Publications

PURPOSE: Medical educators have increasingly focused on the systemic effects of racism on health inequities in the United States (U.S.) and globally. There is a call for educators to teach students how to actively promote an anti-racist culture in healthcare. This scoping review assesses the existing undergraduate medical education (UME) literature of anti-racism curricula, implementation, and assessment.

METHODS: The Ovid, Embase, ERIC, Web of Science, and MedEdPORTAL databases were queried on 7 April 2023. Keywords included anti-racism, medical education, and assessment. Inclusion criteria consisted of any UME anti-racism publication. Non-English articles with no UME anti-racism curriculum were excluded. Two independent reviewers screened the abstracts, followed by full-text appraisal. Data was extracted using a predetermined framework based on Kirkpatrick's educational outcomes model, Miller's pyramid for assessing clinical competence, and Sotto-Santiago's theoretical framework for anti-racism curricula. Study characteristics and anti-racism curriculum components (instructional design, assessment, outcomes) were collected and synthesized.

RESULTS: In total, 1064 articles were screened. Of these, 20 met the inclusion criteria, with 90% (n = 18) published in the past five years. Learners ranged from first-year to fourth-year medical students. Study designs included pre- and post-test evaluations (n = 10; 50%), post-test evaluations only (n = 7; 35%), and qualitative assessments (n = 3; 15%). Educational interventions included lectures (n = 10, 50%), multimedia (n = 6, 30%), small-group case discussions (n = 15, 75%), large-group discussions (n = 5, 25%), and reflections (n = 5, 25%). Evaluation tools for these curricula included surveys (n = 18; 90%), focus groups (n = 4; 20%), and direct observations (n = 1; 5%).

CONCLUSIONS: Our scoping review highlights the growing attention to anti-racism in UME curricula. We identified a gap in published assessments of behavior change in applying knowledge and skills to anti-racist action in UME training. We also provide considerations for developing UME anti-racism curricula. These include explicitly naming and defining anti-racism as well as incorporating longitudinal learning opportunities and assessments.

While US health systems are implementing language proficiency assessments to verify skills needed to ensure meaningful language access for patients, there is no consensus on best practices for multilingual medical students who want to demonstrate language proficiency for direct patient care. Many medical students who report non-English language skills face challenges navigating when and how to appropriately use those skills in clinical interactions. We used a modified Delphi process to seek consensus from an expert panel through the National Association of Medical Spanish (NAMS) for a Qualified Multilingual Assessment (QMA) policy for medical students. The survey included five topics related to QMA logistics and five topics related to QMA implementation guidance for clinical affiliates: QMA purpose, language access standards, responsibilities of supervising physicians, guarding against implicit bias, and monitoring learning opportunities. We set 80% as the threshold for consensus and revised topics that yielded <80% consensus. We circulated the revised topics in a second survey to establish consensus. Following two rounds of surveys among expert stakeholders, we reached consensus across all topics, yielding a first-of-its-kind QMA policy that administrators may adapt for clinical learning environments and institutions with health professional trainees. This policy includes key QMA policy recommendations for medical students: selecting a QMA, QMA logistics, and QMA implementation guidance for clinical affiliates.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in pregnant women can lead to pyelonephritis and preterm birth. We assessed UTI prevalence, etiology, antimicrobial resistance, and associated risk factors among pregnant women receiving antenatal care in rural Amhara, Ethiopia. 604 pregnant women were screened for UTI at ≤ 24 weeks gestational age from August 2020 to June 2022. Urine culture, dipstick, and antibiotic sensitivity testing were completed. We conducted descriptive statistics for prevalence and logistic regression to examine UTI risk factors. UTI prevalence was 3.5% (21/604, 95%CI = 2.0%-4.9%), among which 43% were symptomatic and 57% were asymptomatic. Common uropathogens were Escherichia coli (57.1%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (14.3%), and Enterococcus faecalis (14.3%). Among all isolates, resistance was high for ampicillin (66.7%) and amoxicillin-clavulanate (40.0%). The majority of isolates (76.2%) were susceptible to nitrofurantoin, cotrimoxazole, and cefpodoxime. Maternal age > 20 years was a protective factor against UTI (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.10-0.77; ref < 20 years). Urine dipstick (nitrite or leukocyte esterase) had low sensitivity (37.5%) but higher specificity (93.9%) to identify positive culture. This study emphasizes the high resistance to first-line antibiotics used in pregnancy and the need for accurate, low-cost UTI screening methods in LMICs.

