Proceedings of the "Pollination: Science and Stewardship" Symposium

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#MeToo in EM: A Multicenter Survey of Academic Emergency Medicine Faculty on Their Experiences with Gender Discrimination and Sexual Harassment

Introduction: Gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment of female physicians are well documented. The #MeToo movement has brought renewed attention to these problems. This study examined academic emergency physicians’ experiences with workplace gender discrimination and sexual harassment.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of emergency medicine (EM) faculty across six programs. Survey items included the following: the Overt Gender Discrimination at Work (OGDW) Scale; the frequency and source of experienced and observed discrimination; and whether subjects had encountered unwanted sexual behaviors by a work superior or colleague in their careers. For the latter question, we asked subjects to characterize the behaviors and whether those experiences had a negative effect on their self-confidence and career advancement. We made group comparisons using t-tests or chi-square analyses, and evaluated relationships between gender and physicians’ experiences using correlation analyses.Results: A total of 141 out of 352 (40.1%) subjects completed at least a portion of the survey. Women reported higher mean OGDW scores than men (15.4 vs 10.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.6–6.8). Female faculty were also more likely to report having experienced gender-based discriminatory treatment than male faculty (62.7% vs 12.5%; 95% CI, 35.1%-65.4%), although male and female faculty were equally likely to report having observed gender-based discriminatory treatment of another physician (64.7% vs 56.3%; 95% CI, 8.6%-25.5%). The three most frequent sources of experienced or observed gender-based discriminatory treatment were patients, consulting or admitting physicians, and nursing staff. The majority of women reported having encountered unwanted sexual behaviors in their careers, with a significantly greater proportion of women reporting them compared to men (52.9% vs 26.2%, 95% CI, 9.9%-43.4%). The majority of unwanted behaviors were sexist remarks and sexual advances. Of those respondents who encountered these unwanted behaviors, 22.9% and 12.5% reported at least somewhat negative effects on their self-confidence and career advancement.Conclusion: Female EM faculty perceived more gender-based discrimination in their workplaces than their male counterparts. The majority of female and approximately a quarter of male EM faculty encountered unwanted sexual behaviors in their careers.

First record of the Lasioglossum (Dialictus) petrellum species group in Canada

Because this is a scientific note, no abstract is submitted

The bees of British Columbia (Hymenoptera: Apoidea, Apiformes)

British Columbia is the most biologically diverse province in Canada, and its wide range of landscapes – particularly the dry valley bottoms and basins of the Columbia, Kootenay, Okanagan, Kettle, and Similkameen River systems – make it ideal for many groups of Hymenoptera, including bees. With the exceptions of some generic- or family-level treatments, no comprehensive account of the bees of British Columbia has been published, although recent studies have indicated that more than half of Canada’s bee species may be found in the province, with many of these found nowhere else in the country. Here, we summarize the province’s bee fauna by providing a comprehensive annotated checklist of species. For each species, we indicate the ecozone(s) in which they are presentently known to occur, and we provide summary statistics and analyses to compare ecozones. We also summarize the growth in knowledge of the province’s bee species over time, and all species accounts for the province are accompanied by a list of supporting literature or data. Although we feel this list is comprehensive, it is likely that we have overlooked some published accounts, and additional undocumented species will show up. In total, we record 483 bee species from British Columbia, 37 of which are considered new to the province. Among these, 20 species (or subspecies) are recorded as new to Canada, including: Andrena (Euandrena) misella Timberlake, Panurginus cressoniellus Cockerell [Andrenidae], Lasioglossum (Dialictus) obnubilum (Sandhouse), L. (Evylaeus) argemonis (Cockerell), L. (Hemihalictus) glabriventre (Crawford), L. (Hemihalictus) kincaidii (Cockerell) [Halictidae], Osmia (Melanosmia) laeta Sandhouse, O. (Melanosmia) malina Cockerell, O. (Melanosmia) pulsatillae Cockerell, O. (Melanosmia) raritatis Michener, Anthidium (Anthidium) formosum Cresson, Dianthidium (Dianthidium) plenum plenum Timberlake, D. (Dianthidium) singulare (Cresson), Stelis (Stelis) ashmeadiellae Timberlake, S. (Stelis) calliphorina (Cockerell), Dioxys pomonae pomonae Cockerell, Megachile pugnata pomonae Cockerell [Megachilidae], Nomada crotchii Cresson, Melissodes (Eumelissodes) saponellus Cockerell, and Habropoda miserabilis (Cresson) [Apidae]

Utilization of Wellness Practices For Burnout and Stress During COVID-19 Among an Interdisciplinary Cohort of Emergency Healthcare Workers

Introduction: The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) introduced additional stress to the baseline occupational stressors of emergency care workers. The objectives of this study were to evaluate perceived stress and burnout and the utilization and perceived benefit of wellness practices among emergency healthcare workers (EHCWs), including: emergency physicians, advanced practice providers (APPs), nurses, and departmental administrative staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional 28-item electronic survey of EHCWs at three hospitals in a major United States city was used to measure participants’ utilization and perceived benefit of wellness practices, burnout (2-item measure), overall stress (perceived stress scale), and stress related to COVID-19. Results: The sample consisted of 260 respondents (response rate 44.6%, 583 eligible). Over one-half (56.5%) reported burnout from their job and a majority (58.5%) reported moderate to high stress. Wellness activities including regular exercise and engaging in hobbies were associated with lower reports of burnout. Higher stress levels were reported by participants who had tested positive for COVID-19. Nurses reported the highest rates of burnout overall (80.6%). Females reported higher rates of burnout than males across the cohort (64.5 vs 41.9%, p = 0.001), and female APPs reported significantly higher burnout than did male APPs (69.2 vs 38.5%, p = 0.048). Participants reported donated personal protective equipment (PPE) and meals on shift were extremely helpful. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic was a significant contributor to the stress of EHCWs. Regular engagement in wellness activities was associated with lower rates of burnout. The benefit of engagement in wellness practices, both individual practices and organizational interventions are paramount to mitigate stress and burnout in EHCWs

