Tailoring health programming to clergy: findings from a study of United Methodist clergy in North Carolina

Research indicating high rates of chronic disease among some clergy groups highlights the need for health programming for clergy. Like any group united by similar beliefs and norms, clergy may find culturally tailored health programming more accessible and effective. There is an absence of research on what aspects clergy find important for clergy health programs. We conducted 11 focus groups with United Methodist Church pastors and district superintendents. Participants answered open-ended questions about clergy health program desires and ranked program priorities from a list of 13 possible programs. Pastors prioritized health club memberships, retreats, personal trainers, mental health counseling, and spiritual direction. District superintendents prioritized for pastors: physical exams, peer support groups, health coaching, retreats, health club memberships, and mental health counseling. District superintendents prioritized for themselves: physical exams, personal trainers, health coaching, retreats, and nutritionists. Additionally, through qualitative analysis, nine themes emerged concerning health and health programs: (a) clergy defined health holistically, and they expressed a desire for (b) schedule flexibility, (c) accessibility in rural areas, (d) low cost programs, (e) institutional support, (f) education on physical health, and (g) the opportunity to work on their health in connection with others. They also expressed concern about (h) mental health stigma and spoke about (i) the tension between prioritizing healthy behaviors and fulfilling vocational responsibilities. The design of future clergy health programming should consider these themes and the priorities clergy identified for health programming.     

Diversity in one dimension alongside greater similarity in others: evidence from FP7 cooperative research teams

Although diversity between team members may bring benefits of new perspectives, nevertheless, what holds a team together is some degree of similarity. We theorise that diversity in one dimension is traded off against diversity in another. Our analysis of collaborative research teams that received FP7 funding presents robust results that indicators of diversity in several dimensions—diversity of organizational form (universities, firms, etc.), diversity in nationality, and inequality in project funding share—are negatively correlated with each other.     

Deconstructing gender: evidence on how programmes address gender inequalities to improve health

A growing body of evidence demonstrates that incorporating approaches to address gender inequality in programmes can lead to improved health outcomes. This article aims to deconstruct the various dimensions of gender and identify how programmes address these domains to improve health. This study draws on a broader systematic review examining the impact of gender-integrated programmes on health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. We identified 68 programmes meeting our criteria for inclusion. Our analysis found considerable variation in gender domains addressed across programmes, suggesting that more evidence is needed to understand the pathways through which gender-integrated programmes influence health.     

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: Case Report and Literature Review

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare cause of acute myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. It occurs most commonly in otherwise healthy women during pregnancy or the postpartum period. The true incidence of SCAD is underestimated, as most cases are diagnosed at autopsy. The pathophysiology of SCAD is still not fully understood, and its management can be challenging. This report describes a 35‐year‐old pregnant female who presented with an acute antero‐lateral ST elevation secondary to spontaneous dissection of the left anterior descending artery and the circumflex artery. The diagnosis was established by coronary artery angiography. However, the patient died following cardiac tamponade. The examination of this case represented a starting point for the reviewing of the diagnosis, clinical course, and management of SCAD, and for the placing of this in context with the existing literature. This study highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis and subsequent lifesaving treatment.