Internal Medicine Residents' Perceptions of Virtual Morning Report: a Multicenter Survey.

IMPORTANCE: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted graduate medical education, compelling training programs to abruptly transition to virtual educational formats despite minimal experience or proficiency. We surveyed residents from a national sample of internal medicine (IM) residency programs to describe their experiences with the transition to virtual morning report (MR), a highly valued core educational conference. OBJECTIVE: Assess resident views about virtual MR content and teaching strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: Anonymous, web-based survey. PARTICIPANTS: Residents from 14 academically affiliated IM residency programs. MAIN MEASURES: The 25-item survey on virtual MR included questions on demographics; frequency and reason for attending; opinions on who should attend and teach; how the virtual format affects the learning environment; how virtual MR compares to in-person MR with regard to participation, engagement, and overall education; and whether virtual MR should continue after in-person conferences can safely resume. The survey included a combination of Likert-style, multiple option, and open-ended questions. RESULTS: Six hundred fifteen residents (35%) completed the survey, with a balanced sample of interns (39%), second-year (31%), and third-year (30%) residents. When comparing their overall assessment of in-person and virtual MR formats, 42% of residents preferred in-person, 18% preferred virtual, and 40% felt they were equivalent. Most respondents endorsed better peer-engagement, camaraderie, and group participation with in-person MR. Chat boxes, video participation, audience response systems, and smart boards/tablets enhanced respondents' educational experience during virtual MR. Most respondents (72%) felt that the option of virtual MR should continue when it is safe to resume in-person conferences. CONCLUSIONS: Virtual MR was a valued alternative to traditional in-person MR during the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents feel that the virtual platform offers unique educational benefits independent of and in conjunction with in-person conferences. Residents support the integration of a virtual platform into the delivery of MR in the future.

Acute and Posttraumatic Stress in Family Members of Children With a Prolonged Stay in a PICU: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the prevalence of screening criteria for acute and posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSDs) and stress symptoms among family members of children in the PICU for more than 8 days and examine risk factors for stress symptoms. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data from a randomized trial of a palliative care intervention conducted between 2010 and 2014. SETTING: An urban pediatric hospital in Seattle, WA. SUBJECTS: The sample included 377 family members of 220 children. INTERVENTIONS: Family Communication Study. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Outcomes were symptom scores and diagnostic screening criteria for acute stress disorder (ASD) and PTSD. Predictors included demographic- and admission-related characteristics and hypothesized risk factors for developing stress-related mental health disorders. The mean score for acute stress symptoms during the ICU stay was 40.3 (sd = 13.8) and 59 family members in total met diagnostic screening criteria for ASD during hospitalization (15.6%). At 3-month follow-up, the mean score for posttraumatic stress symptoms was 30.8 (sd = 12.9) and 52 family members met diagnostic criteria for PTSD (13.8%). Factors associated with meeting ASD screening criteria were unplanned admission and poorer family relationships. Factors associated with PTSD symptoms and diagnosis were longer length of stay, meeting ASD criteria during admission, child's death, and less perceived social support. CONCLUSIONS: Meeting screening criteria for PTSD was associated with demographic, length of stay, and family relationships among family members of seriously ill children. PTSD outcomes were higher among family members whose child died. This study helps identify risk factors that can be used to target needed psychosocial screening, monitoring and support during and following a prolonged PICU admission, as well as family-centered interventions and supportive bereavement intervention for the family members of a deceased child.

Internal Medicine Residents' Perceptions of Morning Report: a Multicenter Survey.

