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Objective: College students' psychological health has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., 1). We investigated whether students' psychological health was related to their orientation toward the future and mindfulness while considering previously-identified correlates of psychological health such as perceived risks of COVID-19. Participants: Participants were 278 college students at a mid-Atlantic US university in November and December 2020. Method: Using a self-report survey, we measured three aspects of psychological health (depression, anxiety, and stress) and future orientation, mindfulness, perceptions of risk, and the personal impact of COVID-19 on students' lives. Results: Multiple linear regression analyses showed that greater mindfulness and focusing less on a limited future were related to less depression, anxiety, and stress. Conclusions: Encouraging students to be mindful and focus on the present instead of focusing on a limited future may be beneficial for their psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to dramatic changes in way of life for people across the globe. One of the most common disruptions to everyday life has been the prolonged closure of schools, in-person school in particular. This article presents research examining the consequences of the pandemic on the reading skills of first- through sixth-grade students across the United States. Using a large, nationally representative sample (total N > 950,000), we compared reading scores from the fall assessment period of the 2020–2021 school year to the 2019–2020 school year. We found substantial declines in reading skills in fall 2020 compared with previous years, even accounting for preexisting differences in performance. Limitations to the study include potential confounding variables and the necessity of using a quasi-experimental design. Implications of this decline in reading skills are discussed, as well as some ways educators can attempt to address these declines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the devastating impacts of droughts, the United States lacks a national drought plan. This leaves states to address droughts in water, hazard, and stand-alone plans which are designed to reduce drought vulnerability and to prepare government, industry, and society to cope with the impacts. Yet, there is limited empirical research that evaluates the comprehensiveness of these plans, specifically in terms of whether they include preparedness and mitigation measures or triggers for action and response. To fill this gap, this study's first aim was to establish an evaluation framework based on principles from the drought mitigation literature. The study then evaluated 171 state-level plans with the framework, and simultaneously collected interview data to contextualize the results. In a final step, the scores were employed in a statistical analysis of whether states with higher physical exposure to drought have more comprehensive planning. The study finds states that have experienced more frequent and severe drought plan more comprehensively, suggesting that the occurrence of drought may be an intrinsic driver for planning. The study concludes that planning and preparing for droughts is a necessary but complex undertaking requiring interdisciplinary, interagency efforts that the U.S.' decentralized, federalist political system is suited to address. If generalization is warranted, the results suggest that the physical occurrence of drought can act as a policy catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tonsillitis, or inflammation of the tonsils, makes up approximately 0.4% of outpatient visits in the United States. Tonsillitis is caused by a viral infection in 70% to 95% of cases. However, bacterial infections caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes) account for tonsillitis in 5% to 15% of adults and 15% to 30% of patients five to 15 years of age. It is important to differentiate group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus from other bacterial or viral causes of pharyngitis and tonsillitis because of the risk of progression to more systemic complications such as abscess, acute glomerulonephritis, rheumatic fever, and scarlet fever after infection with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus. A variety of diagnostic tools are available, including symptom-based validated scoring systems (e.g., Centor score), and oropharyngeal and serum laboratory testing. Treatment is focused on supportive care, and if group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus is identified, penicillin should be used as the first-line antibiotic. In cases of recurrent tonsillitis, watchful waiting is strongly recommended if there have been less than seven episodes in the past year, less than five episodes per year for the past two years, or less than three episodes per year for the past three years. Tonsilloliths, or tonsil stones, are managed expectantly, and small tonsilloliths are common clinical findings. Rarely, surgical intervention is required if they become too large to pass on their own. (Am Fam Physician. 2023; 107(1):35–41. Copyright © 2023 American Academy of Family Physicians.) Tonsillitis, or inflammation of the tonsils, makes up approximately 0.4% of outpatient visits in the United States. Tonsillitis is caused by a viral infection in 70% to 95% of cases. However, bacterial infections caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes) account for tonsillitis in 5% to 15% of adults and 15% to 30% of patients five to 15 years of age. It is important to differentiate group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus from other bacterial or viral causes of pharyngitis and tonsillitis because of the risk of progression to more systemic complications such as abscess, acute glomerulonephritis, rheumatic fever, and scarlet fever after infection with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus. A variety of diagnostic tools are available, including symptom-based validated scoring systems (e.g., Centor score), and oropharyngeal and serum laboratory testing. Treatment is focused on supportive care, and if group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus is identified, penicillin should be used as the first-line antibiotic. In cases of recurrent tonsillitis, watchful waiting is strongly recommended if there have been less than seven episodes in the past year, less than five episodes per year for the past two years, or less than three episodes per year for the past three years. Tonsilloliths, or tonsil stones, are managed expectantly, and small tonsilloliths are common clinical findings. Rarely, surgical intervention is required if they become too large to pass on their own. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

