Hyperbilirubinemia is common in the neonatal period; however, delayed diagnosis or inadequate treatment can cause irreparable damage to the neonates. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of oral fenofibrate for hyperbilirubinemia in term neonates.

This single-blind randomized controlled trial included 86 term neonates aged 3–7 days, with birth weight ≥2500 g, admitted to Bandar Abbas Children’s Hospital, Bandar Abbas Iran, from July 23, 2019, to July 22, 2020. The fenofibrate group received 10 mg/kg oral fenofibrate and phototherapy, while controls only received phototherapy. Serum total bilirubin was measured at 24 and 48 h and at the time of discharge. Hospital length of stay was also noted.

The two study groups were comparable regarding age, gender, gestational age, birth weight, and baseline total serum bilirubin levels. Serum total bilirubin levels at 48 h (P < 0.001) and at discharge (P < 0.001) were significantly lower in the fenofibrate group compared to controls. Although hospital length of stay was lower in the fenofibrate group compared to controls, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.612). Fenofibrate was more effective on the reduction of serum bilirubin in neonates aged 3–4.5 days starting at the 24th hour. Moreover, it was more effective in female neonates compared to males starting at the 48th hour.

A single dose of oral fenofibrate reduced total serum bilirubin in term neonates with hyperbilirubinemia without any side effects; however, this effect was more prominent after 48 h.

We aimed to examine the attitudes of Pennsylvania rural residents toward data sharing in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, we were interested in better understanding their willingness to provide personal information for contact tracing to public health staff investigating COVID-19 cases, as well as their concerns. We used a validated scale to describe the influence of distrust of healthcare organizations on their attitudes.

We mailed 4000 surveys to rural residents identified from the electronic medical record of a healthcare system in central Pennsylvania. Data were entered into a REDCap database and analyzed using descriptive summaries, and both binomial and multivariable logistic regression.

Binomial logistic regression showed that both distrust in healthcare organizations and political values influence respondents’ willingness to share information with contact tracers as well as their concerns about sharing personal data. When our multivariable model was applied, political values remained and were consistently associated with willingness to share and concerns about sharing their data.

This study is a first step in eliciting rural residents’ willingness to share personal data for contact tracing by public health officials. Understanding and addressing rural residents’ willingness to share personal data and their concerns about sharing those data will help public health officials identify effective strategies for managing COVID-19 and future pandemics in rural communities. By involving community members at the ground level, public health staff can ensure residents’ buy-in for the need to collect their personal data, thereby helping to mitigate the public health crises.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is vastly underdiagnosed and causes an increased risk for sudden cardiac death. Cardiology providers (CHCPs) are in an ideal position to care for FH patients. This research aimed to understand the practice behaviors of CHCPs in the screening, diagnosis, and management of FH.

Adaptation of an existing FH knowledge tool guided survey development. The results of the quantitative survey guided development of the interview protocol. CHCPs were recruited in the Division of Cardiology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC). A review of the educational materials offered by the Division of Cardiology was conducted to identify FH knowledge domains presented.

CHCPs with MDs, at CUIMC for 6–10 years, in clinical practice for 1–5 years, and in inpatient services had the highest average total knowledge scores. CHCPs with RNs, at CUIMC for less than 1 year, in clinical practice for 6–10 years, and in Cath Lab had the lowest average knowledge scores. Four themes emerged – variability in FH care; issues related to addressing FH at institutional, practice setting, and individual levels; importance of identifying FH early; and intervention approaches to overcome barriers to caring for FH patients in cardiology. CHCPs with MDs or with experiential FH knowledge described FH care beyond screening. The document review revealed that only MDs were provided lectures pertaining to FH.

Future interventions should increase didactic and experiential FH knowledge incorporating institutional, local, and national FH resources. Improving FH care can reduce FH-related morbidity and mortality, as well as improve FH health outcomes.

