a 6-month period in a cohort of PWH in northern Tanzania. Between September 2020 and March 2021, adult PWH were recruited from Majengo HIV Care and Treatment Clinic (MCTC) in Moshi, Tanzania. Trained research assistants surveyed participants and obtained a baseline ECG. Participants then returned to MCTC for a 6-month follow-up, where another ECG was obtained. Two independent physician adjudicators interpreted baseline and follow-up ECGs for rhythm, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), bundle branch blocks, ST-segment changes, and T-wave inversion, using standardized criteria. New ECG abnormalities were defined as those that were absent in a patient's baseline ECG but...

Twenty‐four‐hour subjective and pharmacological effects of ad‐libitum electronic and combustible cigarette use among dual users

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Relative pharmacological effects of e-cigarettes and cigarettes during 24 hours of ad-libitum use have not been described. In this study, 24-hour blood plasma nicotine concentrations and 48-hour subjective effects with use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes were measured among dual users. DESIGN: Two-arm within-subject cross-over design with preferred e-cigarette or cigarette ad-libitum use over 48 hours. SETTING: Hospital research ward in San Francisco, California, USA. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-six healthy dual users of e-cigarettes and cigarettes (n = 8, 25% females). MEASUREMENTS: Twenty-four-hour blood plasma nicotine and cotinine concentrations and 48-hour self-reported nicotine withdrawal symptoms and rewarding effects. FINDINGS: Analyses used analysis of variance (ANOVA)-based mixed models with order of product (e-cigarette or cigarette) and product type (combustible cigarette or type of e-cigarette) as fixed effects, and subject as a repeated...

Comparison of Systemic Exposure to Toxic and/or Carcinogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) during Vaping, Smoking, and Abstention

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Comparisons of systemic exposure to toxicants during monitored cigarette smoking, electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use, and abstention are needed to enhance our understanding of the risks of e-cigarette use (vaping). In a cross-over study, we measured 10 mercapturic acid metabolites of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in 24-hour urine samples collected from 36 dual users (8 women) of e-cigarettes and cigarettes during 2 days of ad libitum vaping or cigarette-only use, and 2 days of enforced abstention. Concentrations of VOC metabolites were higher during smoking compared with vaping, except for the methylating agents' metabolite. The fold-difference in concentrations when smoking relative to vaping ranged from 1.31 (1.06-1.61; geometric mean, 95% confidence interval; 1,3-butadiene) to 7.09 (5.88-8.54; acrylonitrile). Metabolites of acrylamide [fold difference of 1.21 (1.03-1.43)] and benzene [1.46 (1.13-1.90)] were higher during vaping compared with abstention. The 1,3-butadiene...

Quantitative biochemical screening for marijuana use and concordance with tobacco use in urban adolescents

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Assessing the prevalence and level of exposure (dose) of tobacco and marijuana use is important in studies of harm from use of these substances. We used biochemical analysis of urine to quantitatively assess exposure to nicotine and delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in adolescents receiving medical care in a public hospital METHODS: Participants were 686 adolescents between 12 and 21 years old seen at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital between 2012 and 2014. Urine samples were assayed using high sensitivity liquid chromatographic assays for cotinine, a major metabolite of nicotine, and 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta 9-THC (THC-COOH), a major metabolite of THC. A commonly used immunoassay screen for THC-COOH was also performed. RESULTS: The THC-COOH immunoassay substantially underestimated THC exposure, as measured with the high sensitivity assay. THC use was detected in 25% of participants, with higher prevalence with increasing age and in non-Hispanic blacks. Active...

Efficacy of emergency department calcium administration in cardiac arrest: A 9-year retrospective evaluation

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of empiric calcium for patients with undifferentiated cardiac arrest has come under increased scrutiny, including a randomized controlled trial that was stopped early due to a trend towards harm with calcium administration. However, small sample sizes and non-significant findings have hindered precise effect estimates. In this analysis we evaluate the association of calcium administration with survival in a large retrospective cohort of patients with cardiac arrest treated in the emergency department (ED). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of medical records from two academic hospitals (one quaternary care center, one county trauma center) in San Francisco between 2011 and 2019. Inclusion criteria were patients aged greater than or equal to 18 years old who received treatment for cardiac arrest during their ED course. Our primary exposure was the administration of calcium while in the ED and the main outcome was survival to hospital admission....

JUUL electronic cigarettes: Nicotine exposure and the user experience

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: As of March 2019, JUUL electronic cigarettes are the most popular e-cigarette on the U.S. market, but little is known of nicotine exposure and dependence on JUUL and user experience. METHODS: JUUL users participated in a community-based study involving questionnaires, saliva collection and a qualitative interview. RESULTS: Fifteen participants were enrolled (80% male, 53% White) and had an average age of 29.8 (standard deviation = 10) years. Daily exposure to nicotine assessed via salivary cotinine was similar to those reported for other e-cigarette and tobacco cigarette users in general. The majority reported low to moderate nicotine dependence. Qualitative interview themes included: the importance of social networks in adoption and use of the product; device features such as small size and vapor cloud reinforced product use; the product provided satisfaction compared to a tobacco cigarette; and a perceived sense of addiction to the product. CONCLUSIONS: JUUL e-cigarettes...

Black Light Smokers: How Nicotine Intake and Carcinogen Exposure Differ Across Various Biobehavioral Factors

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to identify biobehavioral variables associated with greater intake of nicotine and a tobacco carcinogen among Black light smokers who smoke 1 to 10 cigarettes per day (CPD). METHODS: We analyzed baseline data collected from 426 Black light smokers enrolled in Kick It at Swope III (KIS III), a smoking cessation trial for Black smokers. We examined differences in concentrations of tobacco biomarkers, including urinary total nicotine equivalents (TNE) and total 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3)pyridyl-1-butanonol (NNAL; a human carcinogen), across gender, age, plasma nicotine metabolite ratio (NMR), CPD, and measures of tobacco dependence, including time to first cigarette (TFC), using ANOVA. RESULTS: Tobacco biomarker levels were significantly higher among those who smoked more CPD (6-10 vs 1-5 CPD) and those with greater reported physical dependence on tobacco. Concurrently, those who smoked 1-5 CPD smoked each cigarette more intensely than those who...

FEASIBILITY AND SAFETY OF A FIELD CARE CLINIC AS AN ALTERNATIVE AMBULANCE DESTINATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

Fri, 4 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Anticipating an increased utilization of healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 surge, the San Francisco Department of Public Health developed a plan to deploy neighborhood-based Field Care Clinics (FCCs) that would decompress emergency departments by serving patients with low acuity complaints. These clinics would receive patients directly from the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system. Transports were initiated by a paramedic-driven protocol, originally by EMS crews and later by the Centralized Ambulance Destination Determination (CADDiE) System. In this study, we evaluated the outcomes of EMS patients who were transported to the FCC, specifically as to whether they required subsequent transfer to the emergency department. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of all patients transported to the Bayview-Hunters Point (BHP) neighborhood FCC by EMS between April 11^th, 2020, and December 16^th, 2020. Descriptive statistics and Chi-Square...

Patterns in Patient Encounters and Emergency Department Capacity in California, 2011-2021.

Thu, 3 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Importance

The health care system has undergone major changes in the past decade, and emergency department (ED) crowding has worsened over time; however, the most recent patterns in ED capacity and use in California have yet to be studied.

Objective

To analyze patterns in ED capacity and utilization in California hospitals from 2011 to 2021.

Design, setting, and participants

This retrospective cohort study used data from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information and the US Census Bureau to analyze ED facility characteristics from more than 400 general acute care hospitals with more than 320 EDs in California as well as patients who presented to those EDs between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2021.

Main outcomes and measures

Linear patterns (measured by percentage change) in total annual ED capacity (volume of hospital beds, EDs, ED treatment stations, and trauma centers) and ED use (ED visits by disposition and acuity) were...

San Francisco’s Citywide COVID-19 Response: Strategies to Reduce COVID-19 Severity and Health Disparities, March 2020 Through May 2022

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

San Francisco implemented one of the most intensive, comprehensive, multipronged COVID-19 pandemic responses in the United States using 4 core strategies: (1) aggressive mitigation measures to protect populations at risk for severe disease, (2) prioritization of resources in neighborhoods highly affected by COVID-19, (3) timely and adaptive data-driven policy making, and (4) leveraging of partnerships and public trust. We collected data to describe programmatic and population-level outcomes. The excess all-cause mortality rate in 2020 in San Francisco was half that seen in 2019 in California as a whole (8% vs 16%). In almost all age and race and ethnicity groups, excess mortality from COVID-19 was lower in San Francisco than in California overall, with markedly diminished excess mortality among people aged >65 years. The COVID-19 response in San Francisco highlights crucial lessons, particularly the importance of community responsiveness, joint planning, and collective action,...

Association of Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System Inhibitors and Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association of prior use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASIs) with mortality and outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: Multicenter, international COVID-19 registry. SUBJECTS: Adult hospitalized COVID-19 patients on antihypertensive agents (AHAs) prior to admission, admitted from March 31, 2020, to March 10, 2021. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data were compared between three groups: patients on RAASIs only, other AHAs only, and those on both medications. Multivariable logistic and linear regressions were performed after controlling for prehospitalization characteristics to estimate the effect of RAASIs on mortality and other outcomes during hospitalization. Of 26,652 patients, 7,975 patients were on AHAs prior to hospitalization. Of these, 1,542 patients (19.3%) were on RAASIs only, 3,765 patients (47.2%) were on other AHAs only, and 2,668 (33.5%)...

Retrospective analysis of wildfire smoke exposure and birth weight outcomes in the San Francisco Bay Area of California

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Despite the occurrence of wildfires quadrupling over the past four decades, the health effects associated with wildfire smoke exposures during pregnancy remains unknown. Particulate matter less than 2.5 μms (PM_2.5) is among the major pollutants emitted in wildfire smoke. Previous studies found PM_2.5 associated with lower birthweight, however, the relationship between wildfire-specific PM_2.5 and birthweight is uncertain. Our study of 7923 singleton births in San Francisco between January 1, 2017 and March 12, 2020 examines associations between wildfire smoke exposure during pregnancy and birthweight. We linked daily estimates of wildfire-specific PM_2.5 to maternal residence at the ZIP code level. We used linear and log-binomial regression to examine the relationship between wildfire smoke exposure by trimester and birthweight and adjusted for gestational age, maternal age, race/ethnicity, and educational attainment. We stratified...

Burden of severe infections due to carbapenem-resistant pathogens in intensive care unit

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Intensive care units (ICU) for various reasons, including the increasing age of admitted patients, comorbidities, and increasingly complex surgical procedures (e.g., transplants), have become "the epicenter" of nosocomial infections, these are characterized by the presence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) as the cause of infection. Therefore, the perfect match of fragile patients and MDROs, as the cause of infection, makes ICU mortality very high. Furthermore, carbapenems were considered for years as last-resort antibiotics for the treatment of infections caused by MDROs; unfortunately, nowadays carbapenem resistance, mainly among Gram-negative pathogens, is a matter of the highest concern for worldwide public health. This comprehensive review aims to outline the problem from the intensivist's perspective, focusing on the new definition and epidemiology of the most common carbapenem-resistant MDROs (Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacterales)...

Medicinal cannabis products for the treatment of acute pain

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

For thousands of years, medicinal cannabis has been used for pain treatment, but its use for pain management is still controversial. Meta-analysis of the literature has shown contrasting results on the addition of cannabinoids to opioids compared with placebo/other active agents to reduce pain. Clinical studies are mainly focused on medicinal cannabis use in chronic pain management, for which the analgesic effect has been proven in many studies. This review focuses on the potential use of medical cannabis for acute pain management in preclinical studies, studies on healthy subjects and the few pioneering studies in the clinical setting.

Correction: Associations between healthcare utilization and access and diabetic retinopathy complications using All of Us nationwide survey data

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269231.].

Use of clinical decision support for antibiotic stewardship in the emergency department and outpatient clinics: An interrupted time-series analysis

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Objective: To evaluate the impact of implementing clinical decision support (CDS) tools for outpatient antibiotic prescribing in the emergency department (ED) and clinic settings. Design: We performed a before-and-after, quasi-experimental study that employed an interrupted time-series analysis. Setting: The study institution was a quaternary, academic referral center in Northern California. Participants: We included prescriptions for patients in the ED and 21 primary-care clinics within the same health system. Intervention: We implemented a CDS tool for azithromycin on March 1, 2020, and a CDS tool for fluoroquinolones (FQs; ie, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin) on November 1, 2020. The CDS added friction to inappropriate ordering workflows while adding health information technology (HIT) features to easily perform recommended actions. The primary outcome was the number of monthly prescriptions for each antibiotic type, by implementation period (before vs after). Results:...

Improvements to emergency department length of stay and user satisfaction after implementation of an integrated consult order

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Objective: Subspecialty consultation in the emergency department (ED) is a vital, albeit time consuming, part of modern medicine. Traditional consultation requires manual paging to initiate communication. Although consult orders through the electronic health record (EHR) may help, they do not facilitate 2-way communication. However, the impact of combining these systems within the EHR is unknown. We estimated the effect of implementing an integrated paging system on ED workflow efficiency and user attitudes. Methods: We integrated a messaging system into order entry at our tertiary care academic ED, such that placing a consult order simultaneously paged the consultant. We measured ED workflow efficiency metrics (length of stay [LOS], consult initiation time) and MD/nurse practitioner (NP)/physician assistant (PA) attitudes (perceived mis-pages, efficiency, and workflow preference) 3 months before and 6 months after the implementation. Results: Six months after implementation,...

Using clinical cascades to measure health facilities’ obstetric emergency readiness: testing the cascade model using cross-sectional facility data in East Africa

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVES: Globally, hundreds of women die daily from preventable pregnancy-related causes, with the greatest burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Five key emergencies-bleeding, infections, high blood pressure, delivery complications and unsafe abortions-account for nearly 75% of these obstetric deaths. Skilled clinicians with strategic supplies could prevent most deaths. In this study, we (1) measured facility readiness to manage common obstetric emergencies using the clinical cascades and signal function tracers; (2) compared these readiness estimates by facility characteristics; and (3) measured cascading drop-offs in resources. DESIGN: A facility-based cross-sectional analysis of resources for common obstetric emergencies. SETTING: Data were collected in 2016 from 23 hospitals (10 designated comprehensive emergency obstetric care (CEmOC) facilities) in Migori County, western Kenya, and Busoga Region, eastern Uganda, in the Preterm Birth Initiative study in East Africa. Baseline...

Nitrous oxide inhalant abuse and massive pulmonary embolism in COVID-19

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A patient presented to the emergency department with altered mental status and lower extremity weakness in the setting of nitrous oxide inhalant abuse and Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection. He subsequently developed hypotension and severe hypoxia, found to have a saddle pulmonary embolus (PE) with right heart strain requiring alteplase (tPA).

Contingency management to promote smoking cessation in people experiencing homelessness: Leveraging the electronic health record in a pilot, pragmatic randomized controlled trial

Sat, 8 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking is disproportionately high among people experiencing homelessness (PEH). Contingency management (CM) is a strategy that has shown considerable efficacy for smoking cessation and has been used in short-term studies of smoking abstinence in PEH. We describe a pilot, pragmatic randomized controlled trial protocol, which leverages an electronic health record (EHR) infrastructure to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an extended CM intervention to improve long-term abstinence in PEH. METHODS: We will conduct the study at three safety-net clinics in San Francisco among 90 adults experiencing homelessness who smoke cigarettes currently and have a desire to quit. We will encourage all participants to receive smoking cessation services that include behavioral counseling and pharmacotherapy through their clinics. We will randomly assign participants to an extended CM intervention group with escalating incentives contingent on abstinence or to a control...

Prevalence and correlates of substance use and associations with HIV-related outcomes among trans women in the San Francisco Bay Area

Fri, 7 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundTrans women face tremendous social inequities as well as disproportionate rates of HIV and substance use, yet disaggregated substance use data specific to trans women remain limited.MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of baseline data from the Trans*National Study (2016–2017) surveying trans women in the San Francisco Bay Area (n = 629). Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze socio-demographic and environmental correlates of substance use, and bivariate associations between substance use and HIV-associated outcomes are presented alongside prevalence data. ResultsOver half (52.9%) reported using substances in the prior year, most frequently marijuana, methamphetamine, and crack/cocaine. Those with unmet gender-affirming health care needs, lack of insurance, or a history of experiencing racial violence, transphobic violence, adult housing instability, or extreme poverty had higher odds of substance use. Sex work and condomless anal sex were also independently...

Implementing the WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist modified for preterm birth: lessons learned and experiences from Kenya and Uganda

Fri, 7 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundThe WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist (SCC) contains 29 evidence-based practices (EBPs) across four pause points spanning admission to discharge. It has been shown to increase EBP uptake and has been tailored to specific contexts. However, little research has been conducted in East Africa on use of the SCC to improve intrapartum care, particularly for preterm birth despite its burden. We describe checklist adaptation, user acceptability, implementation and lessons learned.MethodsThe East Africa Preterm Birth Initiative (PTBi EA) modified the SCC for use in 23 facilities in Western Kenya and Eastern Uganda as part of a cluster randomized controlled trial evaluating a package of facility-based interventions to improve preterm birth outcomes. The modified SCC (mSCC) for prematurity included: addition of a triage pause point before admission; focus on gestational age assessment, identification and management of preterm labour; and alignment with national guidelines. Following...

Wildfire Smoke Exposure during Pregnancy: A Review of Potential Mechanisms of Placental Toxicity, Impact on Obstetric Outcomes, and Strategies to Reduce Exposure

Fri, 7 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Climate change is accelerating the intensity and frequency of wildfires globally. Understanding how wildfire smoke (WS) may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes and alterations in placental function via biological mechanisms is critical to mitigate the harms of exposure. We aim to review the literature surrounding WS, placental biology, biological mechanisms underlying adverse pregnancy outcomes as well as interventions and strategies to avoid WS exposure in pregnancy. This review includes epidemiologic and experimental laboratory-based studies of WS, air pollution, particulate matter (PM), and other chemicals related to combustion in relation to obstetric outcomes and placental biology. We summarized the available clinical, animal, and placental studies with WS and other combustion products such as tobacco, diesel, and wood smoke. Additionally, we reviewed current recommendations for prevention of WS exposure. We found that there is limited data specific to WS; however, studies...

Health profiles and racial disparities among individuals on probation in Hennepin County, Minnesota, 2016: a cross-sectional study

Wed, 5 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Objectives

To estimate the health characteristics and racial/ethnic health disparities among a probation cohort in Hennepin County. We hypothesised the probation population would have higher health needs compared with the general population as well as significant racial/ethnic health disparities.

Design

Cross-sectional study using linked administrative records.

Participants

Of 7992 eligible individuals, 5873 met inclusion criteria of 6 or more months of eligibility for a full-benefit Minnesota healthcare plan.

Setting

Probation system in Hennepin County in 2016.

Outcomes

We compared health condition prevalence among our probation cohort with survey data from the general population and analysed by race/ethnicity. We also measured sociodemographic characteristics, including the use of safety-net services.

Results

Individuals were predominantly male (80.5%), young (mean age: 35.5 years), and disproportionately black or African American (52.9%)....

Effect of Electronic Prescribing Strategies on Medication Error and Harm in Hospital: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Sat, 1 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundComputerized physician order entry and clinical decision support systems are electronic prescribing strategies that are increasingly used to improve patient safety. Previous reviews show limited effect on patient outcomes. Our objective was to assess the impact of electronic prescribing strategies on medication errors and patient harm in hospitalized patients.MethodsMEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and CINAHL were searched from January 2007 to January 2018. We included prospective studies that compared hospital-based electronic prescribing strategies with control, and reported on medication error or patient harm. Data were abstracted by two reviewers and pooled using random effects model. Study quality was assessed using the Effective Practice and Organisation of Care and evidence quality was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation.ResultsThirty-eight studies were included; comprised of 11 randomized control trials and 27 non-randomized...

Prehospital Testing and Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2: A Special Report from the Sacramento (California USA) Mobile Integrated Health Unit

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has killed nearly 800,000 Americans since early 2020. The disease has disproportionately affected older Americans, men, persons of color, and those living in congregate living facilities. Sacramento County (California USA) has used a novel Mobile Integrated Health Unit (MIH) to test hundreds of patients who dwell in congregate living facilities, including skilled nursing facilities (SNF), residential care facilities (ie, assisted living facilities [ALF] and board and care facilities [BCF]), and inpatient psychiatric facilities (PSY), for SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: The MIH was authorized and rapidly created at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as a joint venture between the Sacramento County Department of Public Health (SCDPH) and several fire-based Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies within the county to perform SARS-CoV-2 testing and surveillance in...

Development and Validation of a Deep Learning Strategy for Automated View Classification of Pediatric Focused Assessment With Sonography for Trauma

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVE: Pediatric focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) is a sequence of ultrasound views rapidly performed by clinicians to diagnose hemorrhage. A technical limitation of FAST is the lack of expertise to consistently acquire all required views. We sought to develop an accurate deep learning view classifier using a large heterogeneous dataset of clinician-performed pediatric FAST. METHODS: We developed and conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of a deep learning view classifier on real-world FAST studies performed on injured children less than 18 years old in two pediatric emergency departments by 30 different clinicians. FAST was randomly distributed to training, validation, and test datasets, 70:20:10; each child was represented in only one dataset. The primary outcome was view classifier accuracy for video clips and still frames. RESULTS: There were 699 FAST studies, representing 4925 video clips and 1,062,612 still frames, performed by 30 different clinicians....