West Nile virus (WNV) is a globally distributed mosquito-borne virus of great public health concern. The number of WNV human cases and mosquito infection patterns vary in space and time. Many statistical models have been developed to understand and predict WNV geographic and temporal dynamics. However, these modeling efforts have been disjointed with little model comparison and inconsistent validation. In this paper, we describe a framework to unify and standardize WNV modeling efforts nationwide. WNV risk, detection, or warning models for this review were solicited from active research groups working in different regions of the United States. A total of 13 models were selected and described. The spatial and temporal scales of each model were compared to guide the timing and the locations for mosquito and virus surveillance, to support mosquito vector control decisions, and to assist in conducting public health outreach campaigns at multiple scales of decision-making. Our overarching goal is to bridge the existing gap between model development, which is usually conducted as an academic exercise, and practical model applications, which occur at state, tribal, local, or territorial public health and mosquito control agency levels. The proposed model assessment and comparison framework helps clarify the value of individual models for decision-making and identifies the appropriate temporal and spatial scope of each model. This qualitative evaluation clearly identifies gaps in linking models to applied decisions and sets the stage for a quantitative comparison of models. Specifically, whereas many coarse-grained models (county resolution or greater) have been developed, the greatest need is for fine-grained, short-term planning models (m–km, days–weeks) that remain scarce. We further recommend quantifying the value of information for each decision to identify decisions that would benefit most from model input. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM), a weekly map depicting severity and spatial extent of drought, is used to communicate about drought in state and federal decision-making, and as a trigger in response policies, including the distribution of hundreds of millions of dollars for agricultural financial relief in the United States annually. An accompanying classification table helps interpret the map and includes a column of possible impacts associated with each level of drought severity. However, the column describing potential drought impacts is generalized for the entire United States. To provide more geographically specific interpretation of drought, state and regionally specific drought impact classification tables were developed by linking impacts chronicled in the Drought Impact Reporter (DIR) to USDM severity levels across the United States and Puerto Rico and identifying recurrent themes at each level. After creating state-level tables of impacts observed for each level of drought, a nationwide survey was administered to drought experts and decision-makers (n = 89), including the USDM authors, to understand whether the tables provided accurate descriptions of drought impacts in their state. Seventy-six percent of respondents indicated the state table was an acceptable or good characterization of drought impacts for their respective state. This classification scheme was created with a reproducible qualitative methodology that used past observations to identify themes in drought impacts across multiple sectors to concisely describe expected impacts at different levels of drought in each state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do states learn from other states through venues other than the legislative enactment of new policies? This article demonstrates that two-way learning can occur through alternative venues: (1) legislators can adjust the budget of similar state policies to mirror other states' policies and (2) bureaucrats can learn from other states' policies and incorporate that learning through non-legislative state action, such as standards. Using an original forty-three state, thirteen-year dataset, I find that elected officials can learn from nearby states' policies and adjust other policies to mirror those states through the budget process. Using an additional and original forty-three state, nineteen-year dataset, I also find the bureaucrats can learn from other states' policies and incorporate that learning into the development of their own standards. This article assesses how states learn from other states through venues other than legislative enactment of new, diffusing legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses some of the programs and accomplishments of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) as of September 15, 2019. Topics covered include the partnership between ASHP state affiliates and Practice Advancement Initiative (PAI) to help drive practice change at a local level, development of PAI 2030 to update the initiative, and ASHP's partnership with scientific publisher Oxford University Press.

Background: Communication and resolution programs have emerged as central to organizational responses to serious patient harm events, with demonstrated evidence of patient safety and medicolegal outcome improvements within a handful of healthcare systems. Hospitals, including those with open medical staffs, have struggled implementing communication and resolution programs, particularly around the components supporting resolution. Here, we describe our lessons learned early after implementing the resolution ("R") component of Communication and Optimal Resolution, a comprehensive contemporary communication and resolution program at MedStar Health, a large community health system in the United States. Context: MedStar Health is a regional healthcare system with 10 hospitals, 250 ambulatory care delivery sites, and 20 diversified businesses in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. MedStar Health initiated Communication and Optimal Resolution implementation in 2015. Approach: Our approach to resolution following patient harm yielded seven strategies supporting our resolution process. These included infrastructure and processes to (i) provide immediate support to patients and families, (ii) hold and waive bills, (iii) activate event review processes early to inform resolution, (iv) embrace a paradigm shift in legally defensible cases, (v) develop a communication and resolution program legal community, (vi) accept sacrifices with a principled resolution, and (vii) commit to address challenges with open medical staffs. Summary: The resolution process in response to serious patient harm is complex. Our early experience in implementing the "R" of Communication and Optimal Resolution required enhanced infrastructure, embracing the clinician, legal, and insurance communities and instructing them in the principles of communication and resolution program, and a strong organizational commitment to "doing the right thing" for patients and families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the inaugural address of incoming American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) president Kelly M. Smith delivered at the ASHP Summer Meetings held in Denver, Colorado on June 5, 2018. Topics of the speech included the value of connectivity, the idea of being all in the profession, and collaborating, sharing, working together, and supporting one another in caring for a diverse population.

An introduction is presented in which the editors discuss various reports within the issue on topics including the statewide reform in community colleges in the U.S., how to increase student success in remedial courses, and the Senate Bill 1720 in Florida.

The most effective point of intervention to prevent unnecessary arrest/incarceration of persons with serious mental illnesses is the initial encounter with police. We piloted a new police-mental health linkage system. When officers run an enrolled participant's name/identifiers, they receive an electronic message that the person has mental health considerations and that they should call for information. The linkage specialist receives the call and assists telephonically. In this qualitative study to examine acceptability of the linkage system, we conducted nine focus groups with diverse stakeholders (e.g., enrolled patients, officers). Focus groups revealed that patients enrolled with the hope that the linkage system would prevent negative interactions with police and minimize risk of arrest. Officers reported preferring not to arrest mental health patients and were genuinely invested in helping them, and felt that the linkage system might be an additional tool during encounters. Findings revealed acceptability of the intervention, and further research is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated associations between gender segregation and the two traditions of gender identity identified by Wood and Eagly (2015): gender-typed personality traits and gender reference group identity. We also investigated whether one of these traditions was associated with gender segregation to a greater extent than the other. Our sample consisted of 73 male (and 93 female undergraduate students aged 18-24 attending a university in the northeastern United States of America. In support of our hypotheses we found that male and female college students reported a greater proportion of same-gender than cross-gender friends and that gender segregation was negatively associated with femininity for male college students and positively associated with gender reference group identity for male and female college students. In addition, as hypothesized, we found that gender reference group identity was associated with gender segregation to a greater extent than gender-typed personality traits. That gender segregation is associated with gender reference group identity to a greater extent than gender-typed personality traits supports a multifaceted model of gender, and it highlights the importance of considering different traditions of gender identity in gender research (Mehta 2015; Wood and Eagly 2015). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court's in the court case 'Brown v. Board of Education" on laws concerning racial advancement. Topics discussed include constitutional protections against discrimination; racial dynamics of American society; African Americans equality interest in post-civil rights America; the Court decision in the case "Dred Scott v. Sandford;" and enactment of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act in the country.

New approaches for preventing repeated inpatient psychiatric stays, detention in jails and prisons, and homelessness among individuals with serious mental illnesses with established histories of such recidivism, while promoting recovery, are direly needed. We present findings from an initial program evaluation of a new community-based, recovery-oriented 'community navigation' program in southeast Georgia, called Opening Doors to Recovery. Twenty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with key stakeholders, program participants, community navigation specialist team members, and referring mental health professionals to identify hopes and strengths, challenges and weaknesses, and recommendations pertaining to the new program. Cited strengths included teamwork and pooling of resources from various partners, as well as the novel recovery-based, community navigation team approach. An initial lack of fidelity processes across teams and an ongoing scarcity of safe and affordable housing were identified as weaknesses, with the latter seen as a liability of the overall mental health and social service systems rather than the program itself. Findings from this evaluation highlight strengths and opportunities of this new community navigation approach, including those related to the involvement of certified peer specialists and multiple community partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The results of a survey assessing the views of pharmacy directors, medical center executives, and pharmacists on the value of residency programs to their institutions are reported. Methods. In a two-phase survey entailing face-to-face interviews and the use of an electronic questionnaire, representatives of the pharmacy departments and executive staffs of eight academic medical centers were asked to rate the impact of pharmacy residency programs in areas such as educational and research innovation, quality-of-care and cost outcomes, and opportunities for revenue generation. Results. Seven hospital administrators, eight directors of pharmacy, 122 pharmacists serving as residency preceptors, and 91 nonpreceptor pharmacists participated in the survey. The survey responses indicated that hospital administrators view pharmacy residency programs as important contributors to their institutions' prestige, academic success, and capacity for delivering educational programs. All directors of pharmacy surveyed were in agreement that the costs associated with conducting a pharmacy residency program are outweighed by the cost savings achieved through resident contributions to patient care and medication error prevention. A large majority (90%) of preceptor pharmacists agreed or strongly agreed that residents help reduce medication errors by educating prescribers and other activities that promote rational medication use; only about half of nonpreceptor pharmacists shared that view, although 65% of nonpreceptors acknowledged the contributions of residents to overall pharmacy department success. Conclusion. All groups of survey respondents viewed residency programs as important assets to their institutions, especially in the areas of institutional prestige, staff recruitment, and professional development and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To characterize the current model of pharmacy services in free clinics, identify the extent to which free clinics serve as training sites for student pharmacists and residents, elucidate pharmacy service gaps in free clinics, and compare results to a 2001 survey. Design: Descriptive, nonexperimental, cross-sectional study. Setting: Free medical clinics in the United States in early 2008. Participants: Clinics registered at www.freeclinicfoundation.org. Intervention: A 26-point questionnaire addressed clinic and pharmacy demographics, pharmacy services, medication storage and distribution processes, and systems management. Survey invitations were sent via postal mail, with responses submitted via hardcopyor online (Survey Monkey). Nonresponders received a second mailing 4 weeks later. Main outcome measures: Characteristics determined by survey responses. Results: 42% of clinics responded (216 of 518). The median annual clinic budget was $145,000, with 1 % to 20% spent on medications. Of responding clinics, 30% had a licensed pharmacy that was staffed on average by 3.4 pharmacist volunteers and 0.1 pharmacist employees. Of the 83.5% (177 of 212) that dispensed drugs, clinics filled 67 prescriptions per day with cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and anti-infective agents as top classes. Pharmacy personnel provided mainly traditional (e.g., distributive) services (61.1%), and 19.3% of clinics trained student pharmacists. Since 2001, the number of clinics (355 vs. 518) and prescriptions dispensed (29 vs. 67 per day) increased but the percentage with a licensed pharmacy (33% vs. 30%) and mean number of pharmacist volunteers/employees (3.8/0.1 vs. 3.4/0.1) remained constant. Conclusion: The model of free clinic pharmacy services is a modified community practice. Pharmacy personnel have the opportunity to expand their roie and pharmacy practice in free clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the career path and the opportunities available to the public health pharmacist in the U.S. In 2006, pharmacists are in demand locally and abroad to provide services to individuals, small groups and institutional systems. In 2003, President George W. Bush has created the Emergency Plan for Relief initiative which focuses on the development of health care programs in 15 countries such as Haiti, Kenya, Ethiopia which gave job opportunities for at least 2 years.

Hernia surgery is typically same-day surgery and can be safely conducted in a developing country. We describe a collaborative effort of the American Hernia Society, the Institute of Latin American Concerns, medical industries, the United States Peace Corps, physicians, surgical residents and nurses from many institutions. During three 5-day periods, we operated on 236 patients and repaired 252 hernias (73% inguinal). In addition, an education day for local physicians was conducted on three occasions and included televised live surgical demonstrations and interactive lectures with question and answer sessions. We suggest this to be a viable public health initiative and demonstrate the role of surgeons in advancing and providing state-of-the-art inguinal hernia surgery to a developing country and its underserved population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) reliance on voluntarily submitted adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports to assist in identifying postmarketing drug safety issues. MedWatch, the safety information and adverse-event reporting program of the FDA, receives 200,000 to 300,000 reports of suspected ADR annually.

