Disparities in Perioperative Use of Patient Engagement Technologies - Not All Use is Equal.

Objective: To determine the association of patient-level characteristics on the use of a patient engagement technology during the perioperative period.

Summary Of Background Data: As implementation of patient engagement technologies continues to grow, it remains unclear who uses, and not uses, these technologies. Existing literature suggests significant disparities in usage of other technologies by patient age, race, sex, and geographic location, however, have yet to characterize patient usage of patient engagement technologies.

Disparities in Surgical Timing and Guideline-Adherent Staging Work-Up for Colon Cancer.

Background: Expedited or delayed surgery for colon cancer without appropriate work-up increases mortality risk. We sought to identify what patient, social, and hospital factors were associated with timely, guideline-adherent work-up for colon cancer.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 19,046 patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database linked with Medicare administrative claims who underwent elective surgery for colon cancer between 2010 and 2015 was performed.

Characterizing the impact of verbal communication and health literacy in the patient-surgeon encounter.

Background: Patients with limited health literacy (HL) have difficulty understanding written/verbal information. The quality of verbal communication is not well understood. Therefore, our aim was to characterize patient-surgeon conversations and identify opportunities for improvement.

Current Barriers in Robotic Surgery Training for General Surgery Residents.

Objective: To assess the current barriers in robotic surgery training for general surgery residents.

Design: Multi-institutional web-based survey.

Setting: 9 academic medical centers with a general surgery residency.

The association of health literacy and postoperative complications after colorectal surgery: A cohort study.

Background: Health literacy is a determinant of health. Few studies characterize its association with surgical outcomes.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery 2015-2020.

Ileostomy Patients Using Patient Engagement Technology Experience Decreased Length of Stay.

Patients who undergo colorectal surgery, particularly, construction of a new ileostomy, are known to have longer length of stay (LOS) and increased readmissions. With the increased availability of patient engagement technology (PET), we hypothesized that because PET facilitates education before and after surgery, ileostomy patients who used PET would have decreased LOS without increasing readmissions. Variables were obtained from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database for patients undergoing ileostomy construction.

Prevalence, Bias, and Rank List Impact of Illegal Questions in Surgical Specialty Residency Interviews.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to characterize illegal questions as defined by federal law and to assess their impact on applicants' rank lists across four surgical specialties.

Design: A survey was developed and sent to surgical specialty residency applicants. The survey asked demographics, the frequency of questions about age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, family status and impact on final rank list.

Understanding the surgical experience for Black and White patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): The importance of health literacy.

Background: Racial/ethnic disparities in outcomes exist for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) undergoing surgery. The underlying mechanism(s) remain unclear and patient perspectives are needed. We therefore aimed to characterize the surgical experience for Black and White IBD patients using qualitative methods.

Low Health Literacy Exists in the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Population and Is Disproportionately Prevalent in Older African Americans.

Background: Low health literacy is common in general populations, but its prevalence in the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) population is unclear. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of low health literacy in a diverse IBD population and to identify risk factors for low health literacy.

Methods: Adult patients with IBD at a single institution from November 2017 to May 2018 were assessed for health literacy using the Newest Vital Sign (NVS).

Racial disparities exist in surgical outcomes for patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Racial disparities in surgical outcomes exist for Black patients with IBD compared to White patients. However, previous studies fail to include other racial/ethnic populations. We hypothesized these disparities exist for Hispanic and Asian patients.

The impact of an enhanced recovery program (ERP) on the costs of colorectal surgery.

Background: Enhanced Recovery Programs (ERPs) benefit patients but their effects on healthcare costs remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the costs associated with a colorectal ERP in a large academic health system.

Methods: Patients who underwent colorectal surgery from 2012 to 2014 (pre-ERP) and 2015-2017 (ERP) were propensity score matched based on patient and operative-level characteristics.

Understanding the Surgical Experience for African-Americans and Caucasians With Enhanced Recovery.

Introduction: Racial/ethnic disparities in surgical outcomes exist. Enhanced recovery programs (ERPs) have reduced some racial/ethnic disparities, but it remains unclear if disparities in experiences are also reduced. The purpose of this study was to use qualitative methods to better understand the surgical experience for African-American and Caucasian patients in the setting of an ERP.

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors of the Stomach and Esophagus.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) arise anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly as a result of c-kit or PDGFRA proto-oncogene mutations. Surgical resection is an important component of treatment. However, molecular profiling of GISTs has provided many insights into adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy options.

Emotional intelligence in surgery is associated with resident job satisfaction.

Background: Emotional intelligence (EI) has been associated with improved work performance and job satisfaction in several industries. We evaluated whether EI was associated with higher measures of work performance and job satisfaction in surgical residents.

Methods: We distributed the validated Trait EI Questionnaire and job satisfaction survey to all general surgery residents at a single institution in 2015.

miR-335 and miR-363 regulation of neuroblastoma tumorigenesis and metastasis.

Background: microRNA (miRNA) functions broadly as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, and disproportionate miRNAs can result in dysregulation of oncogenes in cancer cells. We have previously shown that gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R) signaling regulates tumorigenicity of neuroblastoma cells. Herein, we sought to characterize miRNA profile in GRP-R silenced neuroblastoma cells, and to determine the role of miRNAs on tumorigenicity and metastatic potential.