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The article herein discusses a model of student learning outcomes assessment and communicates methods in analyzing assessment data and interpreting assessment findings. The premise of the learning outcomes assessment model is to promote proficiency in core competencies desired among animal science undergraduates using assessment of programmatic learning goals. Findings revealed greatest intellectual growth for measures of Civic and Global Awareness, with exemplary student performance increasing sixfold. There was no change in student performance for the Responsibility goal, defined as respectful management of animals, their products, and the environment. Whereas, exemplary performance decreased 17 and 13%, respectively for Knowledge Integration and Discipline Impact goals. High achievement in direct measures of Civic and Global Awareness was supported through indirect assessment data. Indirect measures of Responsibility suggested high achievement when assessed through engagement activities and moderate achievement when assessed through employer evaluation; however, direct assessment data suggested that students were more likely to not achieve acceptable performance standards for this goal. Students demonstrated greater proficiency in oral communication compared to written communication and greater proficiency in decision making compared to problem solving measures, with growth measured in all four areas. Collectively, the findings provide context for future academic strategies for student learning success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on HIV medication adherence has relied mainly on quantitative methods. The objective of this study was to explore factors associated with adherence from the HIV-infected patient's perspective. Six focus groups were convened with treatment-experienced HIV-positive individuals. The discussions focused on issues that make it easy or difficult to adhere to HIV regimens. Thirty-five patients participated in the focus groups, which were conducted in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. The mean age was 48; 66% were male; 63% were black; and 40% contracted HIV through heterosexual contact. Six major themes emerged from the data that influenced adherence to medication: regimen complexity/medication features (including number of pills), lifestyle fit, emotional impacts (including worry, anger, stress and anxiety), side effects, medication effectiveness, and communication (including information from friends, physicians, and published sources). The data informed a conceptual framework, illustrating the possible interactions among these themes that can potentially be used by clinicians when discussing HIV treatment options with patients. This is potentially one of the first focus group studies concentrating on HIV medication adherence. The findings highlight specific factors that should be considered when trying to improve adherence and may be helpful in clinical decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective is to assess patient preferences for attributes associated with third agent HIV medications, including fosamprenavir/ritonavir (FPVr), fosamprenavir (FPV), lopinavir/ritonavir (LPVr), atazanavir (ATZ), and efavirenz (EFV). Subjects with HIV were recruited in the US and Germany to complete a computerized adaptive conjoint survey that assessed 13 attributes, including moderate to severe side effects, regimen convenience, drug resistance and efficacy. Literature on the target third-agent HIV drugs was used to identify percentage risk and severity level descriptions for each attribute. The derived preference (utility) weights for each attribute level informed the calculation of relative importance estimates for each attribute and the desirability of combinations of attributes matching the respective target third agents. The analysis included 288 HIV-positive participants (US: 132; Germany: 156), 205 of whom were treatment-experienced and 83 of whom were treatment-naïve. Of the 13 medication attributes evaluated, developing drug resistance, the risk of lipodystrophy, the risk of gastronitestinal side effects (diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting) and regimen convenience had the greatest impact on preferences. The profile based on FPVr was most preferred. Differences in the risk of developing drug resistance, risk of lipodystrophy, risk of gastrointestinal side effects and regimen convenience would likely be most influential in the perceived relative value of a third-agent medication. Physicians may wish to consider these features, especially when discussing HIV treatment options with their patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hospital violence intervention programs (HVIPs) have recently been initiated in trauma centers across the United States. However, violence-related injuries have unique factors and issues that should be addressed in the health care provided in emergency departments., Purpose: This study aimed to characterize the patient population presenting at a level 1 ACS verified trauma center, with a chief complaint of violent trauma, and identify characteristics of patients most at risk for violence-related trauma., Methods: The cross-sectional retrospective study examined patients' electronic health records, at least 18 years, with a diagnosis of blunt or penetrating injury treated by the emergency and trauma team at level 1 ACS verified trauma center in the Midwest., Results: Assault injuries accounted for most of the mechanisms that required treatment at the hospital and disposed to home. Nearly 80% of the population had no documentation of the relationship of the assailant. The average age of the patients was 33 years and black males. Eleven patients were treated in the emergency department twice for a trauma-related injury during the six-month data collection., Conclusion: Injuries from violence require comprehensive care from various healthcare disciplines, similar to managing acute and chronic illnesses. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) guidelines support the development of an HVIP to identify risk factors and treatment plans for any patient exposed to violence. This research demonstrates that HVIPs should provide standardized screening and follow-up care while in the emergency department or immediately following the hospital to reduce the cyclical events.