Pilot of an Asynchronous Web-Based Video Curriculum to Improve Firearm Safety Counseling by Pediatric Residents.

Pediatric residents report lack of confidence in providing firearm safety anticipatory guidance. A self-paced online curriculum, including video demonstration of firearms, safe storage options, and counseling methods for families improved resident self-efficacy, confidence, and knowledge surrounding firearm injury prevention counseling.

Getting warmer.

The approach to clinical conundrums by an expert clinician is revealed through the presentation of an actual patient's case in an approach typical of a morning report. Similarly to patient care, sequential pieces of information are provided to the clinician, who is unfamiliar with the case. The focus is on the thought processes of both the clinical team caring for the patient and the discussant.

Perceptions of 24/7 In-house Attending Coverage on Fellow Education and Autonomy in a Pediatric Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: The 24/7 in-house attending coverage is emerging as the standard of care in intensive care units. Implementation costs, workforce feasibility, and patient outcomes resulting from changes in physician staffing are widely debated topics. Understanding the impact of staffing models on the learning environment for medical trainees and faculty is equally warranted, particularly with respect to trainee education and autonomy. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to elicit the perceptions of pediatric cardiology fellows and attendings toward 24/7 in-house attending coverage and its effect on fellow education and autonomy. METHODS: We surveyed pediatric cardiology fellows and attendings practicing in the pediatric cardiothoracic intensive care unit (PCTU) of a large, university-affiliated medical center, using structured Likert response items and open-ended questions, prior to and following the transition to 24/7 in-house attending coverage. RESULTS: All (100%) trainees and faculty completed all surveys. Both prior to and following transition to 24/7 in-house attending coverage, all fellows, and the majority of attendings agreed that the overnight call experience benefited fellow education. At baseline, trainees identified limited circumstances in which on-site attending coverage would be critical. Preimplementation concerns that 24/7 in-house attending coverage would negatively affect the education of fellows were not reflected following actual implementation of the new staffing policy. However, based upon open-ended questions, fellow autonomy was affected by the new paradigm, with fellows and attendings reporting decreased "appropriateness" of autonomy after implementation. CONCLUSIONS: Our prospective study, showing initial concerns about limiting the learning environment in transitioning to 24/7 in-house attending coverage did not result in diminished perceptions of the educational experience for our fellows but revealed an expected decrease in fellow autonomy. The study indirectly facilitated open discussions about methods to preserve fellow education and warranted autonomy in our PCTU; however, continued efforts are needed to achieve the optimal balance between supervised training and the transition to autonomous practice.

Infecciones y otros problemas de salud en usuarios de pasta base de cocaina en un centro asistencial de Buenos Aires, Argentina / Infections and other health problems among coca paste users at a drug treatment center in Buenos Aires, Argentina

INTRODUCCIÓN: la pasta base de cocaína (PBC) es una forma fumable de cocaína de creciente utilización entre los jóvenes. OBJETIVO: describir el patrón de consumo de drogas, las seroprevalencias de VIH, hepatitis B (VHB), hepatitis C (VHC), sífilis y otrosproblemas de salud en usuarios de PBC en un centro asistencial de Argentina. MÉTODO: se incluyeron voluntarios mayores de 18 años, asistidos en el Centro Nacional de Reeducación Social (CENARESO)en el período 2006-2007, que consumieron PBC en los 6 meses anteriores a la entrevista y que nunca utilizaron drogas inyectables. Se aplicó un cuestionario estructurado, se tomó una muestra de sangre para serología de VIH, VHB, VHC y sífilis, y se analizó una sub-muestra de radiografías de tórax. RESULTADOS: más de la mitad de los 146 voluntarios manifestó haber fumado PBC varias veces por semana. Los participantes eran también consumidores frecuentes de cocaína en polvo (64%), cannabis (80,8%) y tranquilizantes (44,5%). Los principales problemas de salud auto-percibidos como consecuencia del consumo de PBC fueron las lesiones orales y la pérdida de peso. El 4,3% de los voluntarios resultó VIH-positivo. Las prevalencias de infección por sífilis, VHB y VHC fueron 2,7%, 5,5%, y 5,5%, respectivamente. El 16% estaba coinfectado con uno o más de los agentes estudiados. DISCUSIÓN: la prevalencia de infecciones, unida a otros problemas de salud de los usuarios de PBC, indica la necesidad de nuevas investigaciones a fin de diseñar intervenciones preventivas y terapéuticas apropiadas

INTRODUCTION: cocaine paste is a smokable form of cocaine increasingly used among young people. OBJECTIVE:to describe patterns of drugs, seroprevalences of HIV, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), syphilis and other health problems among coca paste users assisted at a drug treatment center in Argentina. METHOD: volunteers, eighteen-year-old and olderassisted at the National Center for Social Re-education (CENARESO)during 2006-2007, who had consumed coca paste over the past 6 months previous to the interview and had never injected drugs, were selected. A structured questionnaire wasused and blood was drawn to test HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis. A sub-sample of thorax X-rays was analyzed. RESULTS: morethan half of the 146 volunteers had smoked coca paste severaltimes a week. The use of other drugs was frequently associated: sniffed cocaine 64%, cannabis 80,8%, and tranquilizers 44,5. Oral lesions and lost of weight were referred as health problems stemming from coca paste use. Out of the 146 volunteers, 4.3%resulted HIV-positive. Prevalences of infection for syphilis, HBV, and HCV were 2,7%, 5,5% and 5,5%, respectively. 16% wasco-infected with one or more infectious agents. DISCUSSION: the prevalence of infections detected, along with other clinical problems found among this coca paste users, show the need for further research, in order to design proper preventive and therapeutic interventions