Background Physical therapist clinical residency programs vary widely in administrative structure, instructional characteristics, and program design. The impact of program-level factors on resident outcomes such as graduation and board certification is unknown. Objective The objective of this study was to examine the influence of program-level factors on participant outcomes of physical therapist residency programs. Design This was a retrospective cohort study using data from accredited programs from 2010 to 2013. Methods Data were collected on program characteristics such as administrative structure, size, salary, tuition, full- or part-time options, didactic format, and clinical-site structure. The odds ratios were calculated to examine the impact of program characteristics on graduation, board certification, and passing the exam. A logistic regression analysis to determine the combined contribution of these characteristics on the 3 outcomes was performed. Results Data from 183 residency programs and 1589 residents were analyzed. Participants attending programs that were single site or multifacility, provided live didactic instruction, did not charge tuition, and paid residents ≥ 70% full-time equivalent salary were 9.8 times more likely to graduate, 5.1 times more likely to become board certified, and 3.2 times more likely to pass the specialty board examination. Limitations This study did not examine the impact of program location, resident attributes, or resident exposure to patient diagnostic volume and variety. Conclusions This study has identified some program-level factors that appear to influence the odds of graduating, becoming board-certified, and passing the specialty board examination. This information could inform existing and developing residency programs, as well as applicants, on program-level factors that might influence participant outcomes.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refer to physical, cognitive, or affective symptoms that arise in the late luteal phase and remit with menses. The present work is a clinically focused scoping review of the last twenty years of research on treatment for these disorders. A search of key terms using the PubMed/Medline, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science databases was performed, and 194 studies of adult women met initial inclusion criteria for review. Research studies concerning medications, pharmacological and non-pharmacological complementary and alternative medicine treatments, and surgical interventions with the most available evidence were appraised and summarized. The most high-quality evidence can be found for the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and combined oral contraceptives (COCs), with gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and surgical interventions showing efficacy for refractory cases. While there is some evidence of the efficacy of alternative and complementary medicine treatments such as nutraceuticals, acupuncture, and yoga, variability in quality and methods of studies must be taken into account.

Introduction: Prenatal mood and anxiety disorders has been shown to cause significant problems for caregivers, their newborn and children. Despite this widespread issue, only 55% of healthcare providers assess for these symptoms/disorders. Methods: We implemented a program designed to educate Obstetrics & Gynecology resident physicians about the symptoms of prenatal mood and anxiety disorders as well as interventions for validated screening and treatment modalities. Results: A total of 49 residents participated in this training program. This resulted in an improvement in foundational knowledge, notably the recognition of postpartum blues versus depression, as well as understanding how to screen for postpartum depression. Conclusions: The program increased resident confidence in recognizing and treating prenatal mood and anxiety disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Youth bear a disproportionate burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States. Youth face barriers to STI testing, such as fear of breaches in confidentiality, lack of transportation, and anticipated stigma. Also, youth struggle with knowing when and where to get tested because of a lack of education about sexual and reproductive health (SRH). We sought to obtain feedback from youth about a digital health platform designed to address these barriers. METHODS:The Health Belief Model was used to develop a prototype digital health platform that offered interactive SRH education, free STI testing and safe sex products, and an anonymous ask column. Five focus group discussions (IRB approved) were conducted, each lasting 45-60 minutes with five to six youth living in a high-prevalence STI region of Baltimore, Maryland. Thematic analysis was performed.RESULTS: Twenty-eight youth (aged 14-19) participated. Three domains emerged: 1) the need for a reliable source of SRH information, 2) approval of the digital health platform, and 3) suggestions for improvement. Youth expressed concerns about the reliability of SRH information they receive from school, peers, and media. Participants preferred to access SRH resources on their phones or other small electronic devices as opposed to laptops or computer screens that may feel more exposed. Additionally, participants desired to access this information for free as that removes barriers of parental approval and financial support.CONCLUSION: Overall, youth viewed the digital health platform as an acceptable tool for sexual and reproductive health care education. The platform met their preferences of being free, accessible, and reliable.

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