{"title":"The Rise of Xylazine Shows Why Local Data Must Inform Policy and Spending Decisions.","authors":"Jeremy Kourvelas","doi":"10.18043/001c.123256","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18043/001c.123256","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Local governments have been given direct control over a substantial amount of opioid settlement funding. While state-level data sources are valuable inputs, city and county leaders should consider local data sources when making decisions to ensure timely responses to emerging threats, as is exemplified by the rise of xylazine.</p>","PeriodicalId":39574,"journal":{"name":"North Carolina Medical Journal","volume":"85 5","pages":"304-307"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142576979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Note on Oral Health, and on the Future of the North Carolina Medical Journal.","authors":"Peter J Morris","doi":"10.18043/001c.125108","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18043/001c.125108","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With this issue, the North Carolina Medical Journal ceases to publish in print and will appear exclusively online. The NCMJ will reach back almost 175 years to our founding in 1849 and will once again focus on peer-reviewed original research. Dr. Ronny Bell assumes to role of Editor-in-Chief.</p>","PeriodicalId":39574,"journal":{"name":"North Carolina Medical Journal","volume":"85 6","pages":"373"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142682944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amy Martin, Amah Riley, Anna Pollard, Mark Moss, Vanessa Pardi, Stacy Warren, Daijah Davis, Lindsey Kilgo
{"title":"Expanding School-based Oral Health Programs in the Carolinas: Challenges and Opportunities.","authors":"Amy Martin, Amah Riley, Anna Pollard, Mark Moss, Vanessa Pardi, Stacy Warren, Daijah Davis, Lindsey Kilgo","doi":"10.18043/001c.125714","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18043/001c.125714","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>School-based oral health programs are an effective approach to population-based care and a stalwart of public health, especially in rural and underserved communities. Lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic have informed contemporary strategies and policies to ensure integration into the delicate dental safety net in the Carolinas.</p>","PeriodicalId":39574,"journal":{"name":"North Carolina Medical Journal","volume":"85 6","pages":"404-410"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142682959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Trends in North Carolina's Oral Health Workforce.","authors":"Brooke Lombardi, Catherine Moore, Haley Simons, Connor Sullivan, Evan Galloway, Erin Fraher","doi":"10.18043/001c.125134","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18043/001c.125134","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Work remains in North Carolina to effectively increase access to oral health care and address the maldistribution of the dental workforce. This study provides updated data on the oral health workforce (from 2000 to 2022) in response to the recommendations outlined in the North Carolina Institute of Medicine Oral Health Transformation Task Force report.</p>","PeriodicalId":39574,"journal":{"name":"North Carolina Medical Journal","volume":"85 6","pages":"380-388"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142683070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jeannie Sykes, Lisa Cassidy-Vu, Scott Richter, Michael Parker, Kehinde Eniola
{"title":"Nutrition Training in Medical Education Among Family Medicine Residents in North Carolina.","authors":"Jeannie Sykes, Lisa Cassidy-Vu, Scott Richter, Michael Parker, Kehinde Eniola","doi":"10.18043/001c.125103","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18043/001c.125103","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study surveyed family medicine residents in North Carolina regarding the state of nutrition education in their residency training. In addition, the survey explored comfort levels with, and attitudes about, discussing nutrition with patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We administered an online questionnaire to family medicine residents in North Carolina (n = 384) asking about their history of nutrition training and their current attitudes about nutrition. The 24-item survey included both Yes and No and Likert-scale responses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All but one resident had received formal or informal nutrition training during their medical education. Residents overwhelmingly considered nutrition to be an important component of health care, although a majority felt physicians are inadequately trained in nutrition. Feeling comfortable discussing nutrition with patients regarding specific health conditions varied from 45% (gastrointestinal concerns) to 94% (cardiovascular disease) or 95% (diabetes) among residents.</p><p><strong>Limitations: </strong>The volunteer sampling method used in the study may limit generalizability of the study findings to a broader population of family medicine residents. In addition, precisely defining \"formal\" and \"informal\" nutrition training on the survey questionnaire would help to clarify the role of nutrition education in shaping resident attitudes and practices.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study shows that family medicine residents recognize the importance of nutrition education but do not feel adequately trained to provide it to patients. Given the abundance of evidence linking nutrition and health as well as an apparent interest among family medicine residents in nutrition education, this study supports the integration of nutrition training in medical education. Suggestions for how to accomplish this objective are provided.</p>","PeriodicalId":39574,"journal":{"name":"North Carolina Medical Journal","volume":"85 6","pages":"439-445"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142682964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cultural Attunement: A Critical Social Driver of Oral Health.","authors":"Jamie Burgess-Flowers, Kelsey Yokovich","doi":"10.18043/001c.125705","DOIUrl":"10.18043/001c.125705","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This perspective piece focuses on the impact that cultural influences have on oral health and underscores the need for culturally attuned care. It explores how integrating cultural elements into patient care can enhance health outcomes and offers a spectrum of recommendations for incorporating culturally attuned practices at various levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":39574,"journal":{"name":"North Carolina Medical Journal","volume":"85 6","pages":"389-392"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142682946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Collective Approach: Facing the Substance Use Disorder Epidemic in North Carolina and the Region.","authors":"Danny Scalise","doi":"10.18043/001c.123255","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18043/001c.123255","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>North Carolina, like much of the country, has seen a sig-nificant increase in substance use disorders and overdose deaths. This issue of the journal outlines how our state is managing funds from opioid settlements through collabora-tive partnerships among policymakers, public health, health care providers, and communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":39574,"journal":{"name":"North Carolina Medical Journal","volume":"85 5","pages":"301-303"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142576973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Oral Health Data Gaps and Needs in North Carolina.","authors":"Patrick Roberson, Ruma Simhan, Osaremhen Ikhile","doi":"10.18043/001c.125125","DOIUrl":"10.18043/001c.125125","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Effective oral health-related policymaking and program implementation rely on comprehensive, accurate, and timely data. This commentary will address the lack of data available and the need for a robust data dashboard, in addition to the importance of community water fluoridation.</p>","PeriodicalId":39574,"journal":{"name":"North Carolina Medical Journal","volume":"85 6","pages":"377-379"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142683066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Conversation with Dental Health Leader Frank Courts, DDS, PhD.","authors":"Crystal Adams, Steven Cline","doi":"10.18043/001c.125716","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18043/001c.125716","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":39574,"journal":{"name":"North Carolina Medical Journal","volume":"85 6","pages":"411-413"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142682942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bo-Hyeong Jane Lee, Jia Yao, Anisa Ramcharitar-Bourne, Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell
{"title":"High Rates of Obesity and Chronic Diseases Among North Carolina United Methodist Clergy: An Updated Analysis.","authors":"Bo-Hyeong Jane Lee, Jia Yao, Anisa Ramcharitar-Bourne, Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell","doi":"10.18043/001c.125104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18043/001c.125104","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Varied demands and stressors experienced by clergy can contribute adversely to their overall well-being. Data from United Methodist Church (UMC) clergy in North Carolina in 2008 revealed that clergy had significantly higher non-communicable disease (NCD) rates than their fellow North Carolinians.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using data from the Clergy Health Initiative and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, the present study provided an updated analysis of obesity and 6 other NCDs among North Carolina UMC clergy compared to the general North Carolina population. First, we described the prevalence of each health condition among North Carolina UMC clergy and the general North Carolina population across multiple waves from 2008 to 2021. Then, we compared the predicted probabilities of each health condition in 2021 using logistic regressions to adjust for age, sex, and race.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Comparing the unadjusted prevalence of health conditions between 2008 and 2021, we found that North Carolina UMC clergy have higher rates of obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, angina, arthritis, and asthma than North Carolinians overall. Adjusting for age, sex, and race, we found that significantly higher rates of obesity, severe obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and asthma persisted among UMC clergy in 2021 compared to all North Carolinians, with the higher rates of severe obesity being particularly concerning.</p><p><strong>Limitations: </strong>While the current study is limited to an update of health prevalence among UMC clergy, pastors across denominations are influential leaders in their communities, shaping the physical and social health environments of their congregations.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Further research is needed to investigate risk factors, such as relocation and adverse childhood experiences, which may influence the higher prevalence of NCDs within and potentially beyond the UMC.</p>","PeriodicalId":39574,"journal":{"name":"North Carolina Medical Journal","volume":"85 6","pages":"446-453"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142682960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}