Articles tagged with Family Medicine
A new platform, Build Better Bones, offers evidence-based guidance and practical resources for osteoporosis management. The platform, developed by the International Osteoporosis Foundation, provides a trusted place for people with osteoporosis to start their journey, with a focus on exercise, nutrition, and home safety.
A new clinical trial will investigate whether adding the oral medication vorasidenib to standard chemotherapy improves progression-free survival for people with newly-diagnosed, grade 3 IDH-mutant astrocytoma. The study aims to recruit 400 individuals with this type of brain cancer and evaluate the safety and side-effect profile of the...
The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology is spotlighting new trials for colorectal cancer in March, focusing on early detection methods and treatments for treatment delays and loss of appetite. The trials aim to improve patient outcomes, with several enrolling patients with newly diagnosed colon or rectal cancer.
Researchers at Goethe University are developing non-hormonal contraceptives to address declining pill use and side effects. The PREVENT project aims to create safe and effective alternatives, focusing on small molecules that block proteins in sperm or egg cells.
A new clinical study aims to improve communication between patients and families about genetic risks of colorectal cancer. The trial will compare two methods of sharing genetic test results with close relatives, with the goal of learning which approach helps more family members get necessary genetic testing.
Researchers at the University of Toronto found that higher ultra-processed food consumption is associated with increased anxiety, fearfulness, aggression and hyperactivity in preschoolers. Replacing ultra-processed foods with minimally processed options may support healthier development and lower behavioural difficulties.
A survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center found that a strong majority of Americans view the MMR vaccine as safe relative to other vaccines. However, the number of people holding this view is below the threshold required for community immunity, which is worrisome.
A new online tool provides information and tools for clinicians to respond to emerging patient care needs, enhancing trauma-informed healthcare for individuals with C-PTSD. The resource was co-developed by researchers and survivors, aligning with best practices and patient-centered research.
Lifestyle medicine certified clinicians apply therapeutic lifestyle interventions to treat and prevent chronic conditions. This approach emphasizes whole-person health and is being integrated into clinical care nationwide.
Adult patients in an academic family medicine clinic preferred portal messages from their own primary care physician within three days. When not choosing portal messaging, they prioritized faster video visits with another physician over longer wait times.
A qualitative study found that family physicians in Ontario left comprehensive care due to unsustainable finances, heavy workloads and lack of support. Policymakers must address these concerns to retain practicing family physicians and improve access to primary care.
In Ontario, primary care home visits for adults aged 65 years and older decreased by nearly 30% after a 2019 policy change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonpalliative visits declined more than palliative ones, which showed growth after 2020.
A new produce prescription program improved nutrition security and household food security for Medicaid patients with diabetes or prediabetes. Meanwhile, contingent discounts on medication expenses were found to support better glycemic control in socioeconomically disadvantaged patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.
The CRISP Translation Guide enables the translation of research-reporting guidelines to support global application of primary care study results. The five-step process ensures clarity, usability, and accuracy in translated documents.
Researchers analyzed electronic health record data from 1,207 patients in Barcelona, Spain, and found that those with higher continuity of care had fewer emergency department visits and hospital admissions. Patients who saw their assigned clinician more often were less likely to use home ambulance services.
A study compared four approaches to supporting opioid deprescribing in primary care clinics, finding that clinics with both clinic workflow support and prescriber coaching had the largest reduction in average opioid dose. Clinics that received education alone showed significant increases in urine drug testing and treatment agreements.
Alcohol screening increased from 61% to 81%, and intervention among positive screens rose from 22% to 67%. Practices improved documentation of pregnancy intention, using the AUDIT-C tool more frequently. This approach empowers local staff to lead care improvement efforts.
The Japanese version of the rPATD questionnaire has been validated to assess attitudes towards medication reductions among older adults and their caregivers in Japan. The tool is reliable, valid, and easily understood, facilitating shared decision-making between healthcare providers and patients.
Primary care clinicians are testing AI-assisted patient messaging to reduce burnout, with mixed results. The study found that careful prompt design is crucial for effective AI-generated responses, varying by specialty, message type, and patient population.
A produce prescription program improved nutrition security among Medicaid patients with diabetes, increasing it from 23.2% to 38.7%. The program also improved food security, with 42.9% of participants reporting secure access to healthy foods after completion.
A randomized controlled trial found that contingent discount financial incentives on medication expenses can improve glycemic control and encourage engagement with ongoing monitoring among patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. After six months, the intervention group showed greater improvements in long-term blood sugar level...
A family medicine interdisciplinary team improved hepatitis C virus treatment outcomes by streamlining medication access and reducing administrative burdens. The team's strategy, implemented at an urban clinic in Ohio, resulted in a significant reduction of treatment delays from over 6 months to under 2 months.
A recent study from University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center found that diagnostic abnormalities were no more likely to occur among adults with unintentional weight loss than among comparison patients. In most cases, the weight loss was not linked to a serious underlying condition, with only a .7% overall rate of cancer.
The CDC recommends RSV vaccination for pregnant women to protect their newborns, while a monoclonal antibody injection is also available for high-risk infants. Most experts agree that RSV immunizations should be recommended for these groups due to the severity of the illness they can cause.
Researchers identify circulating extracellular vesicles produced in diseased kidneys as the culprit behind toxicity in the heart. The discovery could lead to the development of a blood test to identify patients at high risk for serious heart problems and novel treatments to prevent and treat heart failure.
Researchers analyzed medical records of 1,269 elderly patients with advanced cancer to find that over 70% were prescribed potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), which declined closer to death. PIM discontinuation was more common among female patients, those with polypharmacy, and palliative care unit admissions.