The experiences of medical students, residents, fellows, and attendings in the emergency department: Implicit bias to microaggressions

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVES: Microaggressions and implicit bias occur frequently in medicine. No previous study, however, has examined the implicit bias and microaggressions that emergency medicine (EM) providers experience. Our primary objective was to understand how often EM providers experience implicit bias and microaggressions. Our secondary objective was to evaluate the types of microaggressions they experience and whether their own identifying characteristics are risk factors. METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to EM providers across the United States. Outcome measures of experiencing or witnessing a microaggression, overt discrimination, or implicit bias were described using frequencies, proportions, and logistic regressions. Where a univariate association between outcome measures and demographic characteristics was found, multivariate regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) was performed. Proportional odds logistic regression models were...

Physician Wellness Measures and Clinical Performance on a Critically Ill Simulated Patient: Does a Lack of Well-Being Impact Patient Care?

Sat, 24 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Background/objective

Burnout is common among resident physicians, which has the potential to translate into diagnostic and management errors. Our study investigates the relationship between sleepiness, depression, anxiety, burnout, and lack of professional fulfillment with clinical performance during a critically ill patient simulation. Methods/Approach: Emergency medicine residents were recruited to participate in a high-fidelity simulation case of a critically ill patient. A survey with validated wellbeing measures (National Institutes of Health Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (NIH PROMIS), Linzer burnout measure, and professional fulfillment index) was administered prior to the simulation. Each encounter was video-recorded and analyzed by two blinded raters based on a binary critical-actions checklist. Time-to-intubation, management errors, and misdiagnosis rates were assessed.

Results

Twenty residents participated, with most subjects...

Nicotine metabolite ratio: Comparison of the three urinary versions to the plasma version and nicotine clearance in three clinical studies

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Variation in CYP2A6 activity influences tobacco smoking behaviors and smoking-related health outcomes. Plasma Nicotine Metabolite Ratio (NMR) is a robust phenotypic biomarker of CYP2A6 activity and nicotine clearance. In urine, the NMR has been calculated as a ratio of free trans-3'-hydroxycotinine to free cotinine (NMR_F/F), total trans-3'-hydroxycotinine to free cotinine (NMR_T/F), or total trans-3'-hydroxycotinine to total cotinine (NMR_T/T). We evaluated these three urinary NMR versions relative to plasma NMR and nicotine clearance and elucidated mechanisms of discrepancies among them. METHODS: Baseline plasma and urine biomarker data were available from two smoking cessation clinical trials and one nicotine pharmacokinetic study (total N = 768). NMRs were compared using Pearson correlations, linear regressions and ANOVA analyses. UGT2B10 and UGT2B17 were genotyped. RESULTS: Urinary NMR_T/F was the most highly related to...

Evaluating a Web‐based Point‐of‐care Ultrasound Curriculum for the Diagnosis of Intussusception

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVES: Intussusception is a pediatric medical emergency that can be difficult to diagnose. Radiology-performed ultrasound is the diagnostic study of choice but may lead to delays due to lack of availability. Point-of-care ultrasound for intussusception (POCUS-I) studies have shown excellent accuracy and reduced lengths of stay, but there are limited POCUS-I training materials for pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) providers. METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study assessing PEM physicians undergoing a primarily Web-based POCUS-I curriculum. We developed the POCUS-I curriculum using Kern's six-step model. The curriculum included a Web-based module and a brief, hands-on practice that was developed with a board-certified pediatric radiologist. POCUS-I technical skill, knowledge, and confidence were determined by a direct observation checklist, multiple-choice test, and a self-reported Likert-scale survey, respectively. We assessed participants immediately pre- and postcourse...

The Utility of Focused Assessment With Sonography for Trauma Enhanced Physical Examination in Children With Blunt Torso Trauma

Sat, 10 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVES: Computed tomography (CT), the reference standard for diagnosis of intraabdominal injury (IAI), carries risk including ionizing radiation. CT-sparing clinical decision rules for children have relied heavily on physical examination, but they did not include focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST), which has emerged into widespread use during the past decade. We sought to determine the independent associations of physical examination, laboratory studies, and FAST with identification of IAI in children and to compare the test characteristics of these diagnostic variables. We hypothesized that FAST may add incremental utility to a physical examination alone to more accurately identify children who could forgo CT scan. METHODS: We reviewed a large trauma database of all children with blunt torso trauma presenting to a freestanding pediatric emergency department during a 20-month period. We used logistic regression to evaluate the association of FAST, physical...

