Effect of Student-Run Free Clinics on Family Medicine Match Rates: A Multisite, Regression Discontinuity Study.

Background And Objectives: Student-run free clinics (SRFCs) have been proposed as one educational strategy to increase medical students' interest in primary care careers. We sought to overcome gaps in the literature by investigating the effect of opening an SRFC at different institutions on institution-level match rates into family medicine, the largest source of primary care physicians in the United States.

Methods: We connected a list of SRFCs from primary care clerkship directors and the Society of Student-Run Free Clinics with a database of institution-level match rates into family medicine from 2000 to 2018.

Protocol for the 2023 CERA Department Chair Survey.

Introduction: CERA, the Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance, is a program sponsored by the academic family medicine organizations with the goal of supporting and improving educational research in family medicine. CERA produces surveys of different groups in academic family medicine, including an annual survey of department chairs, and members can apply to add their question sets to these surveys. This article describes the methods and demographics of the 2023 CERA Department Chair Survey.

Health Maintenance for Women of Reproductive Age.

Health maintenance for women of reproductive age includes counseling and screening tests that have been demonstrated to prevent disease and improve health. This article focuses mainly on conditions that are more common in women or have a unique impact on female patients. Family physicians should be familiar with evidence-based recommendations for contraception and preconception care and should consider screening patients for pregnancy intention.

Impact of a Student-Run Free Clinic's Women's Health Program on Perceived Readiness for Clinical Rotations.

Introduction: Women's health is only briefly explored in the preclerkship medical curriculum. Volunteering in student-run free clinics (SRFCs) increases clinical confidence; such service learning could bridge the gap between limited curricular offerings and student desire for exposure to women's health topics. This study aimed to identify weaknesses in the women's health preclerkship curriculum, build an educational intervention, and explore SRFCs as a teaching tool.

Postpartum Care: An Approach to the Fourth Trimester.

The postpartum period, defined as the 12 weeks after delivery, is an important time for a new mother and her family and can be considered a fourth trimester. Outpatient postpartum care should be initiated within three weeks after delivery in person or by phone, and may require multiple contacts with the patient to fully address needs and concerns. A full assessment is recommended within 12 weeks.

Parental Leave Policies and Practices of US Family Medicine Residency Programs.

Background And Objectives: Adequate parental leave policies promote a supportive workplace environment. This study describes how US family medicine (FM) residency program parental leave policies compare to reported leave taken by residents and faculty.

Methods: This is a descriptive study of questions from a 2017 Council of Academic Medicine Educational Research Alliance (CERA) survey of accredited US FM program directors.

The role of rural communities in the recruitment and retention of women physicians.

Rural communities in the United States have a shortage of primary care physicians. Women physicians are more likely than male physicians to choose primary care specialties but less likely to locate in rural areas. With an increasing proportion of women physicians, it is important to understand community characteristics that encourage their recruitment and retention.

Perceptions of Parenting Residents Among Family Medicine Residency Directors.

Background And Objectives: Parenting during residency is increasingly common, and resident parents face unique demands on their time and emotional and cognitive resources. Physicians at all levels of training perceive negative impacts of parenting on career and family life. Surveys of program directors (PDs) in other specialties reveal concern about performance and quality of life of parenting residents.

Vaginitis: Diagnosis and Treatment.

Vaginitis is defined as any condition with symptoms of abnormal vaginal discharge, odor, irritation, itching, or burning. The most common causes of vaginitis are bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and trichomoniasis. Bacterial vaginosis is implicated in 40% to 50% of cases when a cause is identified, with vulvovaginal candidiasis accounting for 20% to 25% and trichomoniasis for 15% to 20% of cases.

Study of a novel curriculum on electronic communication in family medicine residencies.

Electronic communication between physicians and patients is common but can carry risks to users--both patients and physicians. Little is known about electronic communication between physicians and patients and even less about electronic communication during residency. We studied knowledge and practices before and after a controlled test of a novel curriculum teaching e-mail communication with patients using residents and faculty in 16 family medicine residencies in the United States.

Clinical inquiries. What are contraindications to IUDs?

Based on limited evidence, use of intrauterine devices (IUDs) is not contraindicated for women with HIV/AIDS (strength of recommendation [SOR]: C), multiple sexual partners (SOR: C), previous actinomyces colonization (SOR: C), most types of fibroids (SOR: C), or previous ectopic pregnancy (SOR: C). The risk to IUD users of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is similar to women using no contraception (SOR: B). Nulliparous women may experience increased insertion discomfort and higher rates of expulsion (SOR: B).