Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters of low-cost air purifiers in community-based organizations.

This study aims to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in public spaces and assess the utility of inexpensive air purifiers equipped with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters for viral detection. Samples were collected from six community-based organizations in underserved minority neighborhoods in Northwest Miami, Florida, from February to May 2022. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect SARS-CoV-2 in air purifier filters and surface swabs. Among 32 filters tested, three yielded positive results, while no positive surface swabs were found. Notably, positive samples were obtained exclusively from child daycare centers. These findings highlight the potential for airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in indoor air, particularly in child daycare centers. Moreover, the study demonstrates the effectiveness of readily available HEPA filters in detecting the virus. Improving indoor ventilation and implementing air filtration systems are crucial in reducing COVID-19 transmission where people gather. Air filtration systems incorporating HEPA filters offer a valuable approach to virus detection and reducing transmission risks. Future research should explore the applicability of this technology for early identification and mitigation of viral outbreaks.

Integration of Sex and Gender Minority Standardized Patients into a Workshop on Gender-Inclusive Patient Care: Exploring Medical Student Perspectives.

OBJECTIVES: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) communities experience significant health disparities. Although coverage of health issues specific to these communities has increased in the undergraduate medical curriculum, there is still opportunity for improved teaching about sexual diversity and inclusive care. The goal of this study was to assess students' perceptions of and satisfaction with a half-day workshop focused on sexual history taking and transgender health. METHODS: The second-year clinical skills course at the Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine includes a sexual history workshop that starts with a 1-hour lecture on sexual history taking. This is followed by a faculty-facilitated small group session during which students interview an SGM patient and debrief about this experience. In 2020, for the first time, the standardized patients were members of the SGM community, and the session was on Zoom. Students completed an optional, anonymous postsession survey assessing the workshop. RESULTS: Students overwhelmingly believed that the integration of SGM standardized patients into the session helped improve their knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to providing care for this population. They noted that the standardized patient interaction and debriefing were the most beneficial parts of the session. CONCLUSIONS: Given the positive feedback, future iterations of this session will continue to use the SGM community as standardized patients. In addition, student competency related to SGM patient care will be assessed through observed structured clinical examinations.

Caring for Vulnerable Communities in Miami Dade County during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine's Neighborhood Health Education Learning Program (NeighborhoodHELP) initiated a longitudinal assessment and mitigation of social and health care challenges for a population of approximately 850 underserved households. Here, we describe the needs assessment, ensuing interventions, and lessons learned during this pandemic.

Using a Hybrid Lecture and Small-Group Standardized Patient Case to Teach the Inclusive Sexual History and Transgender Patient Care.

OBJECTIVES: Previous negative experiences with the medical community often leave transgender people reluctant to seek medical care. Inadequate teaching and exposure to transgender health during medical training perpetuates the health disparities experienced by this community. Although undergraduate medical education is uniquely positioned to address these disparities, curricular coverage of these topics remains inadequate. METHODS: The second-year clinical skills course at the Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine includes a workshop consisting of a 1-hour lecture about the inclusive sexual history, followed by a 1.5-hour small group during which students interview a standardized patient playing the role of a transgender man and participate in a faculty-facilitated debriefing. To evaluate the 2019 workshop, students were provided with an optional, anonymous, pre- and postsession survey consisting of multiple choice and Likert-type questions. RESULTS: After the session, there was a statistically significant increase in students' knowledge of the components of an inclusive sexual history, in the number of students who believed that their medical training had prepared them to effectively provide care for transgender patients, and in the number who reported feeling comfortable taking a sexual history from a patient who identifies as transgender. Most students thought the standardized patient case was realistic and found the postencounter debriefing session helpful in identifying their own strengths and weaknesses. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that students found this brief, interactive sexual history workshop, which included a lecture and standardized patient case, to be an effective component of their medical training. Although our transgender patient case was acted primarily by cis-gender people, students perceived this as a realistic opportunity to actively explore the nuances of obtaining a history from a transgender patient. In addition, our findings suggest that it is possible to merge teaching on sexual history and transgender health care, which is important in time-limited undergraduate medical education curricula.

Pilot Study of a Free Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Program on a Mobile Health Center in Miami Dade County, Florida.

In 2016, the NeighborhoodHELP mobile health centers (MHCs) started to provide free long acting reversible contraception (LARC) for uninsured patients who lacked access due to cost. All female patients with appointments from May 1st, 2016 through April 30th, 2017 were identified. LARC uptake rate, as well as demographics for patients aged 15-44 who underwent LARC insertion versus those who did not, were determined. Of the 520 female patients seen on the MHCs during the study period, 170 were of reproductive age. Seventeen (10%) patients opted for LARC; 100 % of these patients spoke Spanish or English and 82 % identified as White and Hispanic/Latino. Results show a 10% LARC uptake, which is slightly above the national rate, but lower than rates in other studies in which cost barriers were removed. Further investigation into barriers influencing LARC uptake in our patient population is warranted.

Let's Talk About Sex: The Social Determinants of Sexual and Reproductive Health for Second-Year Medical Students.

Introduction: Sexual health is influenced by a myriad of social factors including health care access, social and cultural norms, insurance status, educational level and health literacy, economic status, sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation and behavior. It is pivotal to educate future physicians about these social determinants so that they can work to mitigate the resulting disparities and thereby improve the health of patients and their communities. Methods: This 2-hour, large-group session for second-year medical students was first given in the fall of 2017. It included a 1-hour, case-based lecture followed by a patient panel. Panelists discussed their interactions with the medical system and how these related to their sex and gender identity. Ninety students (77.5% response rate) completed both pre- and postsurveys and an overall assessment of the session. Results: Students reported high levels of satisfaction with the session. Eighty-seven percent felt they would benefit from more classes including a patient panel, and 93% reported specifically that the panel helped them to identify their own biases related to sexual orientation and gender. In the postsurvey, there was a significant (p < .05) increase in the number of students reporting increased comfort regarding various aspects of sexual history taking and interacting with patients of different sexual orientations and gender identities. Discussion: This instructional format provided an effective way to teach medical students about the social determinants of sexual and reproductive health. Students both appreciated the session format and reported increased comfort and confidence related to the subject matter.