The CDC recommends shared clinical decision-making for some childhood vaccinations, allowing parents to choose or skip certain vaccines. However, a survey found that many Americans are unclear about what this means and who can be included as health care providers in the discussion.
A study published by Michigan Medicine suggests that AI can help increase the chance of people with risky drinking patterns or signs of alcohol use disorder getting outreach and help. The NLP tool analyzed full text of health records and identified over 47,500 patients with some sign of risky drinking.
A UBCO study found that resilience is shaped by supportive communities, not individual traits. Community-based strategies and place-based interventions are crucial for effective suicide prevention.
NEJM Clinician curates highly relevant clinical insights from over 150 peer-reviewed journals to give physicians clear guidance without the noise. The weekly publication delivers summaries and commentary in a concise, 30-minute read, helping healthcare providers stay informed and confident in their decisions.
The program provides financial aid and unique clinical experiences to medical students, encouraging them to become community physicians. UCF College of Medicine hopes the program can be used as a national model to address the nation's primary care physician shortage.
A nationwide study reveals an 11% decline in rural family physicians from 2017 to 2023, with the Northeast experiencing the greatest loss. The proportion of female rural family physicians increased during this period, further highlighting the need for strategies to address the ongoing shortage.
The report emphasizes the importance of pairing research with policy partners and investing in mentorship and career advancement of Latino scientists and students. It also calls for implementing evidence-based practices, using telemedicine and AI equitably, and designing trauma-informed interventions that fit Latino family life.
A new training program equips bilingual staff with medical interpretation skills, increasing qualified interpreter status to 72% among participants. The innovative approach leverages heritage-speaking staff's linguistic and cultural strengths to address the high need for qualified medical interpreters in primary care.
A survey of 134 young European family physicians found moderate overall readiness for AI, with varying levels of knowledge about current applications and usage. The study suggests a need for training and curricula tailored to primary care to address uneven readiness and low day-to-day use.
A population-based cohort study found that individuals following high-glycemic index diets had a 13% higher chance of developing lung cancer compared to those on low-GI diets. In contrast, those consuming high-glycemic load diets experienced a 28% lower risk of lung cancer.
A qualitative study of 25 general practitioners found that trust in patients deepens over time as part of a mutually trusting relationship. General practitioners initially assume trust but may lack it for complex patients who manipulate the system for secondary gain.
Adult adoptees experience multiple types of adoption-related bias from clinicians, leading to negative interactions and delayed care. Adoptees want clinicians to recognize and address adoption as a lifelong factor with health implications.
A machine learning-based study found that older adults who see the same primary care physician have significantly fewer preventable hospitalizations. The 11-year study linked survey responses and medical records, revealing a 9.8-23.5% lower probability of acute preventable hospitalizations with higher continuity of care.
Researchers analyzed data from 54,376 adults aged 45 and older in Australia, finding that higher continuity of care was associated with a lower probability of acute preventable hospitalization. A 9.8% to 23.5% lower risk was seen when increasing the Continuity of Care Index from the 45th to the 50th percentile. This suggests strengthen...
The new guideline provides evidence-based recommendations on 11 high-priority topics to guide outpatient care for adults with TBI in the first six months after injury. It addresses the need for standardized guidance and considers specific factors such as age, intimate partner violence, athletic background, and military service.
The Home Health Focus dataset provides insights into Medicare home health use from 2016 to 2019, including demographic data and patient function indicators. The analysis shows a rise in home health stays among beneficiaries while a decrease in active agencies during the same period.
A qualitative study found that physician responses to patient expectations contribute to pay gaps among Canadian physicians, particularly women, racialized, and immigrant physicians. Researchers suggest adjusting compensation models for extra time required for certain care types and examining fee schedules for underpaid services.
The study found that having no biological offspring was linked to a higher risk of schizophrenia in both men and women. Having more than one offspring compared to one was associated with disease risks across multiple systems. Each additional offspring reduced mental and behavioral disorders by 7% and breast cancer risk by 18% for women.
Research published in ERJ Open Research suggests that assessing hospital patients' reported shortness of breath could help doctors prioritize care for those at high risk of death. Patients who developed shortness of breath were six times more likely to die than those who did not, with a higher rating indicating greater risk.
A large sample of first-time mothers in the US reported informal human milk sharing, with 1 in 27 participants feeding their infants shared milk. Pediatric practitioners should be aware of this trend and counsel families on risks and recommended risk-reduction strategies.
Japanese primary care physicians derive a sense of meaning from managing diverse health problems, fostering rapport through continuous care, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals. These experiences promote professional growth and contribute to broader societal goals, building fulfilling careers.
Provincial partnerships with corporate-provided virtual care programs raise concerns about access, quality of care, and data privacy. Governments must ensure healthcare standards are met, protect patient data, and maintain transparency around contracts and profits. The authors advise caution before introducing corporate entities in the...
A study of almost 10 million patients in Ontario found that those living over 30 km from their family physician were more likely to visit the emergency department for nonurgent reasons and had fewer visits with a family physician. The distance also negatively impacted preventive screening for certain cancers.
The FDA has approved elinzanetant for treating hot flashes and night sweats in postmenopausal women. The drug significantly reduces the frequency and severity of symptoms while improving sleep quality and quality of life.
The new guideline recommends clinicians ask about mental health as part of usual care and for patients to discuss it with their providers. The task force did not find evidence that routine screening leads to better mental health.
Researchers at Wayne State University are exