Academic Affiliation Research Articles

By the Book8 – Publishing and the Changing World, 21 to 22 June 2023, University of Porto, Portugal

Abstract In June 2023, a conference organized by the European Publishing Studies Association (EuroPub) – entitled ‘By the Book8’ – was held at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Porto (Faculdade de Letras Universidade do Porto – FLUP). This article analyses the participation at the conference, including details of academic affiliation and nationality, alongside the themes represented by the conference papers.

Market Factors, Not Quality, Influence Reimbursement for Pancreaticoduodenectomy in an Era of Price Transparency.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) price transparency rule tries to facilitate cost-conscious decision-making. For surgical services, such as pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), factors mediating transparency and real-world reimbursement are not well described. The Leapfrog Survey was used to identify United States hospitals performing PD. Financial and operational data were obtained from Turquoise Health and CMS Cost Reports. Chi-square tests and modified Poisson regression evaluated associations with reimbursement disclosure. Two-part logistic and gamma regression models estimated effects of hospital factors on commercial, Medicare, and self-pay reimbursements for PD. Of 452 Leapfrog hospitals, 295 (65%) disclosed PD hospital or procedure reimbursements. Disclosing hospitals were larger (beds >200: 81.0% vs. 71.3%, p = 0.04), reported higher net margins (0.7% vs. -2.1%, p = 0.04), more likely for-profit (26.1% vs. 6.4%, p < 0.001), and teaching-affiliated (82.0% vs. 65.6%, p < 0.001). Nonprofit status conferred hospitalization reimbursement increases of $8683-$12,329, while moderate market concentration predicted savings up to $5066. Teaching affiliation conferred reimbursement increases of $4589-$16,393 for hospitalizations and $644 for procedures. Top Leapfrog volume ratings predicted an increase of up to $7795 for only Medicare hospitalization reimbursement. Nondisclosure of hospital and procedural reimbursements for PD remains a major issue. Transparency was noted in hospitals with higher margins, size, and academic affiliation. Factors associated with higher reimbursement were non-profit status, academic affiliation, and more equitable market share. Reimbursement inconsistently tracked with PD quality or volume measures. Policy changes may be required to incentivize reimbursement disclosure and translate transparency into increased value for patients.

Supplemental breast cancer screening after negative mammography in U.S. women with dense breasts.

The extent and determinants of supplemental screening among women with dense breasts are unclear. We evaluated a retrospective cohort of 498,855 women aged 40-74 years with heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts who obtained 1,176,251 negative screening mammography examinations during 2011-2019 in the United States. Overall, 2.8% and 0.3% of mammograms had supplemental ultrasound or MRI within one year, respectively. Onsite availability was associated with ultrasound (odds ratio [OR]=4.35; 95%CI : 4.21-4.49) but not MRI (OR = 0.94; 95%CI : 0.85-1.04). Facility academic affiliation and for-profit status were inversely associated with supplemental ultrasound (OR = 0.53; 95%CI : 0.49-0.57 and OR = 0.83; 95%CI : 0.81-0.86, respectively) and positively associated with supplemental MRI (OR = 3.04; 95%CI : 2.86-3.46 and OR = 1.88; 95%CI : 1.66-2.12, respectively). Supplemental screening was more likely to occur after passage of state-specific density notification laws than before passage (OR = 3.56; 95%CI 3.30-3.84 and OR = 1.79; 95%CI 1.60-2.00, respectively). These results show that supplemental breast imaging utilization has been uncommon and was related to facility factors and density legislation.

The Impact of Image Comparison on The Self-Identity Formation of Female University Students on Social Media

Nowadays, social media is not only an important way for female college students to express themselves but also the main source and way to receive and obtain information. Different platforms push various ‘perfect images’ to female users through algorithms, and constantly create labels and topics about beauty, such as ‘white, thin and young’, ‘straight shoulders’, and so on. Female college students are in an important stage of self-identity construction, during which they will consciously or unconsciously compare themselves with others, and these comparisons affect their aesthetic concepts views, and understanding of themselves. This thesis employs a qualitative research methodology to examine and elucidate the nexus between image comparison on social media and women’s identity. To this end, it conducts in-depth interviews with 11 female university students representing diverse academic disciplines, institutional affiliations, and geographical locations. The study found that there are differences in personal preferences and purposes when female college students choose comparison objects and that the comparison of images on social media has different positive or negative impacts on psychological aspects, and there are individual differences in the degree of impacts, but the comparison of images does not have a direct impact on individual behavior, and generally stays at the psychological level of the individual: in addition, the social activities in daily life and study and other activities of personal growth nowadays can effectively reduce the impacts of social media.

Variables Influencing Participants’ Choice of Training Institutions for Training Program

This study compares variables influencing Participants’ choice of training institutions for participant program in Kathmandu Valley. Choice of training institutions for training program is taken as dependent variable. Costs, locations, academic career goal, training institutions affiliations and environment are independent variables. The primary sources of data are utilized to reach the opinions of respondents with respect to choice of training institution for training program in Kathmandu Valley. The survey is based on one hundred respondents. To obtain the purpose of the study, structured questionnaires are framed. The regression models are projected to trial the significance and impact of variables affecting choice of the training institutions for training program in Kathmandu Valley. The result shows that location, environment and Training Academic affiliation are positively connect to choice of training institutions for training program. It signifies that better the environment and Training Academics affiliation higher would be the choice of liked training institutions. The result also shows that more proper the location of the training institutions, greater is the chance of selecting the training institutions for training program. The regression result shows the cost, environment and training institutions affiliation have positive impact on choice of training institutions for training program. In the same manner, the beta coefficients for carrier goal and locations have significant positive impact of the selecting training institutions for training program, which is significant at 5 percent level of significance. Overall, the selecting of training institutions for training program in Kathmandu Valley is affected by the carrier goals followed by the location.

Discourse analysis on Facebook: Researchers and STEAM

The research addresses the intersection between digital culture and the STEAM movement, focusing on the communication between women researchers of the National System of Researchers of CONAHCYT in Mexico and those who are in training. This study aims to analyze a sociodigital network where women communicate aspects related to their disciplines and who find related topics with STEAM areas. With a qualitative approach, the methodology of communication ethnography is used to analyze the discourse in a specific Facebook group. It is important to mention that those who are not mothers and those who have no academic affiliation are excluded, in order to maintain consistency in the sample and the relevance of the data collected. It also seeks to identify the profiles of women who do science or who are related to it. The methodology is qualitative, using the technique of discourse analysis from the ethnography of communication. Communication within this social network group is characterized by being horizontal and supportive, fostering an environment of mutual support and collaboration. This study seeks to understand the communicative dynamics in this context, in view of the professional development of women in STEAM.

Climate Change and Public Health Dynamics: A Bibliometric Study with Comprehensive Review

The study directs to analyze how global climate shift affects public well-being and identify research clusters, trends, and potential gaps in this multidisciplinary field. The study also investigates the worldwide distribution of research institutions and their collaborative networks in this crucial area. We have use advanced bibliometric techniques to achieve our objectives. The analysis involves numerous academic articles, including journals, authors, keyword co-occurrence, and affiliations. By mapping the intellectual composition and trends in the field, we can gain valued perceptions of the complex relationship involving environmental alteration and public well-being. Bibliometric data is used to track research themes and clusters over time, examining keyword co-occurrence and affiliations. A comprehensive dataset of 1854 research papers was acquired from January 2000 to July 2023. Geospatial analysis helps us understand the geographic distribution of research institutions. Research papers were collected on climatic variations and people's physical conditions from the Web of Science portal, the report includes a bibliometric analysis and methodology review. Our study highlights research clusters and evolving themes in climatic disturbances and public wellbeing, along with potential study gaps. Furthermore, it examines the global reach of this critical field by analyzing the geographic distribution of research institutions and their collaborative networks. This review specifies a broad view of climate difference's impact on public health. It helps identify trends and promotes interdisciplinary collaborations. Use it to shape evidence-based strategies for mitigating climate changes health effects in the 21st century.

An Empirical Investigation of Organizational Readiness towards Hospital Autonomy.

