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Whitley CT, Bowers MM, Grantz H. Urban Human-Coyote Conflicts: Assessing Friendliness as an Indicator of Coexistence. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2903. [PMID: 37760303 PMCID: PMC10525200 DOI: 10.3390/ani13182903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Human-coyote sightings and interactions are becoming more frequent in urban areas across North and Central America. While many species have lost territory, the coyote range has expanded. Relatively recently, ecologists have coalesced around the idea that coexistence is the most promising avenue to reduce human-coyote conflict in urban areas. Despite this, calls for the eradication of coyotes continue. We apply and extend the theory of survival of the friendliest to evaluate how the media is framing coyotes and management strategies and what the implications of this framing might be. Through a content analysis of newspaper articles from three different urban areas in the US (Los Angeles, CA; Seattle, WA; and Boston, MA), from 2000 to 2022, we find that friendly language is used to promote coexistence, while unfriendly language (threat, hostile, unfriendly, and danger) is used to justify eradication. We also find considerable variation in the type of coverage and consistency with scientific consensus across cities, likely reflecting the cities' varied histories and cultural understandings of the species. Given the media's influence on the public's views of coyotes and their support for management strategies, these findings suggest that the media plays a central role in shaping coyote-human relationships and management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron T. Whitley
- Department of Sociology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA;
| | - Melanie M. Bowers
- Department of Political Science, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA;
| | - Harriett Grantz
- Department of Sociology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA;
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Pierre CC, Marzinke MA, Ahmed SB, Collister D, Colón-Franco JM, Hoenig MP, Lorey T, Palevsky PM, Palmer OP, Rosas SE, Vassalotti J, Whitley CT, Greene DN. AACC/NKF Guidance Document on Improving Equity in Chronic Kidney Disease Care. J Appl Lab Med 2023:jfad022. [PMID: 37379065 DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfad022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Kidney disease (KD) is an important health equity issue with Black, Hispanic, and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals experiencing a disproportionate disease burden. Prior to 2021, the commonly used estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations incorporated coefficients for Black race that conferred higher GFR estimates for Black individuals compared to non-Black individuals of the same sex, age, and blood creatinine concentration. With a recognition that race does not delineate distinct biological categories, a joint task force of the National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology recommended the adoption of the CKD-EPI 2021 race-agnostic equations. CONTENT This document provides guidance on implementation of the CKD-EPI 2021 equations. It describes recommendations for KD biomarker testing, and opportunities for collaboration between clinical laboratories and providers to improve KD detection in high-risk populations. Further, the document provides guidance on the use of cystatin C, and eGFR reporting and interpretation in gender-diverse populations. SUMMARY Implementation of the CKD-EPI 2021 eGFR equations represents progress toward health equity in the management of KD. Ongoing efforts by multidisciplinary teams, including clinical laboratorians, should focus on improved disease detection in clinically and socially high-risk populations. Routine use of cystatin C is recommended to improve the accuracy of eGFR, particularly in patients whose blood creatinine concentrations are confounded by processes other than glomerular filtration. When managing gender-diverse individuals, eGFR should be calculated and reported with both male and female coefficients. Gender-diverse individuals can benefit from a more holistic management approach, particularly at important clinical decision points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina C Pierre
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, PA, United States
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Mark A Marzinke
- Departments of Pathology and Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sofia B Ahmed
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - David Collister
- Division of Nephrology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | | | - Melanie P Hoenig
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Division of Nephrology and Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Thomas Lorey
- Kaiser Permanante, The Permanante Medical Group Regional Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Paul M Palevsky
- Renal-Electrolyte Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Kidney Medicine Program and Kidney Medicine Section, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- The National Kidney Foundation, Inc., New York, NY, United States
| | - Octavia Peck Palmer
- Departments of Pathology, Critical Care Medicine, and Clinical and Translational Science, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Sylvia E Rosas
- The National Kidney Foundation, Inc., New York, NY, United States
- Kidney and Hypertension Unit, Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Joseph Vassalotti
- The National Kidney Foundation, Inc., New York, NY, United States
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Cameron T Whitley
- Department of Sociology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
- LetsGetChecked Laboratories, Monrovia, CA, United States
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Ahmed SB, Beach LB, Safer JD, Veale JF, Whitley CT. Considerations in the care of transgender persons. Nat Rev Nephrol 2023; 19:360-365. [PMID: 37069283 DOI: 10.1038/s41581-023-00713-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia B Ahmed
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
- O'Brien Institute for Public Health, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
- Alberta Kidney Disease Network, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Lauren B Beach
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
- ADVOCATE SGM Health Program, Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Joshua D Safer
- Mount Sinai Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery, New York, NY, USA.
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Jaimie F Veale
- Te Kura Whatu Oho Mauri School of Psychology, University of Waikato, Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand.
| | - Cameron T Whitley
- Department of Sociology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA.
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Leeies M, Collister D, Ho J, Trachtenberg A, Gruber J, Weiss MJ, Chandler JA, Mooney O, Carta T, Klassen B, Draenos C, Sutha K, Randell S, Strang M, Partain B, Whitley CT, Cuvelier S, MacKenzie LJ, Shemie SD, Hrymak C. Inequities in organ and tissue donation and transplantation for sexual orientation and gender identity diverse people: A scoping review. Am J Transplant 2023:S1600-6135(23)00359-3. [PMID: 36997028 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2023.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) diverse populations experience discrimination in organ and tissue donation and transplantation (OTDT) systems globally. We assembled a multidisciplinary group of clinical experts as well as SOGI-diverse patient and public partners and conducted a scoping review including citations on the experiences of SOGI-diverse persons in OTDT systems globally to identify and explore the inequities that exist with regards to living and deceased OTDT. Using scoping review methods, we conducted a systematic literature search of relevant electronic databases from 1970-2021 including a grey literature search. We identified and screened 2402 references and included 87 unique publications. Two researchers independently coded data in included publications in duplicate. We conducted a best-fit framework synthesis paired with an inductive thematic analysis to identify synthesized benefits, harms, inequities, justification of inequities, recommendations to mitigate inequities, laws and regulations, as well as knowledge and implementation gaps regarding SOGI-diverse identities in OTDT systems. We identified numerous harms and inequities for SOGI-diverse populations in OTDT systems. There were no published benefits of SOGI-diverse identities in OTDT systems. We summarized recommendations for the promotion of equity for SOGI-diverse populations and identified gaps that can serve as targets for action moving forward.
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Williams EH, Flint TR, Connell CM, Giglio D, Lee H, Ha T, Gablenz E, Bird NJ, Weaver JMJ, Potts H, Whitley CT, Bookman MA, Lynch AG, Meyer HV, Tavaré S, Janowitz T. CamGFR v2: A New Model for Estimating the Glomerular Filtration Rate from Standardized or Non-standardized Creatinine in Patients with Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:1381-1390. [PMID: 33303580 PMCID: PMC9097346 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-3201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Management of patients with cancer, specifically carboplatin dosing, requires accurate knowledge of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Direct measurement of GFR is resource limited. Available models for estimated GFR (eGFR) are optimized for patients without cancer and either isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS)- or non-IDMS-standardized creatinine measurements. We present an eGFR model for patients with cancer compatible with both creatinine measurement methods. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN GFR measurements, biometrics, and IDMS- or non-IDMS-standardized creatinine values were collected for adult patients from three cancer centers. Using statistical modeling, an IDMS and non-IDMS creatinine-compatible eGFR model (CamGFR v2) was developed. Its performance was compared with that of the existing models Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI), Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), Full Age Spectrum (FAS), Lund-Malmö revised, and CamGFR v1, using statistics for bias, precision, accuracy, and clinical robustness. RESULTS A total of 3,083 IDMS- and 4,612 non-IDMS-standardized creatinine measurements were obtained from 7,240 patients. IDMS-standardized creatinine values were lower than non-IDMS-standardized values in within-center comparisons (13.8% lower in Cambridge; P < 0.0001 and 19.3% lower in Manchester; P < 0.0001), and more consistent between centers. CamGFR v2 was the most accurate [root-mean-squared error for IDMS, 14.97 mL/minute (95% confidence interval, 13.84-16.13) and non-IDMS, 15.74 mL/minute (14.86-16.63)], most clinically robust [proportion with >20% error of calculated carboplatin dose for IDMS, 0.12 (0.09-0.14) and non-IDMS, 0.17 (0.15-0.2)], and least biased [median residual for IDMS, 0.73 mL/minute (-0.68 to 2.2) and non-IDMS, -0.43 mL/minute (-1.48 to 0.91)] eGFR model, particularly when eGFR was larger than 60 ml/minute. CONCLUSIONS CamGFR v2 can utilize IDMS- and non-IDMS-standardized creatinine measurements and outperforms previous models. CamGFR v2 should be examined prospectively as a practice-changing standard of care for eGFR-based carboplatin dosing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward H Williams
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas R Flint
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
| | - Claire M Connell
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
- University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Giglio
- Department of Oncology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Hassal Lee
- University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
| | - Taehoon Ha
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York
| | - Eva Gablenz
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York
| | - Nicholas J Bird
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
| | - James M J Weaver
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, England, United Kingdom
- University of Manchester, Manchester, England, United Kingdom
| | - Harry Potts
- University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
| | - Cameron T Whitley
- University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
| | - Michael A Bookman
- Gynecologic Oncology Therapeutics, Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco, California
| | - Andy G Lynch
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah V Meyer
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York
| | - Simon Tavaré
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
- Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Tobias Janowitz
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York.
