A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Analysis of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Presence Among United States Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency Program Websites.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the presence of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) among US occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) residency program websites. METHODS: In January to February 2022, two independent reviewers evaluated the websites of all 24 US accredited OEM residency programs and documented the presence of 10 predetermined DEI metrics and resident/faculty photographs and biographies. RESULTS: Program websites included a median of 1 (0-3) DEI element with 46% of websites containing none of the DEI metrics. Faculty photographs and biographies were included in 83% and 75% of websites, respectively. Resident photographs and biographies were included in 50% and 25% of websites, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Many OEM residency program websites lack DEI presence. Programs should consider presenting information relevant to DEI on their websites to help attract more diverse applicant pools.

Treatment outcomes of peri-articular steroid injection for patients with work-related sacroiliac joint pain and lumbar para-spinal muscle strain.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluating treatment outcomes of local corticosteroid injections for work-related lower back pain (LBP) as the current evidence for the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine guidelines is considered insufficient to recommend this practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective study involving the patients who were treated with peri-articular and lower lumbar corticosteroid injections for work-related LBP at their occupational medicine clinic. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients met the inclusion criteria. The average pain level was reduced from M±SD 5.1±2.0 to M±SD 3.1±2.3 after the corticosteroid injection (p < 0.0001). Thirty-five patients (55%) were discharged to regular duty; 23 (36%) were transferred to orthopedics due to persistent pain; and 6 (9%) were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Corticosteroid injections for work-related LBP are effective in reducing pain and enhancing discharge to regular duty. Nonetheless, larger prospective trials are needed to validate these findings. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2021;34(1):111-20.