Martin Durkin

Determining levels of physical activity in attending physicians, resident and fellow physicians and medical students in the USA

Objective Evidence suggests that the level of physical activity of physicians can be correlated directly with physician counselling patterns about this behaviour. Our objective was to determine if medical students, resident and fellow physicians and attending physicians meet the physical activity guidelines set forth by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Methods A representative cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted in June 2009–January 2010 throughout the USA (N=1949). Using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the authors gathered demographical data and information related to physical activity, the level of training, the number of work hours per week, body mass index (BMI), confidence about counselling about physical activity and frequency with which the physical activity is encouraged to his/her patients. Results Based on the 1949 respondents, attending physicians (84.8%) and medical students (84%) were more likely than resident (73.2%) and fellow physicians (67.9%) to meet physical activity guidelines. Conclusion Physicians and medical students engage in more physical activity and tend to have a lower BMI than the general population. Resident and fellow physicians engage in less physical activity than attending physicians and medical students.

Factors that Influence Physicians’ and Medical Students’ Confidence in Counseling Patients About Physical Activity

AbstractLess than half of US adults and two-thirds of US high school students do not meet current US guidelines for physical activity. We examined which factors promoted physicians’ and medical students’ confidence in counseling patients about physical activity. We established an online exercise survey targeting attending physicians, resident and fellow physicians, and medical students to determine their current level of physical activity and confidence in counseling patients about physical activity. We compared their personal level of physical activity with the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines of the US Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS). We administered a survey in 2009 and 2010 that used the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. A total of 1,949 individuals responded to the survey, of whom 1,751 (i.e., 566 attending physicians, 138 fellow physicians, 806 resident physicians, and 215 medical students) were included in this analysis. After adjusting for their BMI, the odds that physicians and medical students who met USDHHS guidelines for vigorous activity would express confidence in their ability to provide exercise counseling were more than twice that of physicians who did not meet these guidelines. Individuals who were overweight were less likely to be confident than those with normal BMI, after adjusting for whether they met the vigorous exercise guidelines. Physicians with obesity were even less likely to express confidence in regards to exercise counseling. We conclude that physicians and medical students who had a normal BMI and met vigorous USDHHS guidelines were more likely to feel confident about counseling their patients about physical activity. Our findings suggest that graduate medical school education should focus on health promotion in their students, as this will likely lead to improved health behaviors in their students’ patient populations.

Comparison of Physical Activity Levels in Physicians and Medical Students with the General Adult Population of the United States

Abstract Objective: Physicians who are physically fit have a higher likelihood of counseling their patients about physical activity. We sought to determine if the amount of physical activity in physicians and medical students differs from the general adult population of the United States and if geographic differences in physical activity levels exist. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to physicians and medical students throughout the United States to determine their level of physical activity according to US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) 2008 guidelines; data were collected from participants from June 2009 through January 2010. Our data set was compared with physical activity data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and we used geographic regions defined by the US Census Bureau. Results: Our survey respondents contained 631 attending physicians, 159 fellow physicians, 897 resident physicians, and 262 medical students. Only 64.5% of the general US adult population meets DHHS guidelines for physical activity, but 78% of the survey participants fulfilled the guidelines. The percentage of US adults who do not engage in leisure-time physical activity is 25.4% compared with 5.8% of survey participants. Survey respondents in the southern region had the lowest physical activity levels and participants in the western region had the highest levels. Conclusion: Physicians and medical students engage in more physical activity than the general US adult population. Regional differences in the general populations physical activity also persisted in physicians and medical students. Therefore, physicians who complete less physical activity may be less likely to encourage patients to engage in physical activity in geographic areas where the adult population is less active.

Diagnostic yield of electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy

Objectives: Peripheral lung nodules (PLNs) are a common and diagnostically challenging finding. Electronavigational bronchoscopy (ENB) is used to increase the diagnostic yield and is considered safe. Multiple factors have been correlated with a better diagnostic yield. We sought to assess the effect of nodule characteristics and prior workup on the diagnostic yield in ENB. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of 98 ENB procedures in a community referral center. Two investigators reviewed patients’ charts and images independently. Multiple logistic regression analyses was used to determine if factors such as bronchus sign, ground glass opacification (GGO), distance from pleura, prior use of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and positron emission tomography (PET) had an impact on the diagnostic yield. Results: We evaluated 98 ENBs performed in 92 patients. Most of the lesions were in the upper lobes. The diagnostic yield was 60%. A PET scan was performed prior to ENB in 47% of cases. EBUS was performed in 24% of cases. Bronchus sign was present in 60% of cases and GGO in only 6% of nodules. The odds ratio for diagnostic yield with a bronchus sign was 1.89 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.83–4.33] and with nodules showing GGO characteristics it was 4.51 (95% CI: 0.51–39.68). Pneumothorax occurred in 6% of cases. Conclusion: In our cohort, diagnostic yield was 60% with a 6% pneumothorax rate. A suggestive trend for the presence of bronchus sign on computed tomography scan, albeit statistically nonsignificant, as a predictor for improved diagnostic yield needs to be validated in a larger cohort.