BACKGROUND: Residents rate morning report (MR) as an essential educational activity. Little contemporary evidence exists to guide medical educators on the optimal content or most effective delivery strategies, particularly in the era of resident duty-hour limitations and shifts towards learner-centric pedagogy in graduate medical education. OBJECTIVE: Assess resident views about MR content and teaching strategies. DESIGN: Anonymous, online survey. PARTICIPANTS: Internal medicine residents from 10 VA-affiliated residency programs. MAIN MEASURES: The 20-item survey included questions on demographics; frequency and reason for attending; opinions on who should attend, who should teach, and how to prioritize the teaching; and respondents' comfort level with participating in MR. The survey included a combination of Likert-style and multiple-choice questions with the option for multiple responses. KEY RESULTS: A total of 497 residents (46%) completed the survey, with a balanced sample of R1s (33%), R2s (35%), and R3s (31%). Self-reported MR attendance was high (31% always attend; 39% attend > 50% of the time), with clinical duties being the primary barrier to attendance (85%). Most respondents felt that medical students (89%), R1 (96%), and R2/R3s (96%) should attend MR; there was less consensus regarding including attendings (61%) or fellows (34%). Top-rated educational topics included demonstration of clinical reasoning (82%), evidence-based medicine (77%), and disease pathophysiology (53%). Respondents valued time spent on diagnostic work-up (94%), management (93%), and differential building (90%). Overall, 82% endorsed feeling comfortable speaking; fewer R1s reported comfort (76%) compared with R2s (87%) or R3s (83%, p = 0.018). Most (81%) endorsed that MR was an inclusive learning environment (81%), with no differences by level of training. CONCLUSIONS: MR remains a highly regarded, well-attended educational conference. Residents value high-quality cases that emphasize clinical reasoning, diagnosis, and management. A supportive, engaging learning environment with expert input and concise, evidence-based teaching is desired.

Pathways from autism spectrum disorder diagnosis to genetic testing.

PURPOSE: This study examined challenges faced by families and health providers related to genetic testing for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: This qualitative study of 14 parents and 15 health providers identified an unstandardized three-step process for families who pursue ASD genetic testing. RESULTS: Step 1 is the clinical diagnosis of ASD, confirmed by providers practicing alone or in a team. Step 2 is the offer of genetic testing to find an etiology. For those offered testing, step 3 involves the parents' decision whether to pursue testing. Despite professional guidelines and recommendations, interviews describe considerable variability in approaches to genetic testing for ASD, a lack of consensus among providers, and questions about clinical utility. Many families in our study were unaware of the option for genetic testing; testing decisions by parents appear to be influenced by both provider recommendations and insurance coverage. CONCLUSION: Consideration of genetic testing for ASD should take into account different views about the clinical utility of testing and variability in insurance coverage. Ideally, policy makers from the range of clinical specialties involved in ASD care should revisit policies to clarify the purpose of genetic testing for ASD and promote consensus about its appropriate use.

East African Perceptions of Barriers/Facilitators for Pediatric Clinical Research Participation and Development of the Inclusive Research Model.

PURPOSE: This study sought to gain a greater understanding of perceptions related to barriers/facilitators for pediatric (ages 0-17) clinical research participation among East African immigrant community members. DESIGN AND METHODS: Community leader interviews (n = 6) and focus groups with lay members (n = 16) from the three largest East African communities in the Seattle area (Eritrean, Ethiopian and Somali) were conducted. Discussions were semi-structured based on existing barrier/facilitator research and analyzed using directed content analysis to identify major themes. RESULTS: Analysis revealed two novel barrier sub-themes: inadequate interpretation and translation of information even when services were available and a lack of adequate vocabulary in preferred languages. Participants also confirmed previously identified logistical barriers/facilitators (lack of knowledge regarding clinical research; time, cost, transportation, and child care challenges; providing incentives) and psychosocial barriers/facilitators (mistrust of research; cultural and/or religious differences; connecting benefits to the community; involving religious/community leaders or organizations and including community members on the research team; transparency in the research process; presenting results to the community) for clinical research participation among underrepresented groups. CONCLUSION: Perceptions of barriers/facilitators for pediatric clinical research participation among East African immigrants identified two novel sub-themes and confirmed those previously described by other underrepresented communities. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: To facilitate more inclusive research participation, researchers, nurses and other health care providers might consider ensuring adequate time for discussion of the research study and process, engaging the community in the research process, employing lay reviews of translated materials and/or oral consent processes, and other strategies outlined in the Inclusive Research Model.

Implementing a Death with Dignity program at a comprehensive cancer center.

BACKGROUND: The majority of Death with Dignity participants in Washington State and Oregon have received a diagnosis of terminal cancer. As more states consider legislation regarding physician-assisted death, the experience of a comprehensive cancer center may be informative. METHODS: We describe the implementation of a Death with Dignity program at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, the site of care for the Fred Hutchinson-University of Washington Cancer Consortium, a comprehensive cancer center in Seattle that serves the Pacific Northwest. Institution-level data were compared with publicly available statewide data from Oregon and Washington. RESULTS: A total of 114 patients inquired about our Death with Dignity program between March 5, 2009, and December 31, 2011. Of these, 44 (38.6%) did not pursue the program, and 30 (26.3%) initiated the process but either elected not to continue or died before completion. Of the 40 participants who, after counseling and upon request, received a prescription for a lethal dose of secobarbital (35.1% of the 114 patients who inquired about the program), all died, 24 after medication ingestion (60% of those obtaining prescriptions). The participants at our center accounted for 15.7% of all participants in the Death with Dignity program in Washington (255 persons) and were typically white, male, and well educated. The most common reasons for participation were loss of autonomy (97.2%), inability to engage in enjoyable activities (88.9%), and loss of dignity (75.0%). Eleven participants lived for more than 6 months after prescription receipt. Qualitatively, patients and families were grateful to receive the lethal prescription, whether it was used or not. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our Death with Dignity program has been well accepted by patients and clinicians.

Engaging stakeholders to develop a depression management decision support tool in a tribal health system.

PURPOSE: Southcentral Foundation, an Alaska Native tribal health organization, has had a depression screening program in primary care since 2001. Program monitoring identified gaps in antidepressant refills and patients' follow-up with behavioral health services. With extensive stakeholder participation, we developed an electronic, patient-centered, depression-management decision support tool (DM-DST). Quality of life and other outcomes are being assessed in a separate study; this case study reports on the multi-year stakeholder engagement process. METHODS: Data sources included interviews with patients and providers from integrated primary care teams, notes from research meetings, steering committee meetings, and consultations with tribal health system leadership, human subjects review committees, providers, and software designers, and a pilot test of the DS-DMT with patients and providers. We analyzed these sources using qualitative methods to assess the impact of stakeholder input on project processes and outcomes. RESULTS: One comprehensive, iPad-based tool was originally planned to facilitate discussions about depression management. Stakeholder input emphasized the role of family and cultural context of depression and management and improving the usability of the DM-DST. Stakeholder direction led us to split the DM-DST into: (1) a brief iPad-based tool to facilitate conversations between patients and providers during clinic visits; and (2) a complementary Web site that provides detailed information and allows patients flexibility and time to learn more about depression and share information and preferences with family and friends. CONCLUSIONS: Stakeholder input across the project substantially modified the DM-DST to ensure cultural applicability to patients and providers and facilitate integration into clinics.

"I know it when I see it." The complexities of measuring resilience among parents of children with cancer.

