Teachers' Perceptions and Experiences of Menstrual Cycle Education and Support in UK Schools.

The purpose of this study was 2-fold, to (1) explore current education provision in UK schools including barriers to menstrual cycle education and (2) assess the perceived support teachers received to deliver menstrual cycle education. Seven hundred eighty-nine teachers (91% female) from all stages of school education in England (48%), Scotland (24%), Wales (22%) and Northern Ireland (6%) completed an online survey. The survey captured information on menstrual education in schools, teacher's knowledge and confidence of the menstrual cycle, support provided to teachers, provision of menstrual products in school and perceived impact of the menstrual cycle on young people in school. Four hundred ninety-eight teachers reported lessons were provided on the menstrual cycle (63%), predominantly delivered within personal, social, health and economic or science subjects, with over half of the lessons focusing on the biology (56%) or provision of menstrual products (40%) rather than lived experiences (14%). Teachers perceived the menstrual cycle affected participation in PE (88%), pupil confidence (88%), school attendance (82%) and attitude and behavior (82%). Overall, 80% of teachers felt receiving training would be beneficial to improve menstrual education. The results highlight education is scientifically focused, with less education on management of symptoms or lived experiences. Teachers also perceive the menstrual cycle to influence multiple aspects of school attendance and personal performance. There is a need to address menstrual education provided in schools across the UK to help empower girls to manage their menstrual cycle, preventing a negative impact on health and school performance.

Barriers to diabetic foot care in a disadvantaged population: A qualitative assessment.

OBJECTIVE: We explored barriers to proper foot care in this population using a qualitative approach with focus group discussions (FGD). METHODS: Participants were recruited from clinics at a safety-net hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and stratified into two groups: diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) and minor amputation (below ankle). The FGDs addressed patient experience in receiving care with a goal of understanding: foot care knowledge, barriers to care, and preferred educational methods. Surveys were performed to supplement FGDs. RESULTS: Forty participants (90% Black) were enrolled. Dominant themes emerging from FGDs were: 1-Patients reported adequate understanding of recommended foot care practices; 2-Personal barriers to self-care included lack of motivation, high cost, poor insurance coverage of supplies, and difficulty limiting activity for proper offloading; 3-Hospital system barriers included difficulty making timely appointments and reaching a provider to arrange care; 4-Access to footcare-related information and services improved with greater disease severity. Participants stressed that improved access often came too late to alter their course. They expressed interest in developing peer support groups to facilitate learning and sharing information relating to DFU. CONCLUSION: We found that patients with DFU or minor amputations have adequate footcare-related knowledge, but personal and systemic barriers limited appropriate foot care.

Expanding adolescent access to hormonal contraception: an update on over-the-counter, pharmacist prescribing, and web-based telehealth approaches.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Hormonal contraceptives are largely responsible for recent declines in unintended adolescent pregnancies, with oral contraceptives being the most commonly used. Young people face multiple barriers to accessing effective contraception in clinical settings. This article reviews innovations in contraceptive access. RECENT FINDINGS: The three biggest innovations are over-the-counter oral contraceptives (OTC-OCs), pharmacist-prescribing, and web-based telehealth platforms. In many countries, oral contraceptives are available OTC, and FDA trials for OTC-OCs are underway in the United States. Many states have passed legislation allowing pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives after a brief health screening. Web-based telehealth platforms also provide prescription contraceptive access. There is a small but growing body of literature that demonstrates young people's interest in, and capacity to consent to, hormonal contraceptives in nontraditional settings. State-to-state variability in minor consent, pharmacist prescribing, and telehealth laws act as barriers to young people's access to these newer options. SUMMARY: Access to hormonal contraception is expanding outside of clinical settings, reducing barriers. Adolescents' unique needs should be considered in the design, implementation, and evaluation of these new approaches. More data is needed to ensure that adolescents are not excluded from expanded contraceptive access options, as they are disproportionately affected by unintended pregnancy.

Characteristics Associated with Confidential Consultation for Adolescents in Primary Care.

