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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic challenged bioethical principles of research and the ability of scientific and healthcare institutions to provide equitable care. How can geroscience adapt to build equity within research protocols to better serve minoritized and marginalized communities? What lessons can geroscience take from the COVID-19 pandemic and its response? Developing geroscience approaches that incorporate such knowledge, including vaccine distribution plans and coalition-building to improve vaccine confidence, may help to reduce health inequities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to determine the academic and professional outcomes of medical school graduates who failed the United States Licensing Examination Step 1 on the first attempt. This retrospective cohort study was based on pooled data from 2,003 graduates of six Midwestern medical schools in the classes of 1997-2002. Demographic, academic, and career characteristics of graduates who failed Step 1 on the first attempt were compared to graduates who initially passed. Fifty medical school graduates (2.5%) initially failed Step 1. Compared to graduates who initially passed Step 1, a higher proportion of graduates who initially failed Step 1 became primary care physicians (26/49 [53%] vs. 766/1,870 [40.9%]), were more likely at graduation to report intent to practice in underserved areas (28/50 [56%] vs. 419/1,939 [21.6%]), and more likely to take 5 or more years to graduate (11/50 [22.0%] vs. 79/1,953 [4.0%]). The relative risk of first attempt Step 1 failure for medical school graduates was 13.4 for African Americans, 7.4 for Latinos, 3.6 for matriculants greater than 22 years of age, 3.2 for women, and 2.3 for first generation college graduates. The relative risk of not being specialty board certified for those graduates who initially failed Step 1 was 2.2. Our observations regarding characteristics of graduates in our study cohort who initially failed Step 1 can inform efforts by medical schools to identify and assist students who are at particular risk of failing Step 1.

Responding to health and digital inequities among older African Americans, a customized web-based mobile health information intervention is being developed for this vulnerable group and their doctors as part of the Health Empowerment Technologies (HET) Project. The belief is an empowered patient-doctor relationship leads to more improved health outcomes than patient empowerment alone. Using health information technology to empower both older African Americans and their doctors by increasing health literacy and computer capacities of both is the major HET study aim. A focus group of older African American patients and one of their doctors yielded data to help build the HET. Thematic analysis of opinions and preferences about the content and structure of the HET revealed concordance and asymmetry among the patients and doctors. While challenges prevail in its construction, building this ethnicity-specific web-based health information technology presents the opportunity to integrate health information technology in clinical encounters for every patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: African Americans (AA) are 1.8 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than non-Hispanic Whites. This increased diabetes risk has been linked to high rates of obesity and poor dietary habits; therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify how the nutrient intake profiles of AA adults differ by diabetes status. Methods: Dietary intakes of AA adults (aged ≥18 years; n=2,589) were examined from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Individuals were stratified into three groups (normoglycemia, pre-diabetes, and diabetes) based on self-reported previous diagnosis, blood glucose and use of glucose-lowering medications. Dietary intakes were collected using 24-hour recalls; energy-adjusted nutrients intake were compared across diabetes status. Results: Risk for pre-diabetes was 4% higher for every one year increase in age, while the risk for diabetes was 7% higher. Those with diabetes consumed significantly less energy (P=.03) and significantly more energy-adjusted protein (P=.011) and dietary fiber (P<,001) compared to those with normal blood glucose. Mean consumption of carbohydrates were nearly two and a half times the estimated average requirement regardless of diabetes status. Individuals with diabetes had significantly higher intakes of several B-vitamins including thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate and B-6 compared to individuals who had normal blood glucose values. Conclusion: This study identifies opportunities for improvement in the dietary habits of African Americans and supports the development of culturally-appropriate diabetes prevention and treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]