PURPOSE: Promoting parent resilience may provide an opportunity to improve family-level survivorship after pediatric cancer; however, measuring resilience is challenging. METHODS: The "Understanding Resilience in Parents of Children with Cancer" was a cross-sectional, mixed-methods study of bereaved and non-bereaved parents. Surveys included the Connor-Davidson Resilience scale, the Kessler-6 psychological distress scale, the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, and an open-ended question regarding the ongoing impact of cancer. We conducted content analyses of open-ended responses and categorized our impressions as "resilient," "not resilient," or "unable to determine." "Resilience" was determined based on evidence of psychological growth, lack of distress, and parent-reported meaning/purpose. We compared consensus impressions with instrument scores to examine alignment. Analyses were stratified by bereavement status. RESULTS: Eighty-four (88 %) non-bereaved and 21 (88 %) bereaved parents provided written responses. Among non-bereaved, 53 (63 %) were considered resilient and 15 (18 %) were not. Among bereaved, 11 (52 %) were deemed resilient and 5 (24 %) were not. All others suggested a mixed or incomplete picture. Rater-determined "resilient" parents tended to have higher personal resources and lower psychological distress (p = <0.001-0.01). Non-bereaved "resilient" parents also had higher post-traumatic growth (p = 0.02). Person-level analyses demonstrated that only 50-62 % of parents had all three instrument scores aligned with our impressions of resilience. CONCLUSIONS: Despite multiple theories, measuring resilience is challenging. Our clinical impressions of resilience were aligned in 100 % of cases; however, instruments measuring potential markers of resilience were aligned in approximately half. Promoting resilience therefore requires understanding of multiple factors, including person-level perspectives, individual resources, processes of adaptation, and emotional well-being.

Development and Evaluation of Integrated Diabetes Curricula for Teaching Gene by Environment Concepts to High School Health and Biology Students.

The authors designed an integrated type 2 diabetes (T2D) curricula to model real-world complexity for high school biology and health students, highlighting interactions between genetic, biologic, environmental, and social factors, and modeling prevention and intervention activities. We evaluated the curriculum with two samples of students (888 historical comparison [no exposure] and 2,122 intervention students [received the T2D curricula]). Students completed pre-post assessments that were analyzed for knowledge gains and changes in self-efficacy to engage in healthy behaviors. Correct posttest answers in the intervention group increased by 24% versus 1% (biology) and 3% (health) of comparison students (p < .001); mean (sd) self-efficacy scores increased for biology [3.2 (25.2)] and health [1.5 (7.2), both p < .0001)]. COVID-19 prompted mandatory online teaching starting in March 2020 resulting in more health (65%) than biology students (47%, p < .001) doing the curriculum in virtual/hybrid classrooms, yet posttest knowledge gains were similar for these students learning in class or online (p = .47). Students' "take-home" messages mentioned the importance of prevention (64%), physiological mechanisms for developing T2D (54%), and environmental factors (17%). The curricula successfully delivered cross-disciplinary content without placing undue burden on teachers to create and sustain integrated learning systems.

"Advocates for Each Other": The creation and evaluation of a pragmatic peer navigation program for black patients in primary care with uncontrolled hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Black individuals in the U.S. and in our primary care clinic experience worse control of blood pressure compared to White individuals. OBJECTIVE: To address this inequity, our objectives were to (1) elicit from patients and community members their ideas for barriers and facilitators to blood pressure control; and (2) use their input to design and pilot a navigator program for Black patients in our clinic to improve blood pressure management. PATIENT INVOLVEMENT: We conducted three focus groups with 27 individuals and identified two main areas of need that informed the peer navigator program: (1) community-based services and (2) skill development for hypertension self-management. METHODS: Peer navigators from the Black community called participants at least monthly for 6-12 months and connected them with medical and social services. Available blood pressure data was used as the primary outcome to measure change pre- to post-peer navigation program. RESULTS: Among 499 eligible patients in the clinic, 53 (10.6%) enrolled in the peer navigation program. For those with baseline and follow-up blood pressure data, mean systolic blood pressure decreased from 155.9 to 142.4 mmHg after the program (change of -13.6, 95% CI -24.7 to -2.4) for the enrolled patients (N = 17) and from 139.1 to 137.1 mmHg (change of -2.5, -4.8 to 1.9) for unenrolled, comparison patients (N = 183). DISCUSSION: This community-informed peer navigation program to support Black patients with uncontrolled hypertension led to a 11.1 mmHg greater decrease in average systolic blood pressure for enrolled patients compared to the comparison group. However, the enrolled group started with a significantly higher systolic blood pressure at baseline with more room for improvement. While this study was conducted during the pandemic years, low uptake of this program needs to be addressed in expansion efforts. PRACTICAL VALUE: Clinic-based peer navigation for hypertension improved blood pressure control and was highly regarded by the subset of enrolled patients. Increasing uptake and sustainable funding for non-billable clinic roles remain areas of need. FUNDING: Grant from the Pacific Hospital Preservation & Development Authority.