OBJECTIVE: To examine how provider report of confidential consultation in the electronic health record is associated with adolescent characteristics, health risk factors, and provider training. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective cohort study was conducted as part of a larger study implementing computerized clinical decision support in 2 urban primary care clinics. Adolescents used tablets to complete screening questions for specified risk factors in the waiting room. Adolescent-reported risk factors included sexual activity, substance use, and depressive symptoms. Providers were prompted on encounter forms to address identified risk factors and indicate whether confidential consultation was provided. Provider types included adolescent medicine board certified pediatrics and general pediatrics. Differences in proportions of adolescents reporting risk factors by provider type were assessed using χ2 tests. Associations between adolescent characteristics, risk factors, and provider-reported confidential consultation were examined using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The sample included 1233 English and Spanish-speaking adolescents 12-20 years of age (52% female; 60% black; 50% early adolescent). Patients seen by adolescent medicine board certified providers reported sexual activity, depressive symptoms, and substance use significantly more often than those seen by general pediatric providers. Among patients seen by board certified adolescent medicine providers, confidential consultation was provided to 90%. For those seen by general pediatric providers, confidential consultation was provided to 53%. Results of multiple logistic regression demonstrated that female sex, later adolescence, and clinic location were significantly associated with confidential consultation. CONCLUSIONS: Provider training is needed to reinforce the importance of confidential consultation for all adolescents.

Suicide Screening in Primary Care: Use of an Electronic Screener to Assess Suicidality and Improve Provider Follow-Up for Adolescents.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of using an existing computer decision support system to screen adolescent patients for suicidality and provide follow-up guidance to clinicians in a primary care setting. Predictors of patient endorsement of suicidality and provider documentation of follow-up were examined. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted to examine the implementation of a CDSS that screened adolescent patients for suicidality and provided follow-up recommendations to providers. The intervention was implemented for patients aged 12-20 years in two primary care clinics in Indianapolis, Indiana. RESULTS: The sample included 2,134 adolescent patients (51% female; 60% black; mean age = 14.6 years [standard deviation = 2.1]). Just over 6% of patients screened positive for suicidality. A positive endorsement of suicidality was more common among patients who were female, depressed, and seen by an adolescent-medicine board-certified provider as opposed to general pediatric provider. Providers documented follow-up action for 83% of patients who screened positive for suicidality. Documentation of follow-up action was correlated with clinic site and Hispanic race. The majority of patients who endorsed suicidality (71%) were deemed not actively suicidal after assessment by their provider. CONCLUSIONS: Incorporating adolescent suicide screening and provider follow-up guidance into an existing computer decision support system in primary care is feasible and well utilized by providers. Female gender and depressive symptoms are consistently associated with suicidality among adolescents, although not all suicidal adolescents are depressed. Universal use of a multi-item suicide screener that assesses recency might more effectively identify suicidal adolescents.

Physician Intervention to Positive Depression Screens Among Adolescents in Primary Care.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of computer-based screening and physician feedback to guide adolescent depression management within primary care. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study within two clinics of the computer-based depression screening and physician feedback algorithm among youth aged 12-20 years between October 2014 and October 2015 in Marion County (Indianapolis), Indiana. RESULTS: Our sample included 2,038 youth (51% female; 60% black; mean age = 14.6 years [standard deviation = 2.1]). Over 20% of youth screened positive for depression on the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 and 303 youth (14.8%) screened positive on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The most common follow-up action by physicians was a referral to mental health services (34.2% mild, 46.8% moderate, and 72.2% severe range). Almost 11% of youth in the moderate range and 22.7% of youth in the severe range were already prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. When predicting mental health service referral, significant predictors in the multivariate analysis included clinic site (40.2% vs. 73.9%; p < .0001) and PHQ-9 score (severe range 77.8% vs. mild range 47.5%; p < .01). Similarly, when predicting initiation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, only clinic site (28.6% vs. 6.9%; p < .01) and PHQ-9 score (severe range 46.7% vs. moderate range 10.6%; p < .001) were significant. CONCLUSIONS: When a computer-based decision support system algorithm focused on adolescent depression was implemented in two primary care clinics, a majority of physicians utilized screening results to guide clinical care.

