A scoping review of physical activity interventions in youth attending child and adolescent mental health services.

BACKGROUND: There has been an international effort to improve physical health in general and in those with mental illness. Physical activity (PA) may be beneficial as an adjunctive treatment for mental health disorders and to improve physical well-being. AIMS: The objective of this scoping review is to understand the extent and type of evidence in relation to PA interventions offered in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). Eligibility was determined using the Population, Concept, Context framework. Studies were included if the participants were under 18 years old, attending CAMHS and where PA interventions were offered. METHODS: PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO and SportDiscus were searched without language or date restrictions. Titles and abstracts, followed by full texts, were screened by two independent reviewers. Two reviewers carried out data extraction, and discrepancies in any of these processes were resolved in consultation with a third reviewer. RESULTS: After 2213 non-duplicate titles and abstracts were screened, 2090 were excluded and 123 full texts were screened. Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria. Included studies demonstrated PA interventions to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms and improving psychosocial functioning. While no study reported significant changes in anthropometric measurements, 2 studies demonstrated increased aerobic fitness. CONCLUSION: Evidence that PA interventions are being offered in CAMHS worldwide is limited. Included studies demonstrate potential benefits in depressive symptoms, psychosocial functioning, self-esteem and aerobic fitness in youth attending CAMHS. Future research should identify effective ways to incorporate exercise interventions in CAMHS and evaluate long-term benefits.

Essential oils: How safe? How effective?

Given the ubiquity of these plant-based oils, your patients might ask about using them. Here's the evidence on safety and efficacy to guide your response.

Prevalence and correlates of restrictive interventions in an Irish child and adolescent psychiatric unit: a 4-year retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: There has been a global effort to reduce the use of restrictive interventions (RIs) in healthcare settings. In order to reduce unnecessary RIs, it is essential to understand their use in mental health settings. To date, there have been few studies examining the use of RIs in child and adolescent mental health settings, with no such studies in Ireland. AIMS: The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence and frequency of physical restraints and seclusion and to identify any associated demographic and clinical characteristics. METHODS: This is a 4-year retrospective study of the use of seclusion and physical restraint in an Irish child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit from 2018 to 2021. Computer-based data collection sheets and patient records were retrospectively reviewed. Eating disorder and non-eating disorder samples were analysed. RESULTS: Of 499 hospital admissions from 2018 to 2021, 6% (n = 29) had at least one episode of seclusion and 18% (n = 88) had at least one episode of physical restraint. Age, gender and ethnicity were not significantly associated with rates of RI. Unemployment, prior hospitalization, involuntary legal status and longer length of stay were significantly associated with higher rates of RIs in the non-eating disorder group. Involuntary legal status was associated with higher rates of physical restraint in the eating disorder group. Patients with a diagnosis of eating disorder and psychosis had the highest prevalence of physical restraints and seclusions respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying youth who are at greater risk of requiring RIs may allow early and targeted intervention and prevention.

The Association of Practice Type and the Scope of Care of Family Physicians.

INTRODUCTION: Comprehensiveness is a defining principle of primary care and Family Medicine but is declining in some settings. This study explores the relationship between practice setting and comprehensiveness among family physicians (FPs). METHODS: Using 2014 to 2016 American Board of Family Medicine survey data to generate scope of practice (SOP) scores (0 to 30) for FPs. We ran univariate and bivariate analyses for services by practice organization type. Our principal independent variable was practice organization type and dependent variable, the SOP score. RESULTS: Among 25,117 total respondents, FPs at rural health centers (RHC) had the widest scope of practice (SOP score of 17.7) whereas FPs in federal, urgent care and other safety net clinics had the narrowest with mean SOP score of 14.0 or less. Higher rates of FPs practicing in Federally Qualified Health Centers and academic health centers were providing a women's health service, except for deliveries, whereas FPs in rural health centers were providing obstetric services (24%). The proportion of FPs providing newborn care was highest in RHCs and lowest in the urgent care setting (85%, vs 26%). A higher proportion of FPs in RHCs provided joint injections and skin procedures than FPs in other practice organizations. CONCLUSIONS: Significant variation in FP comprehensiveness exists across different practice types. FPs in practice types commonly associated with large health systems had narrower breadth of practice, concerning amid increasing practice consolidation. Given associations between comprehensiveness and desirable health care outcomes, policy makers should encourage payment/accountability models that incentivize broader SOP.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound Is a Valuable Modality During Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Campaigns.

Coronavirus disease 2019 has become a widespread public health crisis across the globe, requiring multiple approaches to containment, treatment, and prevention. Vaccines are an important tool to prevent morbidity and mortality from this devastating virus. Ensuring direct administration of vaccines into target tissue helps provide an optimal immune response while decreasing unintended adverse effects. Point-of-care ultrasound can better assist clinicians to determine appropriate needle length and penetration level especially in special populations. Examples include patients who are obese, pregnant, or with refractory lymphedema, and those living in areas where needle supply is unstable or insufficient.

Establishing and evaluating a Balint group for fourth-year medical students at an Irish University.

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to establish and evaluate the impact of a 6-week Balint group on empathy and resilience in fourth-year medical students during their psychiatry rotation. METHODOLOGY: This prospective study used the Jefferson Scale of Empathy - Student Version and the Brief Resilience Scale before and after 6-week Balint groups. Participating students also completed a qualitative assessment of their experience. RESULTS: Students who participated were enthusiastic regarding the value of Balint groups in promoting self-reflection and gaining insight into self- and patient-care dynamics. There was a significant difference in empathy scores pre- and post-Balint intervention. There was no significant difference in resilience scores. CONCLUSION: The establishment of a 6-week Balint group for fourth-year medical students was successful in increasing empathy. Students reported a positive view of Balint and its beneficial role in this study group.