Correlates of depressive mood among graduate-level allied health students: An exploratory study examining trait energy and fatigue.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with the occurrence and severity of depressive mood states among graduate-level allied health students. Participants: Students (N = 77) completed this study. Methods: Participants completed a series of self-reported surveys measuring moods, lifestyle behaviors, trait mental and physical energy and fatigue, and objective assessments of Trail-Making Test Part-B, and muscle oxygen consumption. Multiple backwards linear regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with depressive mood states. Results: When accounting for all subjects, increased severity of depressive mood states was associated with worse sleep quality (SQ), increased sitting time (ST), and trait physical fatigue (TPF). When examining subjects reporting depressive mood states, increased severity of depressive mood states was associated with worse SQ, increased ST, decreased mental workload on non-school days, and trait physical energy (TPE). Conclusion: Adjustments in lifestyle factors such as sleep, mental workload, and ST, may ameliorate depressive mood states.

A replicable model of a health literacy curriculum for a third-year clerkship.

Contrary to recommendations from national medical organizations, medical school education often fails to train students to interact effectively with patients with limited health literacy. The objectives of a new health literacy curriculum in a family medicine clerkship were to increase students' knowledge of health literacy and develop comfort with specific communication skills. Instructional strategies included lectures, practice with standardized patients (SPs), and a facilitated discussion board. At the end of the first year of the curriculum, there was a statistically significant increase in students' knowledge of health literacy. During the final testing with SPs, students achieved high scores for health literacy related communication skills. The curriculum is replicable at other universities and was an effective and efficient way for medical students to learn about health literacy and to acquire valuable skills to improve their patients' understanding of health information.

Health Differences in Didactic Versus Clinical Stage Graduate Allied Health Students.

AIMS: Graduate education in the healthcare professions can be stressful and mentally taxing. The objective of this study was to identify differences in health and health-related behaviors among graduate allied health students based on sex and curriculum stage (i.e., didactic or clinical education). METHODS: Participants (n=77) were assessed for body fat, BMI, resting metabolic rate (RMR), and peripheral arterial-venous O2 (AVO2), as well as a series of cognitive tasks and self-reported health and health-related behaviors. Independent sample t-tests and tests of proportions were used to assess differences between groups. RESULTS: There was no evidence that the didactic and clinical students were meaningfully different upon entering their programs. Didactic students reported significantly higher tension/anxiety, depression, anger, confusion, fatigue, total mood disturbance, trait mental fatigue, total intensity of mental work performed, and time spent sitting (p<0.05). Didactic students also reported significantly lower RMR (p=0.033), but not after normalizing for fat-free mass. Males reported lower intensity of mental work performed on non-work days compared to females (p=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate students in didactic stages have worse mood and decreased health relative to their counterparts in clinical stages. Opportunities exist to integrate physical and mental health-related education, resources, and self-management programming into graduate allied health curricula to improve wellness among students.

Hyperthyroidism: diagnosis and treatment.

The proper treatment of hyperthyroidism depends on recognition of the signs and symptoms of the disease and determination of the etiology. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease. Other common causes include thyroiditis, toxic multinodular goiter, toxic adenomas, and side effects of certain medications. The diagnostic workup begins with a thyroid-stimulating hormone level test. When test results are uncertain, measuring radionuclide uptake helps distinguish among possible causes. When thyroiditis is the cause, symptomatic treatment usually is sufficient because the associated hyperthyroidism is transient. Graves' disease, toxic multinodular goiter, and toxic adenoma can be treated with radioactive iodine, antithyroid drugs, or surgery, but in the United States, radioactive iodine is the treatment of choice in patients without contraindications. Thyroidectomy is an option when other treatments fail or are contraindicated, or when a goiter is causing compressive symptoms. Some new therapies are under investigation. Special treatment consideration must be given to patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as well as those with Graves' ophthalmopathy or amiodarone-induced hyperthyroidism. Patients' desires must be considered when deciding on appropriate therapy, and dose monitoring is essential.