The 2021 CDU Medical Student Research Thesis Colloquium Highlights Health Disparities( continued)
experienced greater mortality and readmission rates along with increased length of stay and hospitalization costs. Efforts to address underlying disparities, such as access to care and resource availability, may improve care for those treated at safety-net hospitals.
Jorge Ballon’ s paper, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Guided Biopsy to Evaluate Prostate Cancer Severity in African American Men, examined hypothesis that the mortality rate of prostate cancer has long been considered higher among African American men. Most diagnostic information has been obtained by ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy.
He and his team found with the improved technology, no significant histologic differences between African Americans and other men. This suggests that differences previously observed were not based on physiology alone. Furthermore, these data indicate that entry into Active Surveillance programs for African American men with prostate cancer is appropriate, when low-risk pathology is determined using MRI-guided biopsy.
Postpartum Depression: Identifying Risk Factors and Barriers to Care among Lowincome Women: A Systematic Review, by Jessica Bodden examined the public health concern that impacts mothers, their children, and the overall family dynamic. PPD affects one in seven women and is the second most common cause of maternal morbidity, ahead of postpartum hemorrhage and preeclampsia. If left untreated, PPD can negatively impact maternal-child bonding, child development and can lead to maternal suicide and infanticide. Literature shows women who are racial / ethnic minorities or are low-income are more likely to develop PPD.
Her team’ s objective was to conduct a scoping literature review that sought to identify risk factors as well as barriers to screening and mental healthcare among low-income women. Her conclusions were that knowledge of population-specific risk factors can improve targeted screening practices; however, healthcare providers must create safe spaces that encourage the disclosure of sensitive areas.
Interventions aimed at barriers-to-care can lead to timely diagnosis and treatment of PPD among lowincome women.
Calonji Cole’ s Educating Patients on Nutrition Using a Short Computer-Based Video: A Successful Clinic Model noted that over 130 million Americans suffer from one or more chronic diseases which can be prevented, managed, or reversed with adherence to a Whole-Food-Plant- Based-Diet( WFPBD). Short clinic visits limit the extent to which physicians can appropriately educate patients about diet. Administration of short computer based educational videos during patients’ waiting time has potential to address this issue.
His team’ s findings indicate that providing patients with a short computer-based educational video during clinic wait time can significantly increase patient knowledge on the health benefits of a WFPBD. Future studies can test the model on a larger, more varied sample of patients and gauge the longevity of the knowledge gained from this educational model.
Emergency Department Utilization among Underserved Older Latinx Adults in South Los Angeles, by Jairo Garcia, noted that the Latinx population residing in Service Planning Area( SPA) 6 is a growing population, with growing medical needs, and encounter unique social barriers to healthcare. Healthcare utilization is an issue that affects the efficiency and at times outcomes of vulnerable patient groups. Emergency departments( ED) have been affected with population growth and aging. A study being conducted by Bazargan et. al explored medication challenges among older Latinx adults provided an avenue to explore ED utilization among the Latinx community in SPA 6.
His team concluded that 1 in 3( 32 %) older Latinx reported ED usage in past 12 months indicating significant utilization of ED among this subgroup. Correlates of ED utilization among underserved older Latino adults were gender( male 33 %), falls within 12 months( 94 %), convenience of ED vs regular health care provider( 47 %). The study highlights the importance of further exploring why patients perceive ED to be more convenient in comparison to visiting regular provider and clinical relevance of fall-prevention measures in this population to reduce ED utilization.
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 20