The Risk of Cross Infection in the Emergency Department: A Simulation Study.

OBJECTIVESThe risk of cross infection in a busy emergency department (ED) is a serious public health concern, especially in times of pandemic threats. We simulated cross infections due to respiratory diseases spread by large droplets using empirical data on contacts (ie, close-proximity interactions of ≤1m) in an ED to quantify risks due to contact and to examine factors with differential risks associated with them.DESIGNProspective study.

Contact networks in the emergency department: Effects of time, environment, patient characteristics, and staff role.

Emergency departments play a critical role in the public health system, particularly in times of pandemic. Infectious patients presenting to emergency departments bring a risk of cross-infection to other patients and staff through close proximity interactions or contacts. To understand factors associated with cross-infection risk, we measured close proximity interactions of emergency department staff and patients by radiofrequency identification in a working emergency department.

Physician practice variation in the pediatric emergency department and its impact on resource use and quality of care.

Objective: To evaluate variation in case-mix adjusted resource use among pediatric emergency department (ED) physicians and its correlation with ED length of stay (LOS) and return rates.

Methods: Resource use patterns at 2 EDs for 36 academic physicians (163,669 patients at ED1) and 45 private physicians (289,199 patients at ED2) from 2003 to 2006 were abstracted for common laboratory tests, imaging studies, intravenous therapy (fluids/antibiotics), LOS and 72-hour return rate for discharged patients, and hospital admissions for all patients. Case-mix adjustment was based on triage acuity, diagnostic category, demographics, and temporal measures.

Personal and professional correlates of US medical students' vegetarianism.

Objective: To determine prevalence and correlates of US medical students' self-identification as vegetarians.

Design: Medical students were anonymously surveyed via questionnaire three times: at freshmen orientation, orientation to wards, and during senior year.

Subjects: Medical students in the Class of 2003 (n=1,849) at 15 US medical schools (response rate 80%).

Predictors of nutrition counseling behaviors and attitudes in US medical students.

Background: Nutrition counseling by physicians can improve patients' dietary behaviors and is affected by physicians' nutrition practices and attitudes, such as the perceived relevance of nutrition counseling.

Objective: The objective was to provide data on medical students' perceived relevance of nutrition counseling, reported frequency of nutrition counseling, and frequency of fruit and vegetable intakes.

Design: Students (n = 2316) at 16 US medical schools were surveyed and tracked at freshmen orientation, at the time of orientation to wards, and in their senior year.

Validation of a brief diet survey instrument among medical students.

Our objective was to assess the reproducibility and accuracy of fat and of fruit and vegetable items on a 43-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) previously self-administered by students at 16 US medical schools. Five in-person, 24-hour recalls were administered between two FFQ administrations to 88 medical students. Reported fat intake decreased from the first (34.

Personal health promotion at US medical schools: a quantitative study and qualitative description of deans' and students' perceptions.

Background: Prior literature has shown that physicians with healthy personal habits are more likely to encourage patients to adopt similar habits. However, despite the possibility that promoting medical student health might therefore efficiently improve patient outcomes, no one has studied whether such promotion happens in medical school. We therefore wished to describe both typical and outstanding personal health promotion environments experienced by students in U.

Personal and clinical exercise-related attitudes and behaviors of freshmen U.S. medical students.

To determine personal and clinical exercise-related attitudes and behaviors of freshmen U.S. medical students, we surveyed 1,906 entering freshman medical students (response rate = 87%; average age = 24 years) in 17 U.

Pro bono work and nonmedical volunteerism among U.S. women physicians.

Objective: To determine women physicians' rates of pro bono work and nonmedical volunteerism. We examined data from the Women Physician's Health Study (WPHS), a cross-sectional survey conducted in 1993-1994 of 4501 U.S.

Personal and professional nutrition-related practices of US female physicians.

Background: The extent to which female physicians personally and clinically adhere to dietary recommendations is unknown and has implications for patients.

Objectives: We aimed to identify US female physicians' personal and professional nutrition- and weight-related habits and to identify which, if any, of their personal habits predicted their clinical practices.

Design: Our sample included the 4501 respondents to the Women Physicians' Health Study, a large, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study of the health behaviors and counseling practices of US female physicians.