Telemedicine and virtual healthcare for survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence often face many challenges in seeking/receiving healthcare and are often lost to follow up. OBJECTIVES: Our study objectives are to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and satisfaction of using telemedicine technology among sexual assault and intimate partner violence patients who present to a Canadian Emergency Department. DESIGN: Qualitative research was conducted using a thematic approach. METHODS: Patients were identified from a case registry of all sexual assault and intimate partner violence cases seen between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2022 from an emergency department of a large Canadian hospital. Qualitative trauma-informed interviews were conducted with consenting participants. Thematic qualitative analyses were performed to investigate barriers and drivers of telemedicine for follow-up care. RESULTS: Of the 1007 sexual assault and intimate partner violence patients seen during the study timeframe, 180 (8%) consented to be contacted for future research, and 10 completed an interview regarding telemedicine for follow-up care. All participants were cisgendered women, 5 (50%) experienced sexual assault, 6 (60%) physical assault, and 3 (30%) verbal assault. All knew their assailant, and 6 (60%) were assaulted by a current or former intimate partner. Three themes emerged as drivers of telemedicine use: increased comfort, increased convenience, and less time required for the appointment. Three thematic barriers to telemedicine use included lack of privacy from others, lack of safety from their assailant, and pressure to balance competing tasks during the appointment. CONCLUSION: This study illustrated that telemedicine for sexual assault and intimate partner violence follow-up care is feasible, acceptable, and can improve patient satisfaction with follow-up care. Ensuring safety and privacy are key considerations when offering telemedicine as an appropriate option for survivors.

A qualitative analysis of telemedicine and virtual healthcare for survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violenceWhy was the study done? Sexual assault and intimate partner violence are prevalent issues in our society. More than 3/10 Canadian women have been sexually assaulted at least once since the age of 15 years and more than 4/10 Canadian women have experienced IPV in their lifetime. Survivors face many obstacles to receiving care after sexual assault and intimate partner violence and are often lost to follow up.What did the researchers do?The researchers studied the acceptability, feasibility, and satisfaction of using telemedicine technology among sexual assault and intimate partner violence survivors who presented to a Canadian Emergency Department. Sexual assault and intimate partner violence survivors were interviewed individually about their experience receiving follow-up care via telemedicine. The interviews were done using a trauma-informed approach, and data analyses were done to explore the barriers and drivers of telemedicine for follow-up care.What did the researchers find?The total number of interviews was 10, and all participants were cisgendered women. All knew their assailant and six were assaulted by a current or former intimate partner. Survivors found that telemedicine was an accessible way to have a follow-up appointment and were mostly satisfied with their experience. Three major drivers to using telemedicine included increased comfort being at home in their own space, increased convenience as they did not have to leave their house to have the appointment, and less time required for the appointment. Three major barriers to using telemedicine included lack of privacy from others during the appointment, pressure to balance competing tasks during the appointment, and lack of safety from their assailant.What do the findings mean?This study has shown that follow-up care for sexual assault and intimate partner violence survivors using telemedicine can be feasible, acceptable, and can improve patient satisfaction. However, it is important to consider factors such as safety and privacy on an individual basis when offering telemedicine as an option for follow-up care for survivors.

Approche de l'anorexie mentale et de l'anorexie mentale atypique chez l'adolescent.

OBJECTIF: Aborder le dépistage, le diagnostic et le traitement de l'anorexie mentale et de l'anorexie mentale atypique chez les adolescents en soins primaires. SOURCES DE L'INFORMATION: Une recherche documentaire a été effectuée dans PubMed à l'aide des rubriques thématiques en anglais anorexia nervosa, adolescents, COVID-19, review, guidelines et primary care. Les articles pertinents ont été passés en revue et les principales recommandations ont été résumées. La plupart des données probantes sont de niveau I. MESSAGE PRINCIPAL: De récentes études font valoir que la pandémie mondiale de la COVID-19 a contribué à une augmentation de l'incidence des troubles du comportement alimentaire, en particulier chez les adolescents. Il s'ensuit de plus grandes responsabilités pour les professionnels des soins primaires concernant l'évaluation, le diagnostic et la prise en charge de ces troubles. En outre, les professionnels des soins primaires sont bien placés pour identifier les adolescents à risque de troubles du comportement alimentaire. Une intervention précoce revêt une importance capitale pour éviter les conséquences à long terme pour la santé. Des taux élevés d'anorexie mentale atypique indiquent la nécessité que les professionnels soient sensibilisés aux préjudices et à la stigmatisation entourant le poids. Le traitement comporte principalement une combinaison de renutrition et de psychothérapie, généralement au moyen d'une thérapie familiale, et la pharmacothérapie joue un rôle secondaire. CONCLUSION: L'anorexie mentale et l'anorexie mentale atypique sont des maladies graves et potentiellement mortelles, et leur prise en charge optimale comprend la détection et le traitement précoces. Les médecins de famille sont très bien placés pour dépister, diagnostiquer et traiter ces maladies.

Approach to anorexia nervosa and atypical anorexia nervosa in adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To address screening, diagnosis, and treatment of adolescents with anorexia nervosa and atypical anorexia nervosa in primary care. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: A literature search was conducted in PubMed using the subject headings anorexia nervosa, adolescents, COVID-19, review, guidelines, and primary care. Applicable articles were reviewed, with key recommendations summarized. Most evidence is level I. MAIN MESSAGE: Recent studies suggest that the global COVID-19 pandemic contributed to an increase in the incidence of eating disorders, particularly among teenagers. This has resulted in increasing responsibility for primary care providers regarding the assessment, diagnosis, and management of these disorders. Moreover, primary care providers are in ideal positions to identify adolescents at risk of eating disorders. Early intervention is of utmost importance for avoiding long-term health consequences. High rates of atypical anorexia nervosa indicate a need for providers to have awareness of weight biases and stigmas. Treatment primarily involves a combination of renourishment and psychotherapy, generally through family-based therapy, with pharmacotherapy playing a lesser role. CONCLUSION: Anorexia nervosa and atypical anorexia nervosa are serious, potentially life-threatening illnesses that are best addressed through early detection and treatment. Family physicians are in an optimal position to screen for, diagnose, and treat these illnesses.

Prevalence and Subtype Distribution of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Among Women Presenting for Cervical Cancer Screening at Karanda Mission Hospital.

PURPOSE: High-risk human papillomaviruses (hrHPV) are the primary cause of cervical cancer. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is expected to prevent cervical cancers caused by the HPV types included in vaccines and possibly by cross-protection from other types. This study sought to determine the hrHPV type distribution in women at a rural Zimbabwe hospital. METHODS: We implemented a cross-sectional study at the Karanda Mission Hospital. Using the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid Cervicography technique, clinicians collected cervical swabs from 400 women presenting for screening for cervical cancer. Samples were initially analyzed by Cepheid GeneXpert; candidate hrHPV genotypes were further characterized using the Anyplex II HPV28 Detection Kit. RESULTS: Twenty-one percent of the 400 women were positive for a high-risk genotype when using the GeneXpert analyzer; 17% were positive when using the multiplex analysis. Almost two thirds of the hrHPV women had a single DNA type identified, whereas one third had multiple genotypes, ranging from 2 to 5. hrHPV was observed more frequently in HIV-positive than in HIV-negative women (27% v 15%). Of the 113 isolates obtained, 77% were hrHPV genotypes not included in the bivalent or quadrivalent vaccines, and 47% represented DNA types not covered in the nonavalent vaccine. Forty-seven percent of the women with hrHPV harbored a single genotype that was not covered by the nonavalent vaccine. CONCLUSION: A large fraction of hrHPV isolates from women participating in a cervical cancer screening program in northern Zimbabwe are DNA types not covered by the bivalent, quadrivalent, or nonavalent vaccines. These findings suggest the importance of characterizing the hrHPV DNA types isolated from cervical neoplasia in this population and determining whether cross-immunization against these genotypes develops after administration of the vaccines in current use.