We aimed to investigate Tehran's University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) affiliated hospitals organizational readiness toward implementing the 'Autonomous Hospitals' program as a change initiative from a managerial perspective in 2020. A census covering all eligible managers working in TUMS affiliated hospitals, Tehran, Iran (350 individuals) was carried out. Overall, 281 questionnaires were returned (a 30% non-responsiveness rate). A standard construct was adopted for data collection which was validated through a process of translation- back translation, face validity, and content validity (CVI=0.86, CVR=0.76). The reliability was acquired using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.87 and over 0.7). Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to draw conclusions .SPSS 26 was used for data analysis. Total organizational readiness for change (TORC) in hospitals was 60.75%±10.11 showing a state of medium to upper-medium readiness status. Also, the 'Clear mandate and centralized leadership' theme scored the lowest mean (53.02%±15.78) for ORC. 'Hospital accreditation level' (r=-0.14, P≤0.05), 'bed occupancy rate' (r=-0.19, P ≤0.05), and 'leadership status' (r=0.26, P≤0.001), also showed significant association with TORC. In addition, 'standardized bed occuPancy rate' (P≤0.05, B=-2.41), a 'male' leader (P ≤0.05, B=3.42), and 'academic affiliation' (P≤0. 1, B=-9.52), were good Predictors of TORC based on 'Backward Multiple Linear Regression' analysis. Full support from hospital and headquarters executives, delegation of sufficient decision-making authority to hospital managers, and implementation of comprehensive performance evaluation criteria were prerequisites for robust hospital autonomy in TUMS-affiliated hospitals.

Understanding the Barriers to Clinical Trial Referral and Enrollment Among Oncology Providers Within the Veterans Health Administration.

Clinical trials are essential for advancing treatment options in oncology while providing cancer patients with innovative care; however, few cancer patients are referred to clinical trials. System-, provider-, and patient-level barriers to clinical trial participation have been described but have not been studied in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Although the VHA has engaged in several initiatives to improve Veteran's access to clinical trials, including the National Cancer Institute and VA Interagency Group to Accelerate Trials Enrollment program and VHA work on the White House Cancer Moonshot, further research is needed to understand the multifaceted challenges underlying limited enrollment for Veterans who receive care in the VHA system. This research aims to evaluate VHA oncology providers' attitudes toward and experiences with referral and enrollmentof Veterans with cancer into clinical trials, for the purpose of informing actions that could be taken to enhance Veterans' access to clinical trials as well as the VHA's contributions to clinical research. This research comprised the administration of an electronic 34-item survey and semistructured interviews among oncology care providers in the VHA nationally, between May 2022 and August 2023. The survey was introduced via a presentation at VHA Oncology Office Hours and aimed to capture VHA oncology care providers' perceptions of and experiences with referral and enrollment to clinical trials. The semistructured interviews explored providers' perceived barriers to clinical trial participation and recruitment bias, as well as inquired about potentially modifiable factors for improving clinical trial enrollment at the VHA, such as providers' concerns, motivations for and facilitators of enrollment of patients into clinical trials, and the manner in which they communicate about clinical trials with their patients. Thirty-eight oncology care providers completed the survey, and eight completed the semistructured interview, including 5 staff physicians, 1 fellow, 1 nurse practitioner, and 1 physician assistant. Thirty-four survey respondents identified their specialty as medical oncology, one respondent identified the specialty as radiation oncology, and three identified the specialty as hematology. Nineteen respondents identified as women and 14 as men; the remainder did not provide their gender. Three respondents identified as Hispanic or Latino individuals, 11 as Asians, 3 as Black individuals, and 17 as White individuals. Five interview participants reported holding an individual academic affiliation. Participants identified and described various barriers to clinical trial referral and enrollment at multiple levels, including lack of appropriate trials, strict patient eligibility criteria, difficulties in understanding and managing the referral process for trials outside the VHA system, challenges with obtaining information and identifying available clinical trials, Veterans' financial and logistical concerns, lack of trust in the medical establishment, lack of adequate social support, and Veterans' psychological and physical comorbidities. They also highlighted opportunities for system-level change that can overcome some of these barriers, including academic affiliations, patient support from internal and external nurse navigators, and dedicated research coordinators. The insights gleaned from this research can guide VHA in its efforts to optimize access to clinical trials for Veterans.