IMPORTANCE: Despite the importance of patient trust in health care, there are no patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for trust in their clinician that have been developed empirically in Spanish, which is the second most common language in the US.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a Spanish-language PROM for trust in pregnancy care clinician.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study used a national online panel of patients who reported a Spanish language preference and had limited English proficiency and were currently pregnant or had given birth within the 12 months before the survey. Participants resided in the United States, and data were collected from January to May 2024.

EXPOSURES: Participants had clinical interactions during pregnancy and/or postpartum care. Data collected included demographics, Confianza (Trust) Scale candidate items, and 4 measures for concurrent validity evidence: the Trust in Physician Scale (TPS), the Mothers on Respect Index, the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global 10.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The main outcomes were psychometric properties of the Confianza scale and its association with validated scales (validity coefficients). Item response theory (IRT) analyses were conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties of the candidate items, select the best item subset for the Confianza scale, examine its correlation with other measures, and compare scores according to demographic characteristics.

RESULTS: Of the included 204 participants (mean [SD] age, 26 [7] years; 62 participants from South America [30%]; 32 participants from Mexico [16%]), 117 participants were pregnant (57%), and 87 were within 1-year post partum (43%) at the time of survey completion. Four items were removed based on exploratory factor analysis. Using results from IRT analysis on the remaining 12 items, 5 items were selected to represent communication, caring, competency, accompaniment, and overall trust for the final measure. The 5-item Confianza scale had high measurement precision, with reliability above 0.90 across a wide range of the trust continuum. The Confianza scale (mean [SD] score, 21.5 [4.6] out of 25) was positively correlated with the TPS (r = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.57; P < .001) and negatively correlated with the EPDS (r = -0.41; 95% CI, -0.52 to -0.29; P <.001). Higher trust scores were obtained when there was language concordance with clinicians (mean [SD], 23.6 [2.3] vs 20.0 [5.3]; P < .001) and care continuity (mean [SD], 22.3 [3.8] vs 20.9 [5.3]; P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cross-sectional study of pregnant and postpartum Spanish-speaking individuals, a Spanish-language PROM for trust in pregnancy care clinician had initial validity.

BACKGROUND: The intrapartum period is critical for reducing maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The WHO's Safe Childbirth Checklist (SCC) was designed as a reminder of the most critical, evidence-based practices (EBPs) to improve quality care and reduce preventable complications and deaths.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of SCC on birth attendant behavior and maternal and newborn health outcomes.

SEARCH STRATEGY: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed searching across five databases from 2009 to 2023.

SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and pre/post studies.

DATA ANALYSIS: A meta-analysis yielded a pooled estimate of relative risk (RR) for adherence to and effectiveness of the SCC.

MAIN RESULTS: Of 1070 articles identified, 16 were included. Use of the SCC increased adherence to EBPs by 65% (RR 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34-2.02). The behaviors that improved the most were danger sign counseling (RR 12.37; 95% CI 1.95-78.52; P = 0.008) and pre-eclampsia management (RR 3.43; 95% CI 1.33-8.88; P = 0.011). There was moderate evidence for stillbirth reduction (RR 0.89; 95% CI 0.80-0.99; P = 0.034).

CONCLUSION: There is moderate evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of the SCC in reducing stillbirths and improving adherence to EBPs.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.102964.].

OBJECTIVE: To examine racial inequities in low-risk and high-risk (or "medically appropriate") cesarean delivery rates in New Jersey during the era surrounding the United States cesarean surge and peak.

STUDY SETTING AND DESIGN: This retrospective repeated cross-sectional study examined the universe of childbirth hospitalizations in New Jersey from January 1, 2000 through September 30, 2015. We estimate the likelihood of cesarean delivery by maternal race and ethnicity, with mixed-level logistic regression models, stratified by cesarean risk level designated by the Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine (SMFM).

