Patient Experience with Telehealth Medicine During the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic in New York City.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated integration of telehealth services into OBGYN practices in New York City. Since then, studies have shown high patient satisfaction with OBGYN telehealth services. However, few studies have compared satisfaction between obstetric and gynecologic patients. The primary objective of this study was to compare satisfaction with telehealth services between obstetric and gynecologic patients. Methods: This was an institutional review board-approved cross-sectional survey study among patients who had a telehealth visit at NYU OBGYN Faculty Group Practice from March 2020 to March 2021. Results: Gynecologic patients had higher rates of being "completely satisfied" compared with obstetric patients (40% vs. 24%, p < 0.001). Gynecologic patients were more likely to opt for telehealth services than obstetric patients both during a pandemic (70% vs. 59%, p < 0.001) and in the absence of a pandemic (53% vs. 37%, p < 0.001). Discussion: Prior studies have demonstrated high satisfaction with OBGYN telehealth. However, obstetric patients were less likely than gynecologic patients to feel satisfied with and opt for telehealth services.

Differential Uptake of Telehealth for Prenatal Care in a Large New York City Academic Obstetrical Practice during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in New York City, telehealth was rapidly implemented for obstetric patients. Though telehealth for prenatal care is safe and effective, significant concerns exist regarding equity in access among low-income populations. We performed a retrospective cohort study evaluating utilization of telehealth for prenatal care in a large academic practice in New York City, comparing women with public and private insurance. We found that patients with public insurance were less likely to have at least one telehealth visit than women with private insurance (60.9 vs. 87.3%, p < 0.001). After stratifying by borough, this difference remained significant in Brooklyn, one of the boroughs hardest hit by the pandemic. As COVID-19 continues to spread around the country, obstetric providers must work to ensure that all patients, particularly those with public insurance, have equal access to telehealth. KEY POINTS: · Telehealth for prenatal care is frequently utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic.. · Significant concerns exist regarding equity in access among lower-income populations.. · Women with public insurance in New York City were less likely to access telehealth for prenatal care..

Global health training in US obstetrics and gynaecology residency programmes: perspectives of students, residents and programme directors.

BACKGROUND: Benefits of exposure to global health training during medical education are well documented and residents' demand for this training is increasing. Despite this, it is offered by few US obstetrics and gynaecology (OBGYN) residency training programmes. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate interest, perceived importance, predictors of global health interest and barriers to offering global health training among prospective OBGYN residents, current OBGYN residents and US OGBYN residency directors. METHODS: We designed two questionnaires using Likert scale questions to assess perceived importance of global health training. The first was distributed to current and prospective OBGYN residents interviewing at a US residency programme during 2012-2013. The second questionnaire distributed to US OBGYN programme directors assessed for existing global health programmes and global health training barriers. A composite Global Health Interest/Importance score was tabulated from the Likert scores. Multivariable linear regression was performed to assess for predictors of Global Health Interest/Importance. RESULTS: A total of 159 trainees (77%; 129 prospective OBGYN residents and 30 residents) and 69 (28%) programme directors completed the questionnaires. Median Global Health Interest/Importance score was 7 (IQR 4-9). Prior volunteer experience was predictive of a 5-point increase in Global Health Interest/Importance score (95% CI -0.19 to 9.85; p=0.02). The most commonly cited barriers were cost and time. CONCLUSION: Interest and perceived importance of global health training in US OBGYN residency programmes is evident among trainees and programme directors; however, significant financial and time barriers prevent many programmes from offering opportunities to their trainees. Prior volunteer experience predicts global health interest.

Vulvar fibromatosis: a clinical enigma.

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of recurrent vulvar fibromatosis in an adolescent, discuss the specific difficulties of treating adolescents, and review the literature on available treatment. METHODS: We present a case of recurrent vulvar fibromatosis in a 14-year-old girl, requiring several treatment modalities, including multiple surgeries, radiation therapy, and multiagent chemotherapy. We then discuss management strategies for these tumor types, and specifically examine how tumor location may impact their treatment. RESULTS: Vulvar desmoids are extremely uncommon and they can be disfiguring and cause significant discomfort for women. Initial management of these tumors is surgical excision, yet failed surgery is often followed by other treatment modalities, including radiation, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hormonal therapy, and chemotherapy. This case clearly highlights the difficulties in managing these rare tumors, particularly in the adolescent population. CONCLUSIONS: Desmoid tumors are nonmalignant, locally aggressive neoplasms most common in the 15 to 60 years age group. They are associated with high estrogen states, prior surgical trauma, and Gardner syndrome. Most commonly, desmoid tumors present in the abdominal wall, shoulder, neck, and chest, but can occur anywhere in the body. Given their rarity and lack of definitive therapy, vulvar desmoid tumors can be exceedingly difficult to treat, and are best managed with an interdisciplinary approach.

Mind your P's and Q's: the coming of age of semiconducting polymer dots and semiconductor quantum dots in biological applications.

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) and semiconducting polymer nanoparticles (Pdots) are brightly emissive materials that offer many advantages for bioanalysis and bioimaging, and are complementary to revolutionary advances in fluorescence technology. Within the context of biological applications, this review compares the evolution and different stages of development of these two types of nanoparticle, and addresses current perceptions about QDs. Although neither material is a wholesale replacement for fluorescent dyes, recent trends have demonstrated that both types of nanoparticle can excel in applications that are often too demanding for fluorescent dyes alone. Examples discussed in this review include single particle tracking and imaging, multicolor imaging and multiplexed detection, biosensing, point-of-care diagnostics, in vivo imaging and drug delivery.