Nudging Towards Sleep-Friendly Hospitalizations: A Multifaceted Approach on Reducing Unnecessary Overnight Interventions.

Choice architecture refers to the design of decision environments, which can influence healthcare decision-making. Nudges are subtle adjustments in these environments that guide decisions toward desired outcomes. For example, Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) within Electronic Health Records (EHR) recommends frequencies for interventions such as nursing assessments and medication administrations, but these can link to around-the-clock schedules without clinical necessity. This study aimed to evaluate an intervention to promote sleep-friendly practices by optimizing choice architecture and employing targeted nudges on inpatient order frequencies. We employed a quasi-experimental interrupted time series analysis of a multifaceted, multiphase intervention to reduce overnight interventions in a hospital system. Our intervention featured EHR modifications to optimize the scheduling of vital sign checks, neurological checks, and medication administrations. Additionally, we used targeted secure messaging reminders and education on an inpatient neurology unit (INU) to supplement the initiative. Significant increases in sleep-friendly medication orders were observed at the academic medical center (AMC) and community hospital affiliate (CHA), particularly for acetaminophen and heparin at the AMC. This led to a reduction in overnight medication administrations, with the most substantial decrease observed with heparin at all locations (CHA: 18%, AMC: 10%, INU: 10%, p<0.05). Sleep-friendly vital sign orders increased significantly at all sites (AMC: 6.7%, CHA 4.3%, INU: 14%, p<0.05), and sleep-friendly neuro check orders increased significantly at the AMC (8.1%, p<0.05). There was also a significant reduction in overnight neurological checks at the AMC. Tailoring EHR modifications and employing multifaceted nudging strategies emerged as promising approaches for reducing unnecessary overnight interventions. The observed shifts in sleep-friendly ordering translated into decreases in overnight interventions. Multifaceted nudges can effectively influence clinician decision-making and patient care. The varied impacts across nudge types and settings emphasize the importance of thoughtful nudge design and understanding local workflows.

Impact of Veterans Affairs Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers: Incubators of innovation in geriatrics.

Since their inception in 1975, the Department of Veterans Affairs Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers (GRECCs) have served as incubators of innovation in geriatrics. Their contributions to the VA mission were last reviewed in 2012. Herein, we describe the continuing impact of GRECCs in research, clinical, and educational areas, focusing on the period between 2018 and 2022. GRECC research spans the continuum from bench to bedside, with a growing research portfolio notable for highly influential publications. GRECC education connects healthcare professions trainees and practicing clinicians, as well as Veterans and their caregivers, to engaging learning experiences. Clinical advancements, including age-friendly care, span the continuum of care and leverage technology to link disparate geographical sites. GRECCs are uniquely positioned to serve older adults given their alignment with the largest integrated health system in the United States and their integration with academic health centers. As such, the GRECCs honor Veterans as they age by building VA capacity to care for the increasing number of aging Veterans seeking care from VA. GRECC advancements also benefit non-VA healthcare systems, their academic affiliates, and non-Veteran older adults. GRECCs make invaluable contributions to advancing geriatric and gerontological science, training healthcare professionals, and developing innovative models of geriatric care.

Medical training program size and clinical staff productivity and turnover.

The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the effect of resident program training size on clinician productivity and turnover in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the largest education and training platform for medical professionals in the United States. We retrieved administrative data on training programs and training facilities from the VA Office of Academic Affiliations and the VHA Corporate Data Warehouse. Data on primary care physician shortage areas were retrieved from the Health Resources and Services Administration. We used a quasi-experimental instrumental variables 2SLS design and constructed an exogenous predicted training allocation treatment variable as a function of the total national training program allocation. The outcome was clinical staff productivity and turnover. Secondary analyses stratified results using Health Professional Shortage Areas data (HPSA). Data were obtained for a national dataset of 141 VHA medical facilities and 26 specialties that hosted training programs across 11 years from 2011 to 2021 (N = 132,177). Instrumental variables results showed that on average, an increase of one training slot in a specialty leads to a decrease of 0.039 visits per standardized clinic day (p < 0.001) and a 0.02 percentage point increase in turnover (p < 0.001). The direction of this association varied by specialty: while psychiatry and psychology specialties saw a decline in productivity, fields such as primary care and cardiology experienced an increase in productivity. HPSA stratified results indicate that negative effects on productivity and turnover are driven by areas with little to no primary care physician shortage, whereas shortage areas experienced a small increase in productivity and no effect on turnover. This quasi-experimental evaluation indicates that resident training program size is associated with reduced productivity and increased turnover in specialties such as psychiatry and in facilities with high baseline productivity. However, in specialties like primary care and cardiology, as well as areas with shortages of primary care, larger training programs are associated with increased productivity.

Internal Medicine Program Directors' Perceptions About Accommodating Residents with Disabilities: A Qualitative Study.

While 26% of US adults are disabled, only 3.1 to 9.3% of practicing physicians report having a disability. Ableism within medical training and practice diminishes physician diversity and wellbeing and contributes to healthcare disparities. Explore physician barriers to disability equity and inclusion by examining internal medicine (IM) program directors' (PD) perspectives about recruiting and accommodating residents with disabilities (RWD). Qualitative study involving semi-structured virtual interviews (conducted December 2022-September 2023; analyzed through December 2023). PDs were recruited via email. Purposive sampling captured program diversity in size, location, and affiliations. Convenience sampling ensured PD diversity by gender, race/ethnicity, and age. Coders analyzed thematic and discursive content of interview transcripts to characterize PD perspectives about RWDs and accommodations. Of the 15 programs represented, 4 had ≤ 49 and 8 had ≥ 100 total residents. Three were community-based; the rest had academic affiliations. On average, PDs had 17 (SD 8.2) years in practice. Most (11/15) identified as White race; 8/15 as female; and none as disabled. PDs characterized disability as a source of grit and empathy but also as an intrinsic deficit. They worried RWDs could have unpredictable absences and clinical incompetencies. Perceived accommodation challenges included inexperience, workload distribution, information asymmetry about accommodation needs or options, barriers to disclosure (e.g., discrimination concerns), and insufficient accommodation advertising. Perceived facilitators included advanced planning; clear, publicized processes; and access to expertise (e.g., occupational health, ombudsmen). PDs held contradictory views of RWDs. PD insights revealed opportunities to alleviate PD-RWD information asymmetry in recruitment/accommodation processes, which could help align needs and improve representation and inclusion.

Longitudinal Outcomes of a Resident Academic Administrator, Clinician Educator Track.

As clinician educator tracks continue to gain popularity in graduate medical education, this report aims to fill a gap in the literature by providing a 14-year update on professional outcomes of participants in a psychiatry residency academic administrator, clinician educator (AACE) track and to compare these outcomes to non-track participants. An anonymous web-based survey querying professional achievements was distributed to all graduates of a psychiatry residency training program from 2009 to 2022. Outcomes of AACE track participants and non-track participants were compared. Of 228 alumni contacted, 61% responded (n = 140). Eighty-seven percent of track participants responded (n = 74) while 41% of non-track participants responded (n = 45). Of track participants, 63% practice in academic settings with 57% having held administrative leadership roles, 49% educational leadership roles, and 39% national or regional leadership roles. Track graduates were academically engaged with 70% reporting at least one publication, 89% at least one presentation, and 93% attending at least one national meeting. In comparison, 31% of non-track participants practice in academic settings with 44% having held administrative, 29% educational, and 20% national or regional leadership roles. Thirty-nine percent have at least one publication, 75% at least one presentation, and 90% attended at least one national meeting. When compared to non-track participants, track participants were significantly more likely to have an academic affiliation and a higher number of publications and were more likely to hold national or regional leadership roles. Track participants demonstrate longitudinal career success as clinician educators and academic administrators more so than non-track participants.

Academic-practice partnership: Exploring a model for collaborative nursing education in infection prevention and control

The academic-practice partnership has become increasingly important in nursing education. An academic-practice partnership between a health systems infection prevention and control (IPC) department and its academic affiliate may provide an opportunity to help advance undergraduate nursing student’s IPC knowledge and skills and provide IPC staff the opportunity to develop their clinical teaching skills as they teach and mentor students. We convened an exploratory workshop between our private university-based college of nursing and its affiliated health care system IPC department to brainstorm and identify areas for mutual collaboration and gauge interest in formalizing a partnership.

Exploring the content of epilepsy fellowship program websites: an analysis of information available to applicants

BackgroundProgram websites are essential resources in the process of residency and fellowship application. We evaluated the information furnished on these resources by Epilepsy fellowship programs. The extent of information provided was compared across geographic zones, academic affiliation, and national ranking.MethodsA list of Epilepsy fellowship programs was derived from the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA). Links to program websites were obtained directly from FREIDA or using Google’s search engine. Online data was categorized to reflect program information, education, recruitment, compensation, epilepsy center-specific information, and social media presence. Data points under each category were collected to develop a standardized scoring system. The frequency of criterion present was compared across geographic zones, academic affiliation, and national ranking using parametric and non-parametric statistical tests. Significance was determined at a p-value ≤ 0.05 for all cases. The study utilized IBM SPSS version 28 and Python 3.11.3.ResultsWe analyzed 80 Epilepsy fellowship programs. The most reported feature was the program director’s name and email (100.0%). The least reported features included board pass rates (1.3%), preparatory boot camp (8.8%), and post-fellowship placements (11.3%). Programs were found to be well-represented on X (88.8%), Facebook (81.3%), and Instagram (71.3%). Most (85.0%) of the programs were searchable through Google. The scores for program information, education, recruitment, compensation, epilepsy center-specific information, and social media visibility did not significantly vary based on location, academic affiliation, or rank status.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that despite an online presence, there is much room for improvement in the content available to the applicant. To improve the Match process and attract a roster of well-informed fellows, Epilepsy fellowship programs should furnish program websites with up-to-date information relevant to program information, education, recruitment, compensation, and epilepsy center-specific information.

The oncology care model and initiation of systemic therapy for cancer.

11031 Background: The CMS Oncology Care Model (OCM) was an episode payment model for patients with cancer receiving systemic therapy (chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or hormonal therapy) that began in July 2016. Voluntarily participating practices received monthly care coordination payments of $160 per patient per month and were required to deliver enhanced services; they were eligible to share in savings if they achieved quality and spending targets (based on historic spending trended forward; all practices were in one-sided risk arrangements before 2019). Prior research identified savings of $499 per episode (excluding monthly payments) through OCM’s first 5 years, but no overall savings after including incentive payments. One concern about an episode payment model triggered by initiation of systemic therapy is that the financial incentives may prompt an increase in the total number of episodes. We assessed if OCM led to an increase in the likelihood of initiating systemic therapy. Methods: Using Medicare data, we studied care for beneficiaries enrolled in Parts A, B, and D of fee-for-service Medicare with index cancer diagnoses in 2010 through 2019. We assessed initiation of systemic therapy in the one year after the index diagnosis date. We studied two populations: (1) all patients with an index cancer diagnosis and no cancer diagnosis in the preceding two years, suggesting newly diagnosed or newly progressive cancers (incident cohort) and (2) patients with poor prognosis cancers. We used a difference-in-differences (DiD) analysis to assess systemic therapy initiation among patients with index cancer diagnoses who had office visits to medical oncology practices that were participating in OCM, compared with matched comparison practices (on number of patients attributed, number of physicians, number of medical oncologists, and academic affiliation, favoring matches within Hospital Referral Region), before and after OCM’s start in July 2016. Analyses adjusted for patient demographic and clinical variables. Results: Among 742,699 beneficiaries in the incident cancer cohort, 61.9% initiated systemic therapy within 1 year of their index diagnosis. Among 777,951 beneficiaries in the poor prognosis cohort, 58.2% initiated systemic therapy within 1 year of their index diagnosis date. OCM was not associated with the likelihood of initiating systemic therapy in the incident cohort (DID:-0.7 percentage point change, 95% CI:-1.9,0.4, P=0.19) or the poor prognosis cohort (DID:-1.0 percentage point change, 95% CI:-2.1,0.1, P=0.07). Conclusions: Despite financial incentives of episode payment models that may favor greater use of systemic therapy for patients with cancer, OCM did not increase the likelihood of initiating systemic therapy episodes among patients with newly diagnosed/newly progressive cancers or poor prognosis cancers who visited a medical oncology practice.

Trends in hospital price transparency after implementation of the CMS Final Rule.

To assess trends in hospital price disclosures after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Final Rule went into effect. The Turquoise Health Price Transparency Dataset was used to identify all US hospitals that publicly displayed pricing from 2021 to 2023. Price-disclosing versus nondisclosing hospitals were compared using Pearson's Chi-squared and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Bayesian structural time-series modeling was used to determine if enforcement of increased penalties for nondisclosure was associated with a change in the trend of hospital disclosures. Not applicable. As of January 2023, 5162 of 6692 (77.1%) US hospitals disclosed pricing of their services, with the majority (2794 of 5162 [54.1%]) reporting their pricing within the first 6 months of the final rule going into effect in January 2021. An increase in hospital disclosures was observed after penalties for nondisclosure were enforced in January 2022 (relative effect size 20%, p = 0.002). Compared with nondisclosing hospitals, disclosing hospitals had higher annual revenue, bed number, and were more likely to be have nonprofit ownership, academic affiliation, provide emergency services, and be in highly concentrated markets (p < 0.001). Hospital pricing disclosures are continuously in flux and influenced by regulatory and market factors.

The stock characters in the editorial boards of journals run by predatory publishers

AbstractThis study sets out to detail the deceptive practice of including stock characters in the editorial boards of journals run by predatory publishers. Stock characters are defined by the author as those that currently (2023) appear 20 or more times on these editorial boards. Predatory publishers are in turn defined by the author as open access publishers in violation of three or more out of eight egregiously ‘fatal’ criteria such as identity theft and token (or no) peer review. Stock characters (and stolen academic names and affiliations in general) are included in editorial boards to give them an unwarranted appearance of quality and excellence. Ninety‐six of these stock characters were identified, with their numbers of board memberships ranging from 20 to 503 in the current year (2023). Some were cases of total identity theft, some partial identity theft, and some willing compliance. Academics in the latter category could also have records of publications with the predatory publishers in question. Universities typically warn staff and postgraduate students about the dangers of engaging with predatory publishers, but they can be unresponsive or otherwise negative when alerted to instances of such engagements involving their staff.

“So we brought these players together”: a qualitative study of educators’ experiences to analyze the challenges of creating an e-learning program for neuropalliative care

BackgroundIn recent years, the subspecialty of neuropalliative care has emerged with the goal of improving the quality of life of patients suffering from neurological disease, though gaps remain in neuropalliative care education and training. E-learning has been described as a way to deliver interactive and facilitated lower-cost learning to address global gaps in medical care. We describe here the development of a novel, international, hybrid, and asynchronous curriculum with both self-paced modules and class-based lectures on neuropalliative care topics designed for the neurologist interested in palliative care, the palliative care physician interested in caring for neurological patients, and any other physician or advanced care providers interested in neuropalliative care.MethodsThe course consisted of 12 modules, one per every four weeks, beginning July 2022. Each module is based on a case and relevant topics. Course content was divided into three streams (Neurology Basics, Palliative Care Basics, and Neuropalliative Care Essentials) of which two were optional and one was mandatory, and consisted of classroom sessions, webinars, and an in-person skills session. Evaluation of learners consisted of multiple choice questions and written assignments for each module. Evaluation of the course was based on semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted with both educator and learner, the latter of which will be published separately. Audio files were transcribed and underwent thematic analysis. For the discussion of the results, Khan’s e-learning framework was used.ResultsTen of the 12 participating educators were interviewed. Of the educators, three identified as mid-career and seven as senior faculty, ranging from six to 33 years of experience. Nine of ten reported an academic affiliation and all reported association with a teaching hospital. Themes identified from the educators’ evaluations were: bridging the global gap, getting everybody on board, defining the educational scope, investing extensive hours of voluntary time and resources, benefiting within and beyond the curriculum, understanding the learner’s experience, creating a community of shared learning, adapting future teaching and learning strategies, and envisioning long term sustainability.ConclusionsThe first year of a novel, international, hybrid, and asynchronous neuropalliative care curriculum has been completed, and its educators have described both successes and avenues for improvement. Further research is planned to assess this curriculum from the learner perspective.