Medical students' knowledge of and attitudes towards LGBT people and their health care needs: Impact of a lecture on LGBT health.

OBJECTIVES: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adolescents have specific health care needs and are susceptible to health care disparities. Lack of skills and knowledge on the part of health care providers have a negative effect on their access to care and health outcomes. This study 1) explores the knowledge and attitudes of medical students regarding LGBT people, and 2) assesses the impact of a one-hour lecture targeting adolescent LGBT health needs. METHODS: Fourth-year medical students attended a compulsory one-hour lecture on sexual orientation and gender identity development in adolescence, highlighting health issues. We created a questionnaire with items to elicit students' knowledge and attitudes about LGBT health issues. Students were invited to complete this questionnaire online anonymously one week before the lecture and one month after the lecture. RESULTS: Out of a total of 157 students, 107 (68.2%) responded to the pre-intervention questionnaire and 96 (61.1%) to the post-intervention questionnaire. A significant proportion-13.7% of all respondents-identified as LGBT or questioning. Our results show that most medical students already show favorable attitudes towards LGBT people and a certain degree of knowledge of LGBT health needs. They demonstrated a large and significant increase in knowledge of LGBT health issues one month after the lecture. DISCUSSION: A single one-hour lecture on sexual orientation and LGBT health issues may increase knowledge among medical students. Medical students and professionals should receive such training to increase their knowledge about LGBT patients as it, together with favorable attitudes, has the potential to improve health outcomes among this vulnerable population.

[Transgender and non-binary teenagers : management in primary care]. / Adolescents transgenres et non ­binaires : approche et prise en charge par les médecins de premier recours.

Transgender, non-binary and questioning teenagers are increasingly visible. However, they face barriers in accessing appropriate care that meet their needs, both specific and regarding their general health. Primary care physicians increasingly see them in consultations but often lack elements of communication and recent knowledge that is needed to accompany them and their close ones in their -individual trajectories. This article aims to answer this need and provides a synthesis about recent evidence and suggested communication approaches for primary care physicians, who play a central role for the health of all patients.

Les adolescents transgenres, non binaires ou en questionnement sont de plus en plus visibles et font face à de nombreux obstacles pour accéder à des soins appropriés, tant pour leurs besoins de santé spécifiques que généraux. Les médecins de premier recours les rencontrent au cabinet et peuvent manquer d'éléments de communication et de connaissances spécifiques récentes pour mener la consultation et accompagner ces personnes et leurs proches dans leurs trajectoires individuelles. Cet article propose une synthèse des éléments et des ressources utiles pour le médecin de premier recours, dont le rôle est ­central pour la santé de tous les patients.

Persistence of elevated blood pressure during childhood and adolescence: a school-based multiple cohorts study.

OBJECTIVE: Blood pressure (BP) screening is advocated in children. However, identification of children with sustained elevated BP is difficult because of high BP variability. We assessed the tracking of BP and the persistence of elevated BP across childhood and adolescence. METHODS: Three cohorts of children from schools in the Seychelles were examined on two occasions at 3-4-year intervals. Obesity was defined as BMI at least 95th sex-specific, and age-specific percentile. On each visit, BP was based on the average of two readings and elevated BP was defined as BP at least 95th sex-specific, age-specific, and height-specific percentile. RESULTS: Data was collected in 4519 children of mean ages of 5.5 and 9.2 years, 6065 of ages of 9.2 and 12.5 years, and 5967 of ages of 12.5 and 15.6 years, respectively. Prevalence of elevated BP was 10% at age 5.5 years, 10% at 9.2 years, 7% at 12.5 years, and 9% at 15.6 years, respectively. Among children with elevated BP at the initial visit, the proportions who had elevated BP at the subsequent visit 3-4 years later was 13% between ages of 5.5 and 9.2 years, 19% between 9.2 and 12.5 years, and 27% between 12.5 and 15.6 years. These proportions were higher among obese children with elevated BP, that is, 33, 35, and 39%, in each cohort, respectively. Tracking coefficients were slightly larger for SBP (range of tracking coefficients: 0.23-0.40) than for DBP (range: 0.19-0.35), and increased with age. By comparisons, tracking coefficients for BMI were much higher (range: 0.74-0.84). CONCLUSION: During childhood and adolescence, having an elevated BP on one occasion is a weak predictor of elevated BP 3-4 years later. Tracking is, however, larger in older and obese children than in younger and nonobese children.

Treatment of the Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip with an Abduction Brace in Children up to 6 Months Old.

Introduction. Use of Pavlik harness for the treatment of DDH can be complicated for parents. Any misuse or failure in the adjustments may lead to significant complications. An abduction brace was introduced in our institution, as it was thought to be easier to use. Aim. We assess the results for the treatment of DDH using our abduction brace in children of 0-6 months old and compare these results with data on treatments using the Pavlik harness. Method. Retrospective analysis of patients with DDH from 0 to 6 months old at diagnosis, performed from 2004 to 2009. Outcomes were rates of reduction of the hip and avascular necrosis of the femoral head (AVN). Follow-up was at one year and up to 4 years old. Results. Hip reduction was successful in 28 of 33 patients (85%), with no AVN. Conclusion. Our results in terms of hip reduction rate and AVN rate are similar to those found in literature assessing Pavlik harness use, with a simpler and comfortable treatment procedure.