Effect of Local Anesthetic Concentration (0.2% vs 0.1% Ropivacaine) on Pulmonary Function, and Analgesia After Ultrasound-Guided Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block: A Randomized Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess diaphragmatic excursion and measure pulmonary functions as measures of the degree to which the phrenic nerve is blocked after ISB with two different concentrations of ropivacaine: 0.2% and 0.1%. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blinded study. SETTING AND PATIENTS: Ambulatory surgical facility. SUBJECTS: Fifty patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy for rotator cuff repair. METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive ultrasound-guided ISB with 20 mL of either 0.2% or 0.1% ropivacaine. Diaphragmatic excursion was measured using M-mode ultrasound. Pulmonary functions were assessed by portable spirometer. Additional outcome data included oxygen saturation in post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), pain scores, quality of recovery scores (QOR), and opioid consumption over 72 hour period after surgery. RESULTS: Forced vital capacity (FVC) was significantly reduced 30 minutes after block placement and in PACU in the 0.2% group when compared with the 0.1% group (P = 0.04, P = 0.03, respectively). Forced expiratory volume (FEV1) was also significantly decreased in the 0.2% group in PACU when compared with the 0.1% group (P = 0.04). There were no significant differences in pain scores, length of stay, and total opioid consumption in PACU. Patients who received 0.2% ropivacaine had a longer block duration (18 vs 11.9 hours, P = 0.04) and used less opioid in the 72 hours after surgery (55 mg vs 102 mg codeine equivalents, P = 0.02), when they were compared to their counterparts who received 0.1% for their block. CONCLUSION: 0.1% ropivacaine may impair pulmonary function less than 0.2% ropivacaine. The clinical significance of these differences needs to be further studied.

Four steps to preserving adolescent confidentiality in an electronic health environment.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Best practices in adolescent care require the ability to provide confidential services, particularly for reproductive health care. As systems implement electronic health records and patients use health portals to access information and communicate with their healthcare team, special attention should be paid to protection of adolescent confidentiality in the electronic environment. RECENT FINDINGS: Professional organizations have issued guidance for electronic health records and portal use, but implementation has varied widely between systems, with multiple risks for breaches of confidentiality. Despite interest from patients and families, adolescent health portal use remains low. SUMMARY: Understanding the legal and electronic environments in which we care for adolescent patients allows us to educate, advocate, and implement our electronic tools in a way that respects our adolescent patients' need for confidential care, the importance of their caregivers in promoting their health, and the legal rights of both.

The Risk of Falls After Total Knee Arthroplasty with the Use of a Femoral Nerve Block Versus an Adductor Canal Block: A Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: Adductor canal block (ACB) has emerged as an appealing alternative to femoral nerve block (FNB) that produces a predominantly sensory nerve block by anesthetizing the saphenous nerve. Studies have shown greater quadriceps strength preservation with ACB compared with FNB, but no advantage has yet been shown in terms of fall risk. The Tinetti scale is used by physical therapists to assess gait and balance, and total score can estimate a patient's fall risk. We designed this study to test the primary hypothesis that FNB results in a greater proportion of "high fall risk" patients postoperatively using the Tinetti score compared with ACB. METHODS: After institutional review board approval, informed written consent to participate in the study was obtained. Patients undergoing primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty were eligible for enrollment in this double-blind, randomized trial. Patients received either an ACB or FNB (20 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine) with catheter placement (8 mL/h of 0.2% ropivacaine) in the setting of multimodal analgesia. Continuous infusion was stopped in the morning of postoperative day (POD)1 before starting physical therapy (PT). On POD1, PT assessed the primary outcome using the Tinetti score for gait and balance. Patients were considered to be at high risk of falling if they scored <19. Secondary outcomes included manual muscle testing of the quadriceps muscle strength, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and ambulation distance on POD1 and POD2. The quality of postoperative analgesia and the quality of recovery were assessed with American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire Revised and Quality of Recovery-9 questionnaire, respectively. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients were enrolled in the study (31 ACB and 31 FNB). No difference was found in the proportion of "high fall risk" patients on POD1 (21/31 in the ACB group versus 24/31 in the FNB group [P = 0.7]; relative risk, 1.14 [95% confidence interval, 0.84-1.56]) or POD2 (7/31 in the ACB versus 14/31 in the FNB group [P = 0.06]; relative risk, 2.0 [95% confidence interval, 0.94-4.27]). The average distance of ambulation during PT and time to up and go were similar on POD1 and POD2. Manual muscle testing grades were significantly higher on POD1 in the ACB group when compared with that in the FNB (P = 0.001) (Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney odds, 2.25 [95% confidence interval, 1.35-4.26]). There were no other differences in postoperative outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: ACB results in greater preservation of quadriceps muscle strength. Although we did not detect a significant reduction in fall risk when compared with FNB, based on the upper limit of the relative risk, it may very well be present. Further study is needed with a larger sample size.

Dual use of long-acting reversible contraceptives and condoms among adolescents.

Unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STI) continue to be significant public health problems, and adolescents are disproportionately affected by both. With national attention and funding directed toward adolescent pregnancy prevention, promotion of long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) use among adolescents is both timely and relevant. However, LARCs provide no protection against STIs, requiring dual-method use of both LARC and barrier methods, most commonly the male latex condom, to address these issues simultaneously. Rates of both LARC and dual-method contraception are low in the United States, but have increased in recent years. Dual-method contraception is highest among younger women and adolescents with multiple or new sex partners. Consistent condom use remains a major barrier to dual-method use, as it necessitates admission of STI risk by both partners, and use is dependent upon two decision-makers rather than a single contraceptive user. Promoting the initiation and maintenance of LARC and condom use across multiple partnered sexual encounters requires understanding of individual, dyadic, and social influences. Successful maintenance of contraceptive and STI prevention behaviors requires individualized, longitudinal reinforcement, and social supports, but can ultimately reduce the burden of unintended pregnancy and STI among adolescents.

Self-administration of subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate by adolescent women.

BACKGROUND: Intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM) is now available in subcutaneous (SC) formulation, potentially allowing for home-based self-administration. We examined adolescents' interest in and proficiency at DMPA-SC self-administration. STUDY DESIGN: This is a planned secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial comparing pain between DMPA-IM and DMPA-SC. In the trial, study participants (N=55) aged 14-21 years were recruited at DMPA initiation and randomized to receive DMPA-IM or DMPA-SC. Participants received the alternate formulation at 3 months, chose formulation at 6 months and could learn self-administration at 9 months. The current analysis is of the women who chose self-administration of DMPA-SC. Proficiency was rated for each step of self-administration: independently [I], with reassurance [R], with verbal instruction [V] or nurse performed [RN]. Data were analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics. RESULTS: Thirty-five percent (19/55) of participants learned self-administration. Proficiency ratings were as follows: chose injection site (I=78.9%, R=5.3%, V=5.3%, RN=10.5%), cleaned site (I=89.5%, RN=10.5%), assembled injection device (I=47.4%, R=36.8%, V=15.8%), self-injected (I=31.6%, R=36.8%, V=15.8%, RN=15.8%) and disposed of device (I=21.1%, R=21.1%, RN=57.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Many adolescents are interested in and capable of DMPA-SC self-administration with brief education and minimal assistance.

Update on adolescent condom use.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pregnancy prevention efforts in the USA have largely focused on the use of hormonal contraceptive methods, relegating male condoms to discussions of 'dual-method' contraception or sexually transmitted infection prevention. With national attention and funding directed toward adolescent pregnancy prevention, a renewed focus on adolescent condom use, specifically addressing contraceptive benefits, is both timely and relevant. RECENT FINDINGS: Two recent developments in condom use research are essential to increasing consistent condom use. First, there is a necessary shift toward understanding the relationship dynamics of condom use. As a coital event level contraceptive, condom use requires negotiation and participation from both participants. Second, there is increased attention to the condom itself as a determinant of use. Improvements in condom design, feel, and lubrication have reduced differences in sexual pleasure with condom use and nonuse. SUMMARY: Promoting the initiation and maintenance of condom use across multiple partnered sexual encounters requires understanding of individual, dyadic, and condom attributes.