Perceptions of Advocacy in High School Students: A Pilot Study.

Assessing perceptions and attitudes of advocacy in adolescent populations is an important area of research. Previous studies have shown that advocacy programs in high schools are well-received and help promote health advocacy. This pilot study took place at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine Health Leaders Summer Academy hosted by medical students of the Student National Medical Association.

Health Equity in Medicine.

Description Healthcare disparities exist when, due to racial, ethnic, or gender identity differences linked to social, economic or environmental factors, certain populations lack equitable access to quality healthcare and insurance coverage. Such disparities across history carry profound future implications that we have only begun to contemplate as a profession. This special issue of the HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine examines the critical issue of health equity in medicine and how the medical community can advance health equity through inclusive behavior and interactions in clinical and educational settings, and our communities.

Racial disparities in patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the significance of health disparities across populations with older adults and minoritized groups being disproportionately affected. Data during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated higher infection rates, hospitalization rates, morbidity, and potentially greater mortality in Black, Hispanic, and Native Americans compared to Whites.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of de-identified patient data from 178 hospitals across the United States.

Disparities in the Use of Chemical and Physical Restraints in the Emergency Department by Race/Ethnicity.

Background: Restraints are often utilized in the emergency department (ED) to prevent patients from injuring themselves or others while managing their agitation in order to deliver appropriate medical care. Chemical and physical restraints are ordered at the discretion of the medical provider and typically employed after reasonable verbal de-escalation has been attempted. While health inequities and racial bias in medicine and healthcare have been well-established, information on the differences in the selection and use of restraints by race and ethnicity are scarce.