An Embedded Curriculum to Teach Critical Incident Debriefing to Internal Medicine Residents.

Background Internal medicine residents frequently experience distressing clinical events; critical event debriefing is one tool to help mitigate their effects. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of a 1-hour workshop teaching residents a novel, efficient approach to leading a team debrief after emotionally charged clinical events. Methods An internal needs assessment identified time and confidence as debriefing barriers. In response, we created the STREAM (Structured, Timely, Reflection, tEAM-based) framework, a 15-minute structured approach to leading a debrief. Senior residents participated in a 1-hour workshop on the first day of an inpatient medicine rotation to learn the STREAM framework. To evaluate learning outcomes, participants completed the same survey immediately before and after the session, and at the end of their 4-week rotation. Senior residents at another site who did not complete the workshop also evaluated their comfort leading debriefs. Results Fifty out of 65 senior residents (77%) participated in the workshop. After the workshop, participants felt more prepared to lead debriefs, learned a structured format for debriefing, and felt they had enough time to lead debriefs. Thirty-four of 50 (68%) workshop participants and 20 of 41 (49%) comparison residents completed the end-of-rotation survey. Senior residents who participated in the workshop were more likely than nonparticipants to report feeling prepared to lead debriefs. Conclusions A brief workshop is an effective method for teaching a framework for leading a team debrief.

Risk, reward, and the double-edged sword: perspectives on pharmacogenetic research and clinical testing among Alaska Native people.

OBJECTIVES: Pharmacogenetic research and clinical testing raise important concerns for individuals and communities, especially where past medical research and practice has perpetrated harm and cultivated distrust of health care systems and clinicians. We investigated perceptions of pharmacogenetics among Alaska Native (AN) people. METHODS: We held four focus groups for 32 ANs in south central Alaska to elicit views about pharmacogenetics in general and for treatment of cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, depression, and nicotine addiction. We analyzed data for perceived risks and rewards of pharmacogenetics. RESULTS: Potential risks of pharmacogenetics included health care rationing, misuse of information, and stigma to individuals and the AN community. Potential rewards included decreased care costs, improved outcomes, and community development. Participants also discussed 8 contingent conditions that could mitigate risks and increase pharmacogenetic acceptability. CONCLUSIONS: Alaska Natives perceive pharmacogenetics as potentially benefitting and harming individuals, communities, and health systems, depending on methods and oversight. Researchers, clinicians, and administrators, especially in community-based clinic and health care systems serving minority populations, must address this "double-edged sword" to effectively conduct pharmacogenetics.

Trends in death associated with pediatric dental sedation and general anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Inadequate access to oral health care places children at risk of caries. Disease severity and inability to cooperate often result in treatment with general anesthesia (GA). Sedation is increasingly popular and viewed as lower risk than GA in community settings. Currently, few data are available to quantify pediatric morbidity and mortality related to dental anesthesia. OBJECTIVE: Summarize dental anesthesia-related pediatric deaths described in media reports. METHODS: Review of media reports in the Lexis-Nexis Academic database and a private foundation website. SETTINGS: Dental offices, ambulatory surgery centers, and hospitals. Patients :US-based children (≤21 years old) who died subsequently receiving anesthesia for a dental procedure between 1980-2011. RESULTS: Most deaths occurred among 2-5 year-olds (n = 21/44), in an office setting (n = 21/44), and with a general/pediatric dentist (n = 25/44) as the anesthesia provider. In this latter group, 17 of 25 deaths were linked with a sedation anesthetic. CONCLUSIONS: This series of media reports likely represent only a fraction of the overall morbidity and mortality related to dental anesthesia. These data may indicate an association between mortality and pediatric dental procedures under sedation, particularly in office settings. However, these relationships are difficult to test in the absence of a database that could provide an estimate of incidence and prevalence of morbidity and mortality. With growing numbers of children receiving anesthesia for dental procedures from providers with variable training, it is imperative to be able to track anesthesia-related adverse outcomes. Creating a national database of adverse outcomes will enable future research to advance patient safety and quality.

