Publications by authors named "Gurjeet Shokar"

Context: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening can significantly reduce incidence and mortality; however, screening rates are suboptimal. The lowest rates are among those with no usual source of care and the uninsured.

Objective: We describe the implementation and evaluation of a community-based CRC screening program from 2012 to 2015 designed to increase screening within a predominantly Hispanic US-Mexico border population.

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Breast cancer is the commonest occurring cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among Hispanic women in the USA. Although their overall breast cancer incidence and mortality is lower, incidence rates are rising faster and mortality declines are lower than other groups. It is expected that the breast cancer burden will rise as this population ages and becomes more acculturated.

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Hispanic women residing along the US-Mexico border have the highest cervical cancer incidence rates in the US. Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the major causative agent, but more information is needed about the prevalence and distribution of genital HPV subtypes in this high-risk population. A population-based cross-sectional study of uninsured Hispanic women along the US-Mexico border was conducted and participants had their cervical specimens undergo DNA extraction followed by HPV genotype testing using the Linear Assay from Roche® Diagnostics, to identify 37 genital HPV subtypes.

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Introduction: Fear has been described as potentially important in affecting breast cancer screening completion. Limited information is available on the prevalence and determinants of fear among Mexican American women. This study describes perceived breast cancer fear and its association with personal characteristics and screening behavior among Mexican American women.

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Background: The study purpose was to deliver a diabetes education program under real world conditions and evaluate its effect on diabetes-related clinical, self-management and psychosocial outcomes among Mexican Americans residing along the US/Mexico border.

Methods: A pragmatic study was conducted among adult patients with diabetes in three primary care clinics located along the US/Mexico border. A bilingual culturally tailored diabetes education program incorporating hands-on participatory techniques was delivered in 4 - 8 weekly group sessions.

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Background: There is limited information on physical activity in marginalized older populations like that on the U.S.-Mexico border.

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Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe access and health-related use of the Internet and cell phones, and attitudes toward patient portals among a predominantly Hispanic patient population residing along the U.S.-Mexico border.

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Background: Little is known concerning Hispanic patients' perceptions about the role of the physician in obesity management. This study seeks to describe the perspectives of Hispanic patients toward weight loss, and what they believe their doctor's role should be in the management of obesity.

Methods: A cross-sectional study utilizing semi-structured interviews was conducted in a university-based family medicine clinic.

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Background: Although research suggests that patients prefer a shared decision making (SDM) experience when making healthcare decisions, clinicians do not routinely implement SDM into their practice and training programs are needed. Using a novel case-based strategy, we developed and pilot tested an online educational program to promote shared decision making (SDM) by primary care clinicians.

Methods: A three-phased approach was used: 1) development of a conceptual model of the SDM process; 2) development of an online teaching case utilizing the Design A Case (DAC) authoring template, a well-tested process used to create peer-reviewed web-based clinical cases across all levels of healthcare training; and 3) pilot testing of the case.

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We have developed a telemedicine elective for fourth-year medical students to learn about the delivery of primary care telemedicine. The goals were to expose medical students to telemedicine as a method for delivery of primary care and to reinforce the importance of doctor-patient communication during the health-care encounter. The elective lasted four weeks.

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Background: The role of faculty in academic health care centers is changing rapidly. Identifying and examining personal teaching beliefs and values can help faculty members improve their performance and change the way in which they view their roles as educators.

Description: A structured, 2-h workshop is detailed in this paper.

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Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates remain low, despite widespread recommendations. The study purpose was to ascertain whether lack of CRC screening is attributable to physicians' failure to address CRC screening or to patients' failure to comply with physician recommendation. This relationship was also examined over time.

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Background And Objectives: This study's goal was to determine if completing Web cases improved students' performance on clerkship assessments.

Methods: We compared scores on preceptor evaluations, National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Subject Exam, and a standardized patient (SP)-based exam using ANCOVA for students choosing to complete assigned cases versus students not completing the assignment. We controlled for prior academic performance and clerkship timing using US Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) Step 1 scores and rotation order.

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Background: Web-based methods are increasingly used to educate medical students; several clerkships now use Web-based cases to supplement students' clinical experiences. However, few studies have reported on students' responses to specific features of interactive Web-based cases.

Description: We developed an online template to author Web cases and created eight cases.

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Background And Objectives: The American Board of Family Practice (ABFP) In-training Exam (ITE) is one of the tools used to evaluate both a resident's progress through residency and the program itself. Investigators have examined the ITE's validity and reliability and predictors of resident performance, but no published studies have reported the effects of initiatives to improve residents' performance on the ITE. This study examines the impact of an educational intervention on low-scoring residents' ITE composite scores.

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Roseomonas gilardii is a bacterium that has been indicated as a rare cause of human infections. The case of a patient presenting with cellulitis and bacteremia secondary to R. gilardii is described together with the clinical characteristics of infection with this organism obtained from a review of cases previously reported.

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Background And Objectives: Self-directed learning (SDL) skills are thought to be associated with lifelong learning. This study assessed the degree of readiness for SDL in third-year medical students who participated in a problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum during thefirst 2 years of medical school.

Methods: A total of 182 third-year medical students at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston were given the Self-directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS).

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