Hospital Based Violence Intervention Programs Using Peer Support Specialists: A Concise Review.

BACKGROUND: Interpersonal violence remains a significant public health problem in the United States. The toll of violence has spurred the development of hospital-based violence intervention programs that use peer support specialists or navigators. Yet, their effectiveness remains uncertain. This study aims to concisely review the recent literature on the effectiveness of hospital-based violence intervention programs using the peer support specialist role. METHODS: A systematic search of articles from PubMed, OVID, and Google Scholar was performed for this review. Peer reviewed studies addressing hospital-based violence intervention programs using peer support specialists between 2017 and 2022 were selected. Key data points were extracted and analyzed by consensus of the authors. RESULTS: Eight of the 232 studies reviewed met eligibility requirements. Across these studies, the recidivism rate was reduced between 43% and 95% in victims participating in hospital-based violence intervention programs with peer support specialists. CONCLUSION: The peer support specialist (navigator) role is central to the success of the violence intervention programs. This role guides and coordinates health services for victims of violence, extending after discharge into the community. Programs showed the most success with helping victims reach short-term goals focused on immediate basic needs but are more challenged meeting longer-term goals, such as education or relocation. This review reveals that hospital-based violence intervention programs using peer support specialists (navigators) lead to the achievement of meeting victim goals and reduce recidivism rates.

Remote Virtual Simulation With Prelicensure Nursing Students During Rapid Course Transition.

ABSTRACT: The advent of COVID-19 required educational programs to rapidly transition courses to the remote environment. A postpartum hemorrhage simulation used within a traditional prelicensure bachelor of science in nursing program was rapidly transitioned to the remote virtual format to meet required social distancing guidelines. This quasi-experimental study examined student knowledge before and after participation in a remote virtual simulation (RVS) with a postanalysis of student confidence and satisfaction. RVS can increase student knowledge and provide adequate student satisfaction. However, hands-on learning appears to result in higher student confidence and satisfaction compared to RVS.

Factors Affecting Gynecologic and Sexual Assessment in Older Women: A Lesson for Primary Care Providers.

Guidelines for screening of cervical cancer and pelvic exams for older women have recently changed. These changes may have unexpected sequelae in women over 65 years of age. This manuscript provides a review of gynecologic screening recommendations for older women in the U.S. and potential ramifications of these recent changes. Peer reviewed guidelines from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, U.S. Preventative Task Force Services, the American Cancer Society, The Centers for Disease Control, and multiple original research articles and reviews were reviewed for this manuscript. Women over 65 are at greatest risk to develop late stage diagnoses of cancers, pelvic organ disease, incontinence, and infections. Clinicians will need to acutely consider this fact when communicating and screening this population. We conclude that practitioners should be aware of the new guidelines and should consider including gynecologic health history and symptom analysis as part of annual exams in women of all ages.

The interplay between secondhand cigarette smoke, genetics, and cervical cancer: a review of the literature.

Research has suggested a link between smoking and cervical cancer; however, little data are available on secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and cervical cancer risk. This article reviews the literature on the links among smoking, SHS exposure and cervical cancer. The review was based on a search of electronic databases. The research reviewed clearly showed that smoking increases cervical cancer risk through myriad mechanisms that interact with genetics and the pathologic processes leading to cervical cancer. However, less is understood about the role of SHS in cervical cancer. With new technology enabling scientists to examine how genomic structure responds to environmental stimuli, more information should be forthcoming on links between SHS exposure, biomarkers, and genetic changes involved in the development of cervical cancer.