Oxytocin-enhanced group therapy for methamphetamine use disorder: Randomized controlled trial

Fri, 9 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine (METH) use is a public health crisis that disproportionately affects men who have sex with men (MSM). There are currently no FDA-approved pharmacological interventions to treat methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). MUD is associated with social impairments and extremely high treatment attrition rates. Administration of oxytocin, a neuropeptide involved in social attachment, may be a novel approach to addressing these issues. Moreover, oxytocin administration has shown promise for reducing METH-related addictive behavior in animal models, but has not yet been investigated in clinical trials for MUD. Last, oxytocin is known to modulate stress responsivity via regulation of the autonomic nervous system, which is dysregulated in METH users. We hypothesize that oxytocin, in combination with group psychotherapy, will increase treatment engagement, reduce addiction behavior, and mitigate stress hyperreactivity. METHODS: This is a randomized, double blind trial...

Assessing the impact of group antenatal care on gestational length in Rwanda: A cluster-randomized trial

Thu, 8 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Research on group antenatal care in low- and middle-income contexts suggests high acceptability and preliminary implementation success. METHODS: We studied the effect of group antenatal care on gestational age at birth among women in Rwanda, hypothesizing that participation would increase mean gestational length. For this unblinded cluster randomized trial, 36 health centers were pair-matched and randomized; half continued individual antenatal care (control), half implemented group antenatal care (intervention). Women who initiated antenatal care between May 2017 and December 2018 were invited to participate, and included in analyses if they presented before 24 weeks gestation, attended at least two visits, and their birth outcome was obtained. We used a generalized estimating equations model for analysis. FINDINGS: In total, 4091 women in 18 control clusters and 4752 women in 18 intervention clusters were included in the analysis. On average, women attended three...

Sources and Biomarkers of Secondhand Tobacco Smoke Exposure in Urban Adolescents

Sat, 3 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVE: In an urban adolescent population, we evaluated sources of exposure to secondhand smoke exposure (SHS), examined differences in exposure by race/ethnicity, age and sex, and determined the relationship between exposure source(s) and the biomarkers cotinine and NNAL. METHODS: Participants were recruited from a public hospital-based outpatient clinic in San Francisco, CA, USA. RESULTS: Of a sample of N = 298 adolescents screened, 235 were biologically confirmed to be exposed to tobacco smoke. Of those, N = 16 were active smokers and N = 219 were exposed to SHS; 91 (39%) were heavily SHS exposed (median cotinine = 0.76 ng/mL) and 128 (54%) had light SHS exposure (median cotinine = 0.11 ng/mL). Within those SHS exposed, the most common source of exposure was in a public area. No significant racial/ethnic differences were found, although African American adolescents were more likely to live in a home that allowed smoking....

The Digital EMS California Academy of Learning: One State's Innovative Approach to EMS Fellow Education

Thu, 25 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

INTRODUCTION: Emergency medical services (EMS) fellowships are growing in significance within the United States prehospital health care system. While fellowships represent a cornerstone of EMS subspecialty education, an individual learner's experiences are limited by local resources and practices. California EMS fellowships have developed an innovative method for expanding fellows' educational experiences outside their immediate programs. THE INNOVATIVE EDUCATION METHOD: Each month, fellows, fellowship directors, and local EMS medical directors from throughout the state participate in a video conference. This meeting is divided into four distinct components: book chapter presentation, board-style question review, call review, and an EMS literature review. CHAPTER REVIEW: The two-volume text Emergency Medical Services: Clinical Practice and Systems Oversight has been categorized into 12 modules, one for each month of the fellowship. Every meeting, one fellow prepares a didactic...

Potential Misdiagnoses of Bell's Palsy in the Emergency Department

Wed, 3 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We evaluate the incidence of potentially incorrect emergency department (ED) diagnoses of Bell's palsy and identify factors associated with identification of a serious alternative diagnosis on follow-up. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study from California's Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development for 2005 to 2011. Subjects were adult patients discharged from the ED with a diagnosis of Bell's palsy. Information related to demographics, imaging use, and comorbidities was collected. Our outcome was one of the following diagnoses made within 90 days of the index ED visit: stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, brain tumor, central nervous system infection, Guillain-Barré syndrome, Lyme disease, otitis media/mastoiditis, or herpes zoster. We report hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for factors associated with misdiagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 43,979 patients were discharged with a diagnosis of Bell's...