- Northwell Health, New York, New York
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Greene DN, Dy GW, Osbun N, Whitley CT. Reply to "Kidney transplantation and donation in the transgender population: A single-institution case series". Am J Transplant 2020; 20:3693-3694. [PMID: 32476237 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dina N Greene
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Laboratory Services, Renton, Washington, USA.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Geolani W Dy
- Department of Urology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Nathan Osbun
- Department of Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Cameron T Whitley
- Department of Sociology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, USA
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Bowers MM, Whitley CT. What Drives Support for Transgender Rights? Assessing the Effects of Biological Attribution on U.S. Public Opinion of Transgender Rights. Sex Roles 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11199-019-01118-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Williams EH, Connell CM, Weaver JMJ, Beh I, Potts H, Whitley CT, Bird N, Al-Sayed T, Monaghan PJ, Fehr M, Cathomas R, Bertelli G, Quinton A, Lewis P, Shamash J, Wilson P, Dooley M, Poole S, Mark PB, Bookman MA, Earl H, Jodrell D, Tavaré S, Lynch AG, Janowitz T. Multicenter Validation of the CamGFR Model for Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate. JNCI Cancer Spectr 2019; 3:pkz068. [PMID: 31750418 PMCID: PMC6846361 DOI: 10.1093/jncics/pkz068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 07/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Important oncological management decisions rely on kidney function assessed by serum creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). However, no large-scale multicenter comparisons of methods to determine eGFR in patients with cancer are available. To compare the performance of formulas for eGFR based on routine clinical parameters and serum creatinine not calibrated with isotope dilution mass spectrometry, we studied 3620 patients with cancer and 166 without cancer who had their glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measured with an exogenous nuclear tracer at one of seven clinical centers. The mean measured GFR was 86 mL/min. Accuracy of all models was center dependent, reflecting intercenter variability of isotope dilution mass spectrometry-creatinine measurements. CamGFR was the most accurate model for eGFR (root-mean-squared error 17.3 mL/min) followed by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration model (root-mean-squared error 18.2 mL/min).
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward H Williams
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Claire M Connell
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridge University Hospital NHS Trust, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Ian Beh
- Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Harry Potts
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Nicholas Bird
- Cambridge University Hospital NHS Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Phillip J Monaghan
- The Christie Pathology Partnership, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
- University of Manchester, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, Manchester, UK
| | - Martin Fehr
- Clinic for Medical Oncology and Hematology, Cantonal Hospital St Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Richard Cathomas
- Division of Oncology/Hematology, Cantonal Hospital Graubünden, Switzerland
| | - Gianfilippo Bertelli
- Sussex Cancer Centre, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton, UK
| | | | - Paul Lewis
- Institute of Life Science, Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Jonathan Shamash
- Department of Medical Oncology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London, UK
| | - Peter Wilson
- Department of Medical Oncology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London, UK
| | - Michael Dooley
- Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia
- Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Susan Poole
- Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia
- Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Patrick B Mark
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Helena Earl
- Cambridge University Hospital NHS Trust, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, UK
- NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Duncan Jodrell
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridge University Hospital NHS Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Simon Tavaré
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Andy G Lynch
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- School of Medicine/School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Tobias Janowitz
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, NY
- Northwell Health, New York, NY
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron T Whitley
- Department of Sociology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron T Whitley
- Department of Sociology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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Abstract
Starting at least in the 1970s, empirical work suggested that demographic (population) and economic (affluence) forces are the key drivers of anthropogenic stress on the environment. We evaluate the extent to which politics attenuates the effects of economic and demographic factors on environmental outcomes by examining variation in CO2 emissions across US states and within states over time. We find that demographic and economic forces can in part be offset by politics supportive of the environment--increases in emissions over time are lower in states that elect legislators with strong environmental records.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Dietz
- Department of Sociology, Environmental Science and Policy Program, Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823;
| | - Kenneth A Frank
- Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823
| | - Cameron T Whitley
- Department of Sociology, Environmental Science and Policy Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823
| | - Jennifer Kelly
- Department of Sociology, Environmental Science and Policy Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823
| | - Rachel Kelly
- Department of Sociology, Environmental Science and Policy Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823
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Beeson MS, Holmboe ES, Korte RC, Nasca TJ, Brigham T, Russ CM, Whitley CT, Reisdorff EJ. Initial Validity Analysis of the Emergency Medicine Milestones. Acad Emerg Med 2015; 22:838-44. [PMID: 26112031 DOI: 10.1111/acem.12697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Revised: 01/06/2015] [Accepted: 01/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Milestones describe behavioral markers for the progressive acquisition of competencies during residency. As a key component of the Next Accreditation System, all residents are evaluated for the acquisition of specialty-specific Milestones. The objective was to determine the validity and reliability of the emergency medicine (EM) Milestones. METHODS The ACGME and the American Board of Emergency Medicine performed this single-event observational study. The data included the initial EM Milestones performance ratings of all categorical EM residents submitted to the ACGME from October 31, 2013, to January 6, 2014. Mean performance ratings were determined for all 23 subcompetencies for every year of residency training. The internal consistency (reliability) of the Milestones was determined using a standardized Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to determine how the subcompetencies were interrelated. RESULTS EM Milestone performance ratings were obtained on 100% of EM residents (n = 5,805) from 162 residency programs. The mean performance ratings of the aggregate and individual subcompetency scores showed discrimination between residency years, and the factor structure further supported the validity of the EM Milestones. The reliability was α = 0.96 within each year of training. CONCLUSIONS The EM Milestones demonstrated validity and reliability as an assessment instrument for competency acquisition. EM residents can be assured that this evaluation process has demonstrated validity and reliability; faculty can be confident that the Milestones are psychometrically sound; and stakeholders can know that the Milestones are a nationally standardized, objective measure of specialty-specific competency acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S. Beeson
- The Department of Emergency Medicine; Akron General Medical Center; Akron OH
| | - Eric S. Holmboe
- Milestones Development and Evaluation; Chicago IL
- Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education; Chicago IL
| | | | - Thomas J. Nasca
- Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education; Chicago IL
- Jefferson Medical Center; Philadelphia PA
| | - Timothy Brigham
- Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education; Chicago IL
- Jefferson Medical Center; Philadelphia PA
| | - Chad M. Russ
- American Board of Emergency Medicine; East Lansing MI
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Marco CA, Counselman FL, Korte RC, Russ CM, Whitley CT, Reisdorff EJ. Emergency physicians maintain performance on the American Board of Emergency Medicine Continuous Certification (ConCert) examination. Acad Emerg Med 2014; 21:532-7. [PMID: 24842504 DOI: 10.1111/acem.12378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2013] [Revised: 11/11/2013] [Accepted: 11/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program is a four-step process that includes the Continuous Certification (ConCert) examination. The ConCert examination is a validated, summative examination that assesses medical knowledge and clinical reasoning. ABEM began administering the ConCert examination in 1989. The ConCert examination must be passed at least every 10 years to maintain certification. This study was undertaken to determine longitudinal physician performance on the ConCert examination. METHODS In this longitudinal review, ConCert examination performance was compared among residency-trained emergency physicians (EPs) over multiple examination cycles. Longitudinal analysis was performed using a growth curve model for unbalanced data to determine the growth trajectories of EP performance over time to see if medical knowledge changed. Using initial certification qualifying examination scores, the longitudinal analysis corrected for intrinsic variances in physician ability. RESULTS There were 15,085 first-time testing episodes from 1989 to 2012 involving three examination cycles. The mean adjusted examination scores for all physicians taking the ConCert examination for a first cycle was 85.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 85.8 to 85.9), the second cycle mean score was 86.2 (95% CI = 86.0 to 86.3), and the third cycle was 85.4 (95% CI = 85.0 to 85.8). Using the first examination cycle as a reference score, the growth curve model analysis resulted in a coefficient of +0.3 for the second cycle (p < 0.001) and -0.5 for the third cycle (p = 0.02). Initial qualifying (written) examination scores were significant predictors for ConCert examination scores. CONCLUSIONS Over time, EP performance on the ConCert examination was maintained. These results suggest that EPs maintain medical knowledge over the course of their careers as measured by a validated, summative medical knowledge assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A. Marco
- The Department of Emergency Medicine; University of Toledo College of Medicine; Toledo OH
- The American Board of Emergency Medicine; East Lansing MI
| | - Francis L. Counselman
- The Department of Emergency Medicine; Eastern Virginia Medical School and Emergency Physicians of Tidewater; Norfolk VA
| | | | - Chad M. Russ
- The American Board of Emergency Medicine; East Lansing MI
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