An interdisciplinary team of healthcare providers and simulation specialists adopted and modified a protocol for the creation of a low-cost, gelatin-based breast model for teaching ultrasound-guided breast biopsy and assessed first-time user experience. An interdisciplinary team of healthcare providers and simulation specialists adopted and modified a protocol for the creation of a low-cost, gelatin-based breast model for teaching ultrasound-guided breast biopsy for approximately $4.40 USD. Components include medical-grade gelatin, Jell-O™, water, olives, and surgical gloves. The model was used to train two cohorts comprising 30 students total during their junior surgical clerkship. The learners' experience and perceptions on the first Kirkpatrick level were evaluated using pre- and post-training surveys. Response rate was 93.3% (n = 28). Only three students had previously completed an ultrasound-guided breast biopsy, and none had prior exposure to simulation-based breast biopsy training. Learners that were confident in performing biopsies under minimal supervision rose from 4 to 75% following the session. All students indicated the session increased their knowledge, and 71% agreed that the model was an anatomically accurate and appropriate substitute to a real human breast. The use of a low-cost gelatin-based breast model was able to increase student confidence and knowledge in performing ultrasound-guided breast biopsies. This innovative simulation model provides a cost-effective and more accessible means of simulation-based training especially for low- and middle-income settings.

Objectives:This paper aims to depict unique perspectives and to compare and contrast three leadership programs for global health in order to enable other training institutions to design impactful curricula.Methods:We purposively selected three global health training programs. We used a six-step curriculum development framework to systematically compare the curriculum process across programs and to identify best practices and factors contributing to the impact of each of these programs.Findings:All three fellowship programs undertook an intentional and in-depth approach to curriculum development. Each identified competencies related to leadership and technical skills. Each defined goals, though the goals differed to align with the desired impact of the program, ranging from improving the impact of HIV programming, supporting stronger global health program implementation, and supporting the next generation of global health leaders. All programs implemented the curriculum through an onboarding phase, a delivery of core content in different formats, and a wrap-up or endline phase. During implementation, each program also utilized networking and mentoring to enhance connections and to support application of learning in work roles. Programs faced overlapping challenges and opportunities including funding, strengthening partnerships, and finding ways to engage and support alumni.Conclusions:Local ownership of programs is critical, including tailoring curricula to the needs of specific contexts. Strong partnerships and resources are needed to ensure program sustainability and impact.Key TakeawaysGlobal health competencies and curricula should be linked to local health system needs and contexts where learners are working.Emphasizing both individualistic and collectivist approaches to learning is important in engaging and supporting diverse global health learners.Emphasizing mentorship and opportunities to apply learning in contexts where learners are working is important in order to provide support to learners as they work to integrate what they are learning into their professional roles and activities.Partnerships and resources—including donor support—are essential to implement and sustain robust leadership curricula and to provide opportunities for experiential and didactic learning.

Interventions that support durable viral load suppression (VLS) among people living with HIV (PLWH) who face barriers to treatment adherence are needed to maintain optimal individual health, prevent new HIV infections, and advance health equity. Efficacy trials indicate that financial incentives (FIs) are a promising strategy for promoting VLS, although less is known about their implementation in "real-world" settings. This article describes considerations for the development and implementation of FI interventions identified in existing literature, and how they informed the scale-up of a multilevel treatment adherence support program designed to increase VLS among PLWH in New York City. The Undetectables VLS Program comprises a social marketing campaign and a "tool kit" of evidence-based HIV treatment adherence strategies, including quarterly FIs ($100) that patients receive for achieving or maintaining an undetectable viral load (<200 copies/mL; also referred to as VLS). The intervention was developed and pilot tested by Housing Works Community Healthcare and the University of Pennsylvania from 2014 to 2016. Initial findings from the pilot evaluation showed a statistically significant positive effect on VLS. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene contracted with 7 agencies across New York City to scale up The Undetectables Program over a 3-year period (2016-2019) by integrating the program into existing services for PLWH. Quality indicators (eg, percentage of clients who received an FI each quarter; percentage of clients who were virally suppressed at 90 days postenrollment) will be used to measure program performance and impact over time. Recommendations for implementing FIs for PLWH include packaging FIs with client-centered, evidence-based adherence strategies, incorporating FIs into existing service delivery systems, and obtaining organization-wide buy-in to facilitate their implementation. Implementation science research is needed to identify strategies to effectively implement and sustain evidence-based FI interventions.

Although hydroxyurea is proven effective in treatment of sickle cell anemia (SCA) and is widely prescribed in high-income countries, due to questions about feasibility of treating large numbers of patients in resource-limited health systems, its use is limited in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where most children with SCA live. We assessed hematological response and toxicity of hydroxyurea treatment for SCA in Angola. Retrospective study of children with SCA (not selected for clinical severity) treated on a fixed dose of hydroxyurea for at least 6months. Because only the 500mg capsule was available, dose was averaged weekly. We evaluated toxicity events and magnitude of hydroxyurea-induced changes in blood counts and compared patients who received a uniform daily dose to those prescribed intermittent or uneven daily doses. Only 13% of 303 patients received a uniform dose of hydroxyurea daily. Dose ranged from 16.5 to 22.8mg/kg/day. Hydroxyurea increased HGB and mean cell volume values by 0.5g/dL (P<0.0001) and 8fL (P<0.0001), while ANC, PLT, and ARC decreased 1.1×109 /L (P<0.0001), 34×109 /L (P=<0.0001), and 19×109 /L (P=0.0008), respectively. There were no differences in magnitude of hydroxyurea-induced changes between patients prescribed intermittent or uneven doses and uniform daily doses, or between those treated in the lower and higher dose quartiles. Hematological toxicity events were mild and reversible. Intermittent or uneven daily dosing of hydroxyurea is as effective as fixed daily doses in treating SCA. This strategy may enable treatment of additional children with SCA in SSA.

Stigma and discrimination affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people compromise health and human rights and exacerbate the HIV epidemic. Scant research has explored effective LGBT stigma reduction strategies in low- and middle-income countries. We developed and pilot-tested a participatory theatre intervention (PTI) to reduce LGBT stigma in Swaziland and Lesotho, countries with the world's highest HIV prevalence. We collected preliminary data from in-depth interviews with LGBT people in Lesotho and Swaziland to enhance understanding of LGBT stigma. Local LGBT and theatre groups worked with these data to create a 2-hour PTI composed of three skits on LGBT stigma in health care, family, and community settings in Swaziland (Manzini) and Lesotho (Maseru, Mapoteng). Participants ( n = 106; nursing students, health care providers, educators, community members) completed 12 focus groups following the PTI. We conducted thematic analysis to understand reactions to the PTI. Focus groups revealed the PTI increased understanding of LGBT persons and issues, increased empathy, and fostered self-reflection of personal biases. Increased understanding included enhanced awareness of the negative impacts of LGBT stigma, and of LGBT people's lived experiences and issues. Participants discussed changes in attitude and perspective through self-reflection and learning. The format of the theatre performance was described as conducive to learning and preferred over more conventional educational methods. Findings indicate changed attitudes and awareness toward LGBT persons and issues following a PTI in Swaziland and Lesotho. Stigma reduction interventions may help mitigate barriers to HIV prevention, treatment, and care in these settings with a high burden of HIV.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine the level of adherence and the factors associated with adherence to diabetes care recommendations among type 1 diabetic children and adolescents at two urban diabetes clinics in Kampala, Uganda.Research design and methodsA facility-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 200 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes at two major diabetes clinics in Kampala. Caretakers of the children and adolescents were interviewed using pretested questionnaires to provide information on sociodemographic characteristics, diabetes care, knowledge, attitudes, and adherence to diabetes care recommendations in type 1 diabetes. Prevalence rate ratios (PRRs) at the 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to establish the factors associated with adherence using modified Poisson regression, with robust standard errors. The data were analyzed by using STATA Version 13.0.ResultsThe overall prevalence of adherence to diabetes care recommendations was at 37%. However, evaluating adherence to specific treatment parameters showed that 52%, 76.5%, and 29.5% of the children and adolescents adhered to insulin, blood glucose monitoring, and dietary recommendations, respectively. In the final adjusted model, active diet monitoring (adjusted PRR [APRR]: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.01, 3.78), being under care of a sibling (APRR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.61, 1.71), being under care of a married caretaker (APRR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.14) and a separated or divorced caretaker (APRR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.12, 2.27), taking three or less tests of blood glucose per day (APRR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.42, 0.95), and having a caretaker with poor knowledge about diabetes (APRR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.43, 0.57) and who is inactive in supervision of insulin injections (APRR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.56, 0.60) were associated with adherence to type 1 diabetes care recommendations.ConclusionAdherence to type 1 diabetes care recommendations is still low among this population. The results suggest that reinforcing caretaker involvement could be vital in improving adherence to diabetes care recommendations in this population.