Barriers to Scholarship Among Health Profession Faculty at a Public Institution of Higher Learning.

Like any other career, pursuing a career in academia comes with positives and negatives. Faculty members teaching in higher education come from various backgrounds, with different skill sets and training. While barriers to scholarly production exist at many levels, and for various reasons, not much is known about faculty members teaching in clinical and health professions programs mainly due to the limited availability of data on this topic. This research aimed to explore the barriers to scholarly productivity faced by faculty members teaching in health professions programs at a public academic institution. A qualitative inductive approach using thematic analysis was used for this research. Participants from the Physician Assistant, Nursing, Clinical Laboratory Science, Occupational Therapy, and Social Work programs were recruited to share their experiences through an in-depth, one-on-one interview. Four main themes emerged from the data regarding barriers to scholarship among health profession faculty members. These are the need for mentorship, resource availability, time constraints, and the lack of discipline-specific guidance. Navigating the reappointment, tenure, and promotion grid can be challenging for many in academia, particularly those new to the profession. It is important for academic institutions to provide faculty members with the flexibility, tools, resources, and appropriate mentorship to boost their buy-in, morale, productivity, and self-esteem, all of which are expected to create a positive environment within the institution.

A Focus on Point of Care Ultrasonography in Physician Assistant Programs: Increasing the Applicant Pool.

The aim of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) and the decision to apply to a physician assistant (PA) program. First-year students from a single PA program were asked to complete a confidential online survey regarding their perception of POCUS and PA program admission applications. A total of 57 students were invited, of whom 53 (96%) completed the survey. Of the 53 students who completed the survey, 51 (96%) agreed that POCUS would be a useful tool in their education, while 45 (85%) of students agreed that the PA program would attract more applicants if POCUS was incorporated into the curriculum. Incorporating POCUS in the PA curriculum could be an added benefit that has the potential to attract a higher number of PA applicants.

Factors associated with prostate cancer screening among Indo-Guyanese men.

INTRODUCTION: Health screening is considered a vital intervention in public health practices. Despite the strong emphasis on the need for preventative health screenings, little attention is focused on many immigrant populations. Indo-Guyanese immigrants are one of the ethnically minoritized populations facing these challenges. This study aims to identify factors associated with the likelihood that Indo-Guyanese men will undergo screening for prostate cancer. METHODS: This study is guided by a mixed-method approach incorporating both quantitative and qualitative analyses. A total of 20 participants were recruited via a snowball technique. Correlation between variables was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 27, while the qualitative data underwent a rigorous process of analysis and interpretation. RESULTS: Education, income, understanding of risk factors, and considering self at risk were positively correlated with screening. Knowledge of prostate cancer and knowledge of the screening process was negatively correlated with screening. CONCLUSION: Immigrant health has a significant impact on the U.S. public health system. Timely identification of potential barriers and providing culturally competent solutions and services will ensure a safe and healthy nation.

Prostate cancer screening behaviors among Indo-Guyanese.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore prostate cancer screening behaviors among Indo-Guyanese men. METHODS: This qualitative study was conducted in the surrounding neighborhood of Queens, New York during 2018 and 2019. In-depth, one-on-one interviews were conducted using 20 Indo-Guyanese men between the ages of 45 and 75. RESULTS: The findings suggest that Indo-Guyanese men are being screened for prostate cancer at a very low rate. Only 30% (n = 6) of participants underwent prostate cancer screening. Four major themes were derived from the data, which could have contributed to the decreased level of screening. These included: (1) recommendations must come from their healthcare professional; (2) reluctance to engage in screening; (3) distrust of the medical system; and (4) screening only if symptoms are present or they know someone with prostate cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioral patterns for prostate cancer screening among Indo-Guyanese men share some similarities with other Caribbean countries. Clinicians and Healthcare Professionals should be culturally competent for the patients they serve. Understanding the behavioral variations within this diverse culture could help provide the highest possible care, specifically tailored to each patient.

Barriers to Prostate Cancer Screening Among Indo-Guyanese.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in many industrialized countries and is among the leading causes of death. Ranking among one of the top three forms of cancer, it is unfortunate that prostate cancer screening is not routinely recommended. This study attempts to explore the barriers to prostate cancer screening among Indo-Guyanese men. We conducted in-depth, one on one interviews among 20 Indo-Guyanese men between the ages of 45 and 75 years old, residing in the New York City neighborhood of Queens. Qualitative analysis was performed using multiple coders. Detailed analysis of the data found four major themes to be the culprit associated with a decrease in prostate cancer screening in this population: (1) lack of knowledge about the disease, (2) fear of diagnosis, (3) embarrassment and, (4) personal reservations with the rectal exam. The findings of this research suggest that Indo-Guyanese immigrants are lacking the basic understanding of prostate cancer and the importance of screening. It is possible that this deficiency is also applicable to many other disease states. By collaborating with healthcare providers and other stakeholders, such as community leaders and elected officials, we can develop culturally appropriate services specific to this population, to address these barriers to healthcare services.

Nutmeg overdose: Spice not so nice.

BACKGROUND: Nutmeg is a spice common to many kitchens around the world and is being used for many other reasons, such as an aphrodisiac, antimicrobial, antioxidant and analgesic, yet little is known about the toxic effects of nutmeg. CASE REPORT: A case is presented of a young male who took an overdose of nutmeg and presented via ambulance to the Emergency Department with multiple psychiatric and neurological symptoms. The case is described in detail, especially in regard to the prehospital and Emergency Department presentation. Emergency personnel should be aware of nutmeg toxicity due to its ability to mimic many other neurological, cardiac and psychiatric conditions. Therefore, increased awareness of this issue can help minimize the risk of misdiagnosis. The importance of communication between the Emergency personnel and the pre-hospital team is stressed. A discussion is included concerning the pathophysiology of nutmeg toxicity, its history, symptomatology, differential diagnosis and treatment.