Important considerations when applying for a postdoctoral fellowship.

Purpose: To examine important decision points that graduates should consider before applying for a postdoctoral fellowship.

Methods: A literature review was performed.

Findings And Conclusions: A synthesis of the present data on the postdoctoral fellowship, eligibility criteria, application process, and important considerations was provided.

Implementing clinical research in the high acuity setting of the emergency department.

Introduction: Clinical research in the emergency department provides supporting evidence needed for the development of practice guidelines, such as door-to-needle and door-to-balloon times for treatment of acute coronary syndromes, and is vital to improvements in patient outcomes. The purpose of this article is to describe barriers and lessons learned in launching a multisite clinical research study of symptoms of acute coronary syndromes in the emergency department.

Methods: Participants included ED and research staff in 4 busy emergency departments in 3 states.

Changing illness perceptions and adherence to dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with stable coronary disease.

Background: Platelet inhibition with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is an important component of medical management in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Dual antiplatelet therapy nonadherence is associated with increased mortality. Little is known about illness perceptions (IPs) surrounding the use of antiplatelet medications and whether they differ in stable CAD patients treated with medical and/or interventional approaches.

Quality improvement in the door-to-balloon times for ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients presenting without chest pain.

Objective: To assess a quality improvement initiative aimed at minimizing door-to-balloon (DTB) times for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients presenting without chest pain.

Background: Timely percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the cornerstone of STEMI care. The absence of chest pain delays PCI.

Psychometric properties of three instruments to measure fatigue with myocardial infarction.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of three questionnaires to measure fatigue with myocardial infarction. The Fatigue Symptom Inventory Interference Scale, Profile of Moods States Fatigue subscale (POMS-F), and Short Form 36 (SF-36) Vitality Scale were completed during hospitalization (n = 116) and 30 days after hospital admission (n = 49). Moderate to strong correlations were found among each of these fatigue scales and between each fatigue scale and measures of other variables to include vigor, depressed mood, anxiety, and physical functioning.

Gender differences in fatigue associated with acute myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Fatigue is a symptom of acute myocardial infarction (AMI); however, few studies have characterized the fatigue associated with AMI in men and women.

Methods: The convenience sample included 88 men and 28 women admitted with a diagnosis of AMI at 6 Midwestern facilities. Data were collected upon hospital admission and 30 days after discharge.

Clinical benefits of drug-eluting stents: results from RAVEL and beyond.

Drug-eluting stents have revolutionized interventional cardiology by incorporating drug and device therapy to reduce rates of restenosis. Early trials have addressed the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents. Recent studies have evaluated the use of drug-eluting stents in high-risk populations that were not initially randomized in the early trials.