Addiction Services for Veterans: Opportunities in Acute Care.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the proportion of total hospital discharges that involved a primary or secondary substance-related diagnosis code (SubDx) on inpatient medicine, psychiatry, and surgery services as part of a needs assessment for inpatient addiction consultation at our large, academic-affiliated Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital. METHODS: We first calculated the percentage of total and service-specific discharges with a primary or secondary substance-related International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision , code on all inpatient services (medicine, psychiatry, and surgery) in Fiscal Year 2017, 2018, and 2019, using facility-level data. Second, we calculated the proportion of total discharges that involved alcohol- and opioid-related diagnoses. RESULTS: Over the 3 years studied, 29% of total discharges had a SubDx (4469 of 15,575). The proportion of total discharges that involved a SubDx was 23% (1246 of 5449) in 2017, 31% (1664 of 5332) in 2018, and 33% in 2019 (1559 of 4794), a statistically significant increase ( P < 0.001). As a percentage of service-specific discharges, 65% of discharges from psychiatry (1446 of 2217) had a SubDx, compared with 25% from medicine (2469 of 9713), and 15% from surgery (554 of 3645). Medicine services had the most discharges with SubDx, with a year-over-year increase in the number of discharges with SubDx. The percentage of total discharges that involved alcohol- and opioid-related diagnoses was 14% and 4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Substance-related diagnoses are prevalent at our hospital and are increasing over time. The largest number of discharges with SubDx was found on medicine services. Alcohol-related diagnoses were nearly 4 times more prevalent than opioid-related diagnoses. We found focused need around alcohol use and alcohol withdrawal.

Variable Practice, Variable Results: Impact of Postinterview Communication Practices Among Critical Care Medicine/Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Applicants and Program Directors.

BACKGROUND: Although postinterview communication (PIC) guidelines exist, adherence is voluntary. There are no studies of PIC practices in critical care medicine (CCM) and pulmonary and critical care medicine (PCCM) fellowship recruitment. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the frequency, format, goals, and content of PIC between CCM/PCCM applicants and program directors? What is the impact of PIC on applicant and program rank order lists (ROLs)? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: CCM/PCCM applicants and program directors were separately surveyed after the 2022-2023 National Resident Matching Program Specialty Match. Surveys included multiple-choice, Likert-scale, and two free text questions. Thematic content analysis of free text responses was performed. RESULTS: One-third of eligible participants responded (applicants: n = 373 [34%]; program directors: n = 86 [32%]). Applicant respondents applied to CCM (19%), PCCM (69%), or both (12%). Program directors represented CCM (17%), PCCM (57%), or both (26%) programs. Applicant (66%) and program director (49%) respondents reported initiating PIC. PIC did not impact ROL decision for most applicants (73%) or program directors (83%), though 21% of applicants and 17% of program directors moved programs or applicants up on their ROL in response to PIC. One-quarter (23%) of applicants strongly agreed or agreed that PIC was helpful in creating their ROL, 27% strongly disagreed or disagreed, and 29% were neutral. PIC challenges identified by both groups included time; lack of uniformity; peer pressure; misleading language; and uncertainty about motives, rules, and response protocols. INTERPRETATION: PIC is common among CCM/PCCM applicants and program directors. About 50% of applicants and 20% of program directors share ranking intentions via PIC. Although PIC did not impact ROL for most applicants and program directors, a minority of applicants and program directors moved programs up on their ROL after receiving PIC from the other party. Applicants have mixed perspectives on PIC value. Applicants and program directors alike desire clear guidance on PIC to minimize ambiguous and misleading communication.