Race and Sex Disparities in Prehospital Recognition of Acute Stroke

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to examine prehospital provider recognition of stroke by race and sex. METHODS: Diagnoses at emergency department (ED) and hospital discharge from a statewide database in California were linked to prehospital diagnoses from an electronic database from two counties in Northern California from January 2005 to December 2007 using probabilistic linkage. All patients 18 years and older, transported by ambulances (n = 309,866) within the two counties, and patients with hospital-based discharge diagnoses of stroke (n = 10,719) were included in the study. Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent association of race and sex with the correct prehospital diagnosis of stroke. RESULTS: There were 10,719 patients discharged with primary diagnoses of stroke. Of those, 3,787 (35%) were transported by emergency medical services providers. Overall, 32% of patients ultimately diagnosed with stroke were identified in the prehospital setting....

Assessment of a COVID-19 vaccination protocol for unhoused patients in the emergency department

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of implementing an emergency department (ED)-based Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination protocol in a population of unhoused patients. METHODS: On June 10, 2021, a best practice alert (BPA) was implemented that fired when an ED provider opened the charts of unhoused patients and prompted the provider to order COVID-19 vaccination for eligible patients. We downloaded electronic medical record data of patients who received a COVID-19 vaccine in the ED between June 10, 2021 and August 26, 2021. The outcomes of interest were the number of unhoused, and the total number of patients vaccinated for COVID-19 during the study period. Data were described with simple descriptive statistics. RESULTS: There were 25,871 patient encounters in 19,992 unique patients (mean 1.3 visits/patient) in the emergency department during the study period. There were 1,474 (6% of total ED population) visits in 1,085 unique patients who were unhoused...

Removal of Race From Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Calculations: Implications for the Emergency Department

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Removal of Race From Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Calculations: Implications for the Emergency Department

In Response to the Letter From Martinez et al. Risk Factors for Syphilis at a Large Urban Emergency Department

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In Response to the Letter From Martinez et al. Risk Factors for Syphilis at a Large Urban Emergency Department

Risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection at a large urban emergency department

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In 2020, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines recommending HCV screening in all adults 18 years and older. In the current study, we aimed to identify risk factors for HCV infection in an ED population. We performed a retrospective analysis of ED patients ≥ 18 years who were screened for HCV between 28 November 2018, and 27 November 2019, at a single urban, quaternary referral academic hospital. An HCV-antibody immunoassay (HCV-Ab) was used for screening; positive results were confirmed by measuring HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA). The outcome of interest was the number of new HCV diagnoses (presence of viremia by HCV RNA testing). Multiple logistic regression models were used to identify risk factors associated with a new HCV diagnosis. 16,722 adult patients were screened for HCV (mean age: 46 ± 15 years; 51% female). HCV seroprevalence was 5%. Independent risk factors for HCV included increasing age [10-year aOR 1.26 (95% CI 1.23, 1.30)], male sex [aOR...

Access to transport for women with hypovolemic shock differs according to weeks of pregnancy

Sat, 8 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether women with hypovolemic shock secondary to obstetric hemorrhage are transported to referral hospitals differently depending on weeks of pregnancy in Zambia. METHODS: In a retrospective study, transport type, wait time, and transit time were assessed for women with obstetric hemorrhage and hypovolemic shock transported from 26 primary health centers to three referral hospitals during 2007-2012. A mean arterial pressure of less than 60 mm Hg was used to indicate severe shock. Women were split into two categories on the basis of the number of weeks of pregnancy (<24 weeks vs ≥24 weeks). RESULTS: Overall, 616 women were included. Mode of transport differed significantly by group (P<0.001). 414 (93.0%) of 445 women at 24 weeks of pregnancy or more were transported by ambulance versus 114 (66.7%) of 171 women at less than 24 weeks. Among those in severe shock, 106 (93.0%) of 114 women at 24 weeks of pregnancy or more were transported in ambulances...

Cervical Spine Injury Patterns in Children

Fri, 7 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Background and objective

Pediatric cervical spine injuries (CSIs) are rare and differ from adult CSIs. Our objective was to describe CSIs in a large, representative cohort of children.

Methods

We conducted a 5-year retrospective review of children <16 years old with CSIs at 17 Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network hospitals. Investigators reviewed imaging reports and consultations to assign CSI type. We described cohort characteristics using means and frequencies and used Fisher's exact test to compare differences between 3 age groups: <2 years, 2 to 7 years, and 8 to 15 years. We used logistic regression to explore the relationship between injury level and age and mechanism of injury and between neurologic outcome and cord involvement, injury level, age, and comorbid injuries.

Results

A total of 540 children with CSIs were included in the study. CSI level was associated with both age and mechanism of injury. For children <2 and 2 to...

Building Back Better: Applying Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic to Expand Critical Information Access