Extending Furman\u27s Reach

A $17 million grant from the Duke Endowment creates a major scholarship program and bolsters Asian Studies

Sustainable Furman

A comprehensive sustainability master plan calls for the university to become carbon neutral by 2026

A Tough Act to Follow

With David Shi planning to step down next spring, Furman launches the quest for its 11th president

Sustainable Furman

A comprehensive sustainability master plan calls for the university to become carbon neutral by 2026

Male involvement in sexual and reproductive health in the Mendi district, Southern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea: a descriptive study

BACKGROUND: Lack of male involvement and support for sexual and reproductive health services is seen by many Papua New Guinean women as a barrier to accessing services. Poor utilization of services by both men and women is reflected in high maternal mortality and high rates of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections in the Southern Highlands Province. It is therefore important to understand the type of services provided, men’s perceptions of these services and the Health Sector’s capacity to involve men in its programs. METHODS: Information from interviews of married men, officers in charge of health facilities, and information from a focus group discussion with village leaders was collected to assess possible constraints to reproductive and sexual health care delivery. RESULTS: Although many men had heard about antenatal care, supervised births, family planning and sexually transmitted infections including, HIV/AIDS, many were unaware of their importance and of the types of services provided to address these issues. There was a very strong association between men’s literacy and their knowledge of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) issues, their discussion of these issues with their wives and their wives’ utilisation of sexual and reproductive health services. Some men considered SRH services to be important but gave priority to social obligations. Although men made most decisions for sexual and reproductive issues, pregnancy, child birth and rearing of children were regarded as women’s responsibilities. Knowledge of HIV/AIDS appeared to have changed sexual behaviour in some men. Services for men in this rural setting were inadequate and service providers lacked the capacity to involve men in reproductive health issues. CONCLUSION: Poor knowledge, socio-cultural factors and inadequate and inappropriate services for men hampered utilization of services and impaired support for their wives’ service utilization. Programmatic and policy initiatives should focus on improving service delivery to accommodate men in sexual and reproductive health

Use of the Erector Spinae Plane Block for the Perioperative Pain Management of the Cardiac Surgical Patient: An Educational Module

ABSTRACT Background: Regional anesthesia has been at the forefront of opioid-sparing anesthesia. It has been proven time and again to be an effective method of safely and effectively controlling pain throughout the surgical process. Cardiac surgery presents its challenges to performing regional techniques due to the excessive amount of anticoagulation required to perform this type of surgery. The thoracic erector spinae plane block is a promising technique that has been shown to provide adequate pain control and is a safe alternative in patients who are anticoagulated compared to other regional techniques. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to increase anesthesia provider knowledge on the value of the use of the ESP block for cardiac surgery. A literature review including primary research studies addresses the PICO question: “In anticoagulated patients undergoing general anesthesia for cardiac surgery, are erector spinae plane blocks when compared to thoracic epidurals, thoracic paravertebral blocks, and traditional methods safer to use while providing adequate perioperative analgesia?” The literature review is utilized to deliver the educational structure to increase provider knowledge. The objective is to increase provider awareness to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction related to cardiac surgery. Methodology: The primary methodology of the proposed project is to administer an online educational intervention to providers which focuses on the benefits of the ESP block for cardiac surgery. Pre- and post-assessment surveys will be used to measure the improvement of provider knowledge before and after the intervention. The likelihood of use and recommendation of the ESP block for cardiac surgery will also be assessed. Results: There was an overall improvement in provider knowledge following the educational intervention. The likelihood of utilizing and recommending the ESP block improved overall as well. Conclusions: The evidence shows that the thoracic ESP block is a promising safe and effective tool for patients undergoing cardiac surgery via sternotomy or thoracotomy compared to the thoracic epidural, thoracic paravertebral block, and traditional methods. More research must be conducted via randomized controlled trials to ensure its safety and effectiveness

Plan for Continuing Earthquake Mitigation and Recommended Emergency Response Procedures for Western Kentucky

Concern has grown in recent years over the seismic activity of the New Madrid seismic zone in Western Kentucky. In 1987, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet commissioned the Kentucky Transportation Center to analyze and assess the possible effects of an earthquake on highway facilities. Since 1987, over 1,000 miles of priority routes have been recommended for the transportation of goods and services after a major earthquake. This report summarizes the mitigation research that has been conducted. This report also discusses a plan for continuing earthquake mitigation in Kentucky through seminars, discusses bridge retrofitting, and makes recommendations for a post earthquake response

Early ambulation and discharge after four French femoral artery catheterisation for diagnostic coronary angiography

One of the bottlenecks experienced by cardiac catheterisation laboratories is the amount of time that patients must remain on the unit after femoral artery puncture. This remains a contentious issue and there are a few studies to guide units with regard to how early it is possible to safely ambulate and discharge patients home.peer-reviewe