Preferences in Information Processing, Marginalized Identity, and Non-Monogamy: Understanding Factors in Suicide-Related Behavior among Members of the Alternative Sexuality Community

Suicide-related behavior (SRB) is a mental health disparity experienced by the alternative sexuality community. We assessed mental health, relationship orientation, marginalized identities (i.e., sexual orientation minority, gender minority, racial minority, ethnic minority, and lower education), and preferences in information processing (PIP) as factors differentiating lifetime SRB groups. An online cross-sectional survey study was conducted in 2018. Members of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF; n = 334) took part. Bivariate analyses identified the following SRB risk factors: female and transgender/gender non-binary identity, sexual orientation minority identity, lower education, suicide attempt/death exposure, Need for Affect (NFA) Avoidance, depression, and anxiety. Monogamous relationship orientation was a protective factor. Multi-nomial regression revealed the following: (1) monogamous relationship orientation was a protective factor for suicidal ideation and attempt; (2) lower education was a risk factor for suicide attempt; (3) anxiety was a risk factor for suicide attempt; and (4) depression was a risk factor for suicidal ideation. A two-way interaction showed that elevated NFA Approach buffered the negative impacts of depression. Relationship orientation, several marginalized identities (i.e., based on gender, sexual orientation, and educational level), and PIP all contributed uniquely to SRB. Further study is necessary to understand the role of relationship orientation with suicide. Health education and suicide prevention efforts with NCSF should be tailored to account for marginalized identity, mental health, and NFA factors

Child Acute Malnutrition and Mortality in Populations Affected by Displacement in the Horn of Africa, 1997–2009

Drought and conflict in the Horn of Africa are causing population displacement, increasing risks of child mortality and malnutrition. Humanitarian agencies are trying to mitigate the impact, with limited resources. Data from previous years may help guide decisions. Trends in different populations affected by displacement (1997–2009) were analyzed to investigate: (1) how elevated malnutrition and mortality were among displaced compared to host populations; (2) whether the mortality/malnutrition relation changed through time; and (3) how useful is malnutrition in identifying high mortality situations. Under-five mortality rates (usually from 90-day recall, as deaths/10,000/day: U5MR) and global acute malnutrition (wasting prevalences, < −2SDs of references plus edema: GAM) were extracted from reports of 1,175 surveys carried out between 1997–2009 in the Horn of Africa; these outcome indicators were analyzed by livelihood (pastoral, agricultural) and by displacement status (refugee/internally displaced, local resident/host population, mixed); associations between these indicators were examined, stratifying by status. Patterns of GAM and U5MR plotted over time by country and livelihood clarified trends and showed substantial correspondence. Over the period GAM was steady but U5MR generally fell by nearly half. Average U5MR was similar overall between displaced and local residents. GAM was double on average for pastoralists compared with agriculturalists (17% vs. 8%), but was not different between displaced and local populations. Agricultural populations showed increased U5MR when displaced, in contrast to pastoralist. U5MR rose sharply with increasing GAM, at different GAM thresholds depending on livelihood. Higher GAM cut-points for pastoralists than agriculturalists would better predict elevated U5MR (1/10,000/day) or emergency levels (2/10,000/day) in the Horn of Africa; cut-points of 20–25% GAM in pastoral populations and 10–15% GAM in agriculturalists are suggested. The GAM cut-points in current use do not vary by livelihood, and this needs to be changed, tailoring cut points to livelihood groups, to better identify priorities for intervention. This could help to prioritize limited resources in the current situation of food insecurity and save lives

Western Bumble Bee: Declines in the Continental United States and Range-Wide Information Gaps

In recent decades, many bumble bee species have declined due to changes in habitat, climate, and pressures from pathogens, pesticides, and introduced species. The western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis), once common throughout western North America, is a species of concern and will be considered for listing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We attempt to improve alignment of data collection and research with USFWS needs to consider redundancy, resiliency, and representation in the upcoming species status assessment. We reviewed existing data and literature on B. occidentalis, highlighting information gaps and priority topics for research. Priorities include increased knowledge of trends, basic information on several life‐history stages, and improved understanding of the relative and interacting effects of stressors on population trends, especially the effects of pathogens, pesticides, climate change, and habitat loss. An understanding of how and where geographic range extent has changed for the two subspecies of B. occidentalis is also needed. We outline data that could be easily collected in other research projects that would increase their utility for understanding range‐wide trends of bumble bees. We modeled the overall trend in occupancy from 1998 to 2018 of Bombus occidentalis within the continental United States using existing data. The probability of local occupancy declined by 93% over 21 yr from 0.81 (95% CRI = 0.43, 0.98) in 1998 to 0.06 (95% CRI = 0.02, 0.16) in 2018. The decline in occupancy varied spatially by landcover and other environmental factors. Detection rates vary in both space and time, but peak detection across the continental United States occurs in mid‐July. We found considerable spatial gaps in recent sampling, with limited sampling in many regions, including most of Alaska, northwestern Canada, and the southwestern United States. We therefore propose a sampling design to address these gaps to best inform the ESA species status assessment through improved assessment of how the spatial distribution of stressors influences occupancy changes. Finally, we request involvement via data sharing, participation in occupancy sampling with repeated visits to distributed survey sites, and complementary research to address priorities outlined in this paper