Several studies have found that most patients with severe mental illness (SMI) and comorbid (physical) conditions are partially or wholly nonadherent to their medication regimens. Nonadherence to treatment is a serious concern, affecting the successful management of patients with SMIs. Psychiatric disorders tend to worsen and persist in nonadherent patients, worsening their overall health. The study described herein aimed to develop and validate a scale (the Ralat Adherence Scale) to measure nonadherence behaviors in a culturally sensitive way.

Guided by a previous study that explored the primary reasons for nonadherence in Puerto Rican patients, we developed a pool of 147 items linked to the concept of adherence. Nine experts reviewed the meaning, content, clarity, and relevance of the individual items, and a content validity ratio was calculated for each one. Forty items remained in the scale’s first version. This version was administered to 160 patients (21–60 years old). All the participants had a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, or schizoaffective disorder. The STROBE checklist was used as the reporting guideline.

The scale had very good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.812). After a factor analysis, the scale was reduced to 24 items; the new scale had a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.900.

This adherence scale is a self-administered instrument with very good psychometric properties; it has yielded important information about nonadherence behaviors. The scale can help health professionals and researchers to assess patient adherence or nonadherence to a medication regimen.

The electronic health record (EHR) and patient portal are used increasingly for clinical research, including patient portal recruitment messaging (PPRM). Use of PPRM has grown rapidly; however, best practices are still developing. In this study, we examined the use of PPRM at our institution and conducted qualitative interviews among study teams and patients to understand experiences and preferences for PPRM.

We identified study teams that sent PPRMs and patients that received PPRMs in a 60-day period. We characterized these studies and patients, in addition to the patients’ interactions with the PPRMs (e.g., viewed, responded). From these groups, we recruited study team members and patients for semi-structured interviews. A pragmatic qualitative inquiry framework was used by interviewers. Interviews were audio-recorded and analyzed using a rapid qualitative analysis exploratory approach.

Across ten studies, 35,037 PPRMs were sent, 33% were viewed, and 17% were responded to. Interaction rates varied across demographic groups. Six study team members completed interviews and described PPRM as an efficient and helpful recruitment method. Twenty-eight patients completed interviews. They were supportive of receiving PPRMs, particularly when the PPRM was relevant to their health. Patients indicated that providing more information in the PPRM would be helpful, in addition to options to set personalized preferences.

PPRM is an efficient recruitment method for study teams and is acceptable to patients. Engagement with PPRMs varies across demographic groups, which should be considered during recruitment planning. Additional research is needed to evaluate and implement recommended changes by study teams and patients.

Underrepresented researchers face more challenges than their well-represented counterparts. Perseverance and consistency of interest are associated with career success in well-represented physicians. Therefore, we examined associations of perseverance and consistency of interest with Clinical Research Appraisal Inventory (CRAI), science identity, and other factors related to career success among underrepresented post-doctoral fellows and early-career faculty.

This is a cross-sectional analysis of data collected from September to October 2020 among 224 underrepresented early-career researchers at 25 academic medical centers in the Building Up Trial. We used linear regression to test associations of perseverance and consistency of interest scores with CRAI, science identity, and effort/reward imbalance (ERI) scores.

The cohort is 80% female, 33% non-Hispanic Black, and 34% Hispanic. The median perseverance and consistency of interest scores were 3.8 (25th–75th percentile: 3.7,4.2) and 3.7 (25th–75th percentile: 3.2, 4.0), respectively. Higher perseverance was associated with a higher CRAI score (β = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.30, 1.33, p = 0.002) and science identity (β = 0.44; 95% CI = 0.19, 0.68, p = 0.001). Higher consistency of interest was associated with a higher CRAI score (β = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.23, 0.96, p = 0.001) and higher science identity score (β = 0.20; 95% CI = 0.03, 0.36, p = 0.02), while lower consistency of interest was associated with imbalance favoring effort (β = –0.22; 95% CI = –0.33, –0.11, p = 0.001).

We found that perseverance and consistency of interest are related to CRAI and science identity, indicating that these factors may positively influence one’s decision to stay in research.