In an attempt to improve patient outcomes and control costs, a guide to empiric antimicrobial therapy, including a urinary tract infection (UTI) algorithm, was distributed to hospital physicians at an academic medical center. A retrospective study was conducted to assess the impact of the guide on physician prescribing of empiric antimicrobial therapy for UTIs. Prior to the implementation of the guide, 45% (n=55) of patients with UTIs were treated consistently with the algorithm. Although not statistically significant, consistency increased to 51% (n=45) after implementation of the guide, The initial publication of a guide to empiric antimicrobial therapy did not significantly influence physician prescribing patterns regarding UTIs. Educational sessions at the time of implementation along with reinforcement of the guidelines may further impact prescribing habits and influence algorithm compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine financial and professional benefits to examinees for Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BPS) certification, a web-based survey was developed and sent to all 84 US colleges of pharmacy. Numbers of pharmacy practice faculty and board certified faculty were obtained independently from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Roster and the BPS website. Twenty-six surveys were returned. The proportion of BPS-certified faculty was not statistically significantly related to reimbursement of certification-related expenses. The proportion of BPS-certified faculty was statistically significantly related to increases in salary, but not other recognition factors. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Reports that the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists standard for accreditation of pharmacy residencies has required each residency program director to establish an evaluation process to monitor program effectiveness in the U.S. Assessment of the effectiveness of the residency programs; Collection of data that would describe recent pharmacy resident graduates' career paths and experiences with residency training programs; Number of individuals who have completed their residency training.

Board certification of pharmacists has been a reality in the United Slates since 1976, when the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BPS) was founded. Little has been reported about the effects of board certification of pharmacists, particularly pharmacy practice faculty, since 1992, when the BPS administered its first certification examination. We developed and pretested a survey to describe and measure the effect of BPS certification on the realm of academia as perceived by deans of colleges of pharmacy in the United States. Deans or other appropriate officials at all 84 colleges of pharmacy in the United States were asked to complete and submit this 13-question survey, which was administered through the Web and maintained respondents' anonymity. Officials from 35 of the 84 colleges completed the survey, for a response rate of 42%. No college reported that board certification was a condition for employment. Eight schools (23%) anticipated a certification requirement in the future. The most commonly reimbursed items associated with certification were fees for the American College of Clinical Pharmacy preparatory course and the BPS examination. Twelve schools (34%) provided no reimbursement toward certification. The most common incentive for faculty to obtain certification was consideration in promotion and tenure (66%). We believe that this information will facilitate efforts to gauge the effects of BPS certification on colleges of pharmacy. We also anticipate that it will assist colleges as they attempt to recruit and retain the most qualified faculty members possible, particularly in light of the national pharmacist shortage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pharmacy residency on-call program designed to contribute to residents competence in patient care and to extend the functions of the pharmacy department is described. The program, which was begun at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center in 1984, offers a supportive environment in which the resident is held accountable for pursuing optimal outcomes of drug therapy. The program provides opportunities for the resident to engage in independent decision-making, care for a wide variety of patients, and manage acute illness. On-call services are provided in single 24-hour shifts beginning at 0800 each day. Residents assess and respond to supratherapeutic serum drug concentrations, perform pharmacokinetic monitoring, provide drug information, evaluate patients for specific drug therapy, obtain medication histories for HIV-seropositive patients, and participate in emergency patient management. Residents provide services in the absence of the primary pharmacist on nights, weekends, and holidays and devote a fourhour period to drug distribution. Each pharmacy resident participates in the on-call program, regardless of the chief focus of his or her residency. Residents' activities are documented electronically, and preceptors give feedback via e-mail. The program and its activities have evolved over the years to reflect changes in pharmacy practice. An on-call program for pharmacy residents provides a valuable learning experience while enhancing patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the South Carolina Earth Science Resources Program. Goals and objectives; Partners and sponsors; Project governance; Teacher-participants; Evaluation design; Resource mobilization project; Earth-science-teacher resource agent (ESTRA) development project; Peer education and support project. INSETS: Abstract.;About the authors..

Focuses on "Explicit Criteria for Determining Inappropriate Medication Use in Nursing Home Residents," a guideline for institutional medication use in individuals aged 65 and above published by a multidisciplinary panel led by Mark Beers in the U.S. in 1991. Medication classes included in the criteria that may be used by orthopedists in the management of elderly patients; Other medications commonly used during the postoperative and recovery period; Importance of maintaining a working knowledge on the guidelines to medical professionals.

The article offers the author's insights on the problems in the patient-centered medical care and addressing the perceptions of patients which are usually ignored. Topics mentioned include the voicing of the concerns and speaking up but the patients fear that it will result to poor care or retaliation, the response of health care institutions which are not in real time and immediate, and the suggestion to create an environment that family members and patients feel safe in raising concerns.

Focuses on the GIRLS Science Camp summer camp targeting fifth- and sixth-grade girls. Creation of the project by Webb Schools in Claremont, California; Selection of female high school science scholars to share their love of science with younger campers; Two-tiered mentoring approach to learning; Interaction among campers and teachers.