DATA SOURCES AND ANALYTIC SAMPLE: We used all-payer hospital discharge data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's State Inpatient Discharge Database and linked this data to the American Hospital Association Annual Survey. ZIP-code Tabulation Area (ZCTA)-level racialized economic segregation index data were from the 2007-2011 American Community Survey. We identified 1,604,976 statewide childbirth hospitalizations using International Classification of Diseases-9-CM (ICD-9) diagnosis and procedure codes and Diagnosis-Related Group codes, and created an indicator of cesarean delivery using ICD-9 codes.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Among low-risk deliveries, Black patients, particularly those in the age group of 35-39 years, had higher predicted probabilities of giving birth via cesarean than White people in the same age categories (Black-adjusted predicted probability = 24.0%; vs. White-adjusted predicted probability = 17.3%). Among high-risk deliveries, Black patients aged 35 to 39 years had a lower predicted probability (by 2.7 percentage points) of giving birth via cesarean compared with their White counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS: This study uncovered a lack of medically appropriate cesarean delivery for Black patients, with low-risk Black patients at higher odds of cesarean delivery and high-risk Black patients at lower odds of cesarean than their White counterparts. The significant Black-White inequities highlight the need to address misalignment of evidence-based cesarean delivery practice in the efforts to improve maternal health equity. Quality metrics that track whether cesareans are provided when medically needed may contribute to clinical and policy efforts to prevent disproportionate maternal morbidity and mortality among Black patients.

RATIONALE: Despite World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for preventing, detecting, and treating postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), effective implementation has lagged.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical benefits and harms of implementation strategies used to promote adherence to WHO clinical guidelines for the prevention, detection, and treatment of PPH.

SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and two trial registries, along with reference checking, citation searching, and contact with study authors. The latest search date was 25 April 2024.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), including cluster, pragmatic, and stepped-wedge designs, and non-randomized studies of interventions (NRSIs), including interrupted time series (ITS) studies, controlled before-after (CBA) studies, and follow-up (cohort) studies containing concurrent controls that focused on or described implementation strategies of WHO guidelines for the prevention, detection, and treatment of PPH. Participants were birth attendants and people giving birth in a hospital or healthcare facility. We excluded studies that did not implement a WHO PPH recommendation, had no comparator group, or did not report clinical/implementation outcomes.

OUTCOMES: Our critical outcomes were: adherence to WHO-recommended guidelines for PPH prevention, detection, and treatment; PPH ≥ 500 mL; PPH ≥ 1000 mL; additional uterotonics within 24 hours after birth; blood transfusions; maternal death; severe morbidities (major surgery; admission to intensive care unit [ICU]); and adverse effects (variable and related to the clinical intervention) during hospitalization for birth. Our important outcomes were: breastfeeding at discharge; implementation outcomes such as acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, feasibility, fidelity, implementation cost, penetration, and sustainability of the implementation strategy; and health professional outcomes such as knowledge and skill.

RISK OF BIAS: We used the RoB 2 and ROBINS-I tools to assess risk of bias in RCTs and NRSIs, respectively.

SYNTHESIS METHODS: Two review authors independently selected studies, performed data extraction, and assessed risk of bias and trustworthiness. Due to the nature of the data, we reported relevant results for each comparison and outcome but did not attempt quantitative synthesis. We used GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence.

INCLUDED STUDIES: We included 13 studies (9 cluster-RCTs and 4 NRSIs) with a total of 1,027,273 births and more than 4373 birth attendants. The included studies were conducted in 17 different countries. Most trials were conducted in resource-limited settings. None of the included studies reported data on the use of additional uterotonics within 24 hours after birth or adverse effects.

SYNTHESIS OF RESULTS: Single-component implementation strategies versus usual care for PPH prevention, detection, and treatment We do not know if single-component implementation strategies have any effect on adherence to WHO PPH prevention recommendations, PPH ≥ 500 mL, PPH ≥ 1000 mL, or blood transfusion (very low-certainty evidence). Low-certainty evidence suggests that single-component implementation strategies may have little to no effect on maternal death (86,788 births, 3 trials); may increase severe morbidity related to ICU admission (26,985 births, 1 trial); and may reduce severe morbidity related to surgical outcomes (26,985 births, 1 trial). No trials in this comparison measured the effect on adherence to WHO treatment guidelines. Multicomponent implementation strategies versus usual care for PPH prevention, detection, and treatment We do not know if multicomponent implementation strategies have any effect on adherence to WHO PPH treatment recommendations, PPH ≥ 500 mL, blood transfusion, or severe morbidity relating to surgical outcomes (very low-certainty evidence). Multicomponent implementation strategies may have little to no effect on maternal death (274,008 births, 2 trials; low-certainty evidence) compared to usual care. No trials in this comparison measured the effect on adherence to WHO PPH prevention recommendations, PPH ≥ 1000 mL, or severe morbidity (outcomes related to ICU admission). Multicomponent implementation strategies versus enhanced usual care for PPH prevention, detection, and treatment Low-certainty evidence suggests that multicomponent implementation strategies may improve adherence to WHO PPH prevention recommendations (14,718 births, 2 trials) and adherence to WHO PPH treatment recommendations (356,913 births, 2 trials) compared to enhanced usual care. Multicomponent implementation strategies probably have little to no effect on maternal death (224,850 births, 2 trials; moderate-certainty evidence), severe morbidity related to ICU admission (224,850 births, 2 trials; moderate-certainty evidence), and surgical morbidity (210,132 births, 1 trial; moderate-certainty evidence) compared to enhanced usual care. We do not know if multicomponent implementation strategies affect PPH ≥ 500 mL, PPH ≥ 1000 mL, or blood transfusion (very low-certainty evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Multicomponent implementation strategies may improve adherence to WHO PPH prevention and treatment recommendations, but they probably result in little to no difference in ICU admissions, surgical morbidity, or maternal death. The majority of available evidence is of low to very low certainty, thus we cannot draw any robust conclusions on the effects of implementation strategies for WHO guidelines to prevent, detect, and treat PPH. While all included studies used the implementation strategy of 'train and educate,' the effects seem to be limited when used as a single strategy. Additional research using pragmatic, hybrid effectiveness-implementation study designs that measure implementation outcomes simultaneously alongside clinical outcomes would be beneficial to understand contextual factors, barriers, and facilitators that affect implementation.

FUNDING: This Cochrane review had no dedicated external funding. Dr Rose Molina, who is employed by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, received funding from Ariadne Labs (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital) for her time. As a funder, Ariadne Labs had no involvement in the development of the protocol or conduct of the review. The views and opinions expressed therein are those of the review authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Ariadne Labs.

REGISTRATION: Registration: PROSPERO (CRD42024563802) available via https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024563802.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the association between restricted abortion access and maternal and infant health by maternal nativity (whether they were born in the US).

DESIGN: Observational population-based retrospective cohort study.

SETTING: United States.

POPULATION: All births (N = 33 663 837) in the United States from 2011 to 2019.

METHODS: We use Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Period Linked Birth/Infant Deaths datafiles, with a dataset of state-level abortion restrictions (Targeted Restrictions on Abortion Providers (TRAP) laws) to estimate the association between restricted abortion access and maternal and infant health by maternal nativity. We examine restricted abortion access and maternal nativity in a triple-differences framework.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: The primary outcome we examine is maternal morbidity (defined by the CDC as any delivery involving third- or fourth- degree perineal laceration, ruptured uterus, unplanned hysterectomy, or maternal admission to intensive care). We also explore several secondary factors associated with maternal and infant health (birth interval, birth weight, receiving care in the first trimester, and gestational age at birth).

RESULTS: While we find no impact of TRAP laws on non-immigrants, foreign-born individuals in states with TRAP laws have 15% higher odds of maternal morbidity (aOR = 1.15; CI = 1.00-1.31) compared to US-born individuals in states without TRAP laws.

CONCLUSIONS: Anti-abortion legislation can worsen existing inequalities in maternal and infant health. These findings underscore the urgent need for policies that ensure equitable access to reproductive healthcare for immigrant populations.