Lisa Benz Scott

Social distancing during COVID-19 required that field work training for health profession students be delivered remotely. Little is known about educational outcomes among students who participated in interprofessional education (IPE) using remote delivery during the pandemic. This study examined the IPE learning outcomes among health profession students ( n = 39) from a large suburban academic health sciences center. Students from nursing (BSN), social work (BSW/MSW), public health (MPH), and library information science (MLIS) participated in a team-based IPE service-learning program in public libraries for up to 16 weeks. Students completed the IPEC Competency Self-Assessment tool at pre- and post-program participation, and responded to open-ended questions about their experience post-participation. Paired t -tests were used to compare pre- and post-test scores (both item and domain scores). Thematic analysis was used to analyze open ended responses. Paired t- tests for 30 students showed a statistically significant improvement in IP interactions ( p < .05) and an increase in IP values and ethics. Thematic analysis revealed competency attainment in all four IPEC core competencies as well as another learning outcome: confidence. Results suggest that remote delivery of an IPE program can be effective in achieving IPE learning outcomes.

Background: Public librarians often address patron inquiries regarding health concerns. However, prior research indicates that public librarians may be unprepared to meet the health information requests of patrons.Objective: This study examined the availability of health‐themed courses in American Library Association (ALA) accredited Master of Library and Information Studies/Science (MLIS) programs.Methods: Accredited MLIS programs were identified using the ALA directory. Curricula were reviewed for health content and public librarianship, children's, and young adult concentrations. Descriptive and bivariate analyses assessed the percent of programs that offered various health‐related course content and the differences in availability of such content.Results: Of the 59 accredited MLIS programs, only 35 (59.32%) listed at least one health elective and none listed a required health course. No MLIS programs that had a public library concentration (n = 21) listed a required or elective health course, two programs with a children's concentration (n = 25) listed health course electives, and one program with a young adult concentration (n = 25) listed a health course elective.Conclusion: ALA‐accredited MLIS programs should consider increasing their offerings or requiring health‐related courses to improve the training of public librarians to meet the health information needs of communities.

Cardiovascular disease continues to be among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among men and women globally. However, research suggests that women are significantly underrepresented in cardiac rehabilitation (CR), programmes which are shown to reduce recurrent cardiac events and related premature death. However, sex differences in referral rates have not been systematically and quantitatively reviewed. Hence, the objective of the study was to assess whether a significant sex difference exists. We searched Scopus, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, and The Cochrane Library databases for studies reporting CR referral rates in women and men published between July 2000 and July 2011. Titles and abstracts were screened, and the selected full-text articles were independently screened based on predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Included articles were assessed for quality using STROBE. Of 623 screened articles, 19 observational studies reporting data for 241,613 participants (80,505 women) met the inclusion criteria. In the pooled analysis, women (39.6%) were significantly less likely to be referred to CR compared to men (49.4%; odds ratio 0.68, 95% confidence interval 0.62–0.74). Heterogeneity was considered significant (I²= 90%). There was no change in significant findings when subgroup analyses were conducted, examining fee for service vs. no fee, high-quality studies vs. others, or studies pooled by different study methodologies. CR referral remains low for all patients, but is significantly lower for women than men. Evidence-based interventions to increase referral for all patients, including women, need to be instituted. It is time to ensure broader implementation of these strategies.

PURPOSE: Awareness of and enrollment in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (OCR) following a cardiac event or procedure remain suboptimal. Thus, it is important to identify new approaches to improve these outcomes. The objectives of this study were to identify (1) the contributions of a patient navigation (PN) intervention and other patient characteristics on OCR awareness; and (2) the contributions of OCR awareness and other patient characteristics on OCR enrollment among eligible cardiac patients up to 12 weeks posthospitalization. METHODS: In this randomized controlled study, 181 eligible and consenting patients were assigned to either PN (n = 90) or usual care (UC; n = 91) prior to hospital discharge. Awareness of OCR was assessed by telephone interview at 12 weeks posthospitalization, and OCR enrollment was confirmed by staff at collaborating OCR programs. Of the 181 study participants, 3 died within 1 month of hospital discharge and 147 completed the 12-week telephone interview. RESULTS: Participants in the PN intervention arm were nearly 6 times more likely to have at least some awareness of OCR than UC participants (OR = 5.99; P = .001). Moreover, participants who reported at least some OCR awareness were more than 9 times more likely to enroll in OCR (OR = 9.27, P = .034) and participants who were married were less likely to enroll (P = .031). CONCLUSIONS: Lay health advisors have potential to improve awareness of outpatient rehabilitation services among cardiac patients, which, in turn, can yield greater enrollment rates in a program.

Globally, cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality.¹ Secondary prevention measures, such as outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (OCR), effectively reduce this burden.^2,3 Randomized controlled trials and quantitative reviews demonstrate that OCR programs result in significant reductions in morbidity, mortality, and cost of care compared with usual care. Despite this evidence, referral to and enrollment in OCR is low, averaging 19% in the United States.⁴ It is important to identify new approaches to improve enrollment in OCR because there are limited intervention studies targeting participation among eligible cardiac patients.^2,5,6

Objective. This study assessed the chronic (everyday) stress experiences andcoping strategies among volunteer Emergency Medical Services personnel. Methods. An anonymous, self-report survey using standardized measures of burnout (the Maslach Burnout Inventory) andcoping (the Coping Mechanisms Checklist) was completed by a convenience sample of volunteer Emergency Medical Services personnel serving one of six participating ambulance companies in Suffolk County, New York. Results. Survey responders included 139 of 175 volunteers who were recruited to participate (response rate = 79%). Alarming percentages of participants scored high on emotional exhaustion (92%) anddepersonalization (99%); however, 75% also reported high levels of personal accomplishment. The use of several coping strategies were concerning. Significant differences were found in coping strategies used between genders andnumber of years served; women were more likely to talk with significant others (97% vs. 81.7%, chi-square = 6.849, p < 0.001), whereas men were more likely to indicate that they pick andchoose calls to go on (67% vs. 49%, chi-square = 4.062, p = 0.044). Participants with 6+ years were more likely than those with fewer years to “keep thoughts/feelings to self” (95.6% vs. 81.2%, chi-square = 5.72, p = 0.017) and“engage in risky behaviors” (47.82% vs. 30.43%, chi-square = 3.68, p = 0.055). Approximately half of responders indicted that they do the bare minimum required to stay an active member of their ambulance company (53%). ANOVAs revealed that use of several coping strategies were significantly associated with depersonalization andpersonal accomplishment scores. Conclusion. Gender, years of experience, the types of coping strategies used, andhigh levels of depersonalization andemotional exhaustion must be considered when developing mental health programs for chronic stress among volunteer Emergency Medical Services personnel.