Histiocytic sarcoma: a population-based analysis of incidence, demographic disparities, and long-term outcomes

TO THE EDITOR: Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is a rare hematopoietic neoplasm derived from non-Langerhans histiocytic cells of the monocyte/macrophage system that is diagnosed using immunohistochemistry markers, such as CD68, lysozyme, CD4, and CD163, on the tissue biopsies.[1][1] HS can occur in

Starting dialysis at eGFR >5 ml/min per1.73 m2: are we barking up the wrong tree?

Although the goal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) for chronic dialysis initiation is currently above 5 ml/min per 1.73 m(2), there is no convincing evidence that patients will benefit from this approach. With close follow-up of advanced chronic kidney disease patients, aiming to start dialysis at an estimated GFR (eGFR) less than 5 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) may result in the avoidance of potentially unnecessary end-of-life dialysis and could result in significant dialysis-free time for a large segment of the worlds future dialysis population.

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial bloodstream infections in patients with indwelling vascular catheters – the role of sickle cell anaemia

Abstract Introduction: Few studies have examined risk factors for nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) bloodstream infections (BSI) involving indwelling vascular catheters (IDVC). Sickle cell anaemia (HbSS/SC) is known to affect several aspects of the immune system leading to relative immune deficiency. The purpose of this retrospective nested case-control study was to determine if HbSS/SC is a risk factor for NTM BSI among individuals with IDVCs. Methods: All NTM IDVC infections (cases) at two tertiary hospitals from 2008 to 2014 were reviewed. Cases were matched 2:1 with controls who had IDVC infections due to organisms other than NTM. Matching criteria included age within 10 years and IDVC infection within three months of index case. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for IDVC infection due to NTM. Results: Nineteen NTM BSIs were identified. Three cases were excluded because they did not have IDVCs at the time their BSI was identified. Sixteen cases of NTM IDVC infection were matched to 32 controls with IDVC infections due to other organisms. The mean age of patients with IDVC infections was 48.5 years and 28 (58%) were male. Compared to the control group those with NTM BSI were more likely to have HbSS/SC 38% (6/16) versus 6% (2/32) (p = .006). Conclusion: IDVCs are a risk factor for NTM BSI. Sickle cell anaemia appears to be a risk factor for IDVC infections due to NTM. This study is limited by the small sample size. A larger study is needed to further investigate the association between HbSS/SC and NTM IDVC infections.

The association between Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Psychiatry as the specialty choice

Objectives The purpose of this pilot study is to examine the association between Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and prospective psychiatry residents. Methods Forty-six American medical schools were contacted and asked to participate in this study. Data were collected and an aggregated list was compiled that included the following information: date of MBTI administration, academic year, MBTI form/version, residency match information and student demographic information. The data includes 835 American medical students who completed the MBTI survey and matched into a residency training program in the United States. All analyses were performed using R 3.1.2. Results The probability of an introvert matching to a psychiatry residency is no different than that of an extravert (p= 0.30). The probability of an intuitive individual matching to a psychiatry residency is no different than that of a sensing type (p=0.20). The probability of a feeling type matching to a psychiatry residency is no different than that of a thinking type (p= 0.50). The probability of a perceiving type matching to a psychiatry residency is no different than that of a judging type (p= 0.60). Conclusions Further analyses may elicit more accurate information regarding the personality profile of prospective psychiatry residents. The improvement in communication, team dynamics, mentor-mentee relationships and reduction in workplace conflicts are possible with the awareness of MBTI personality profiles.

Accuracy of double Maddox rod with induced hypertropia in normal subjects.

Background and Purpose The double Maddox rod is a commonly used instrument to test for cyclotorsion in the clinical setting. This paper assesses the ability of patients without torsional complaint to accurately demonstrate torsional status with varying degrees of induced hypertropia as tested by double Maddox rod. Methods Thirty-seven orthophoric subjects underwent double Maddox rod testing with vertical prism of 3Δ, 10Δ, 16Δ, 20Δ, and 30Δ. Subjective torsion was recorded for each prism diopter. Results Mean subjective torsion was recorded as 0.95°, 1.6°, 1.9°, 2.1°, and 2.2° for 3Δ, 10Δ, 16Δ, 20Δ, and 30Δ, respectively. Torsion increased in a logarithmic manner as modeled by R™ software version 2.15.2. Conclusions The double Maddox rod test as commonly used in clinical practice is both subjective and prone to administrator and subject error. Subjects have more difficulty properly aligning the double Maddox rod as distance between images is increased. It is also possible that recruitment of the oblique muscles during attempted vertical fusion leads to subjective torsion during double Maddox rod testing in otherwise normal participants.

Starting dialysis at eGFR >5|[thinsp]|ml|[sol]|min per1.73|[thinsp]|m2: are we barking up the wrong tree|[quest]|

Although the goal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) for chronic dialysis initiation is currently above 5 ml/min per 1.73 m(2), there is no convincing evidence that patients will benefit from this approach. With close follow-up of advanced chronic kidney disease patients, aiming to start dialysis at an estimated GFR (eGFR) less than 5 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) may result in the avoidance of potentially unnecessary end-of-life dialysis and could result in significant dialysis-free time for a large segment of the worlds future dialysis population.