IRB perspectives on the return of individual results from genomic research.

PURPOSE: Return of individual research results from genomic studies is a hotly debated ethical issue in genomic research. However, the perspective of key stakeholders-institutional review board (IRB) professionals-has been missing from this dialogue. This study explores the positions and experiences of IRB members and staff regarding this issue. METHODS: In-depth interviews with 31 IRB professionals at six sites across the United States. RESULTS: IRB professionals agreed that research results should be returned to research participants when results are medically actionable but only if the participants want to know the results. Many respondents expected researchers to address the issue of return of results (ROR) in the IRB application and informed-consent document. Many respondents were not comfortable with their expertise in genomics research and only a few described actual experiences in addressing ROR. Although participants agreed that guidelines would be helpful, most were reticent to develop them in isolation. Even where IRB guidance exists (e.g., Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) lab certification required for return), in practice, the guidance has been overruled to allow ROR (e.g., no CLIA lab performs the assay). CONCLUSION: An IRB-researcher partnership is needed to help inform responsible and feasible institutional approaches to returning research results.

Genetics researchers' and IRB professionals' attitudes toward genetic research review: a comparative analysis.

PURPOSE: Genetic research involving human participants can pose challenging questions related to ethical and regulatory standards for research oversight. However, few empirical studies describe how genetic researchers and institutional review board (IRB) professionals conceptualize ethical issues in genetic research or where common ground might exist. METHODS: Parallel online surveys collected information from human genetic researchers (n = 351) and IRB professionals (n = 208) regarding their views about human participant oversight for genetic protocols. RESULTS: A range of opinions were observed within groups on most issues. In both groups, a minority thought it likely that people would be harmed by participation in genetic research or identified from coded genetic data. A majority of both groups agreed that reconsent should be required for four of the six scenarios presented. Statistically significant differences were observed between groups on some issues, with more genetic researcher respondents trusting the confidentiality of coded data, fewer expecting harms from reidentification, and fewer considering reconsent necessary in certain scenarios. CONCLUSION: The range of views observed within and between IRB and genetic researcher groups highlights the complexity and unsettled nature of many ethical issues in genome research. Our findings also identify areas where researcher and IRB views diverge and areas of common ground.

Visiting the emergency department for dental problems: trends in utilization, 2001 to 2008.

OBJECTIVES: We tested the hypothesis that between 2001 and 2008, Americans increasingly relied upon emergency departments (EDs) for dental care. METHODS: Data from 2001 through 2008 were collected from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). Population-based visit rates for dental problems, and, for comparison, asthma, were calculated using annual US Census Bureau estimates. As part of the analysis, we described patient characteristics associated with large increases in ED dental utilization. RESULTS: Dental visit rates increased most dramatically for the following subpopulations: those aged 18 to 44 years (7.2-12.2 per 1000, P < .01); Blacks (6.0-10.4 per 1000, P < .01); and the uninsured (9.5-13.2 per 1000, P < .01). Asthma visit rates did not change although dental visit rates increased 59% from 2001 to 2008. CONCLUSIONS: There is an increasing trend in ED visits for dental issues, which was most pronounced among those aged 18 to 44 years, the uninsured, and Blacks. Dental visit rates increased significantly although there was no overall change in asthma visit rates. This suggests that community access to dental care compared with medical care is worsening over time.

Palliative care in the pediatric ICU: challenges and opportunities for family-centered practice.

The culture of pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) is focused on curative or life-prolonging treatments for seriously ill children. We present empirically-based approaches to family-centered palliative care that can be applied in PICUs. Palliative care in these settings is framed by larger issues related to the context of care in PICUs, the stressors experienced by families, and challenges to palliative care philosophy within this environment. Innovations from research on family-centered communication practices in adult ICU settings provide a framework for development of palliative care in PICUs and suggest avenues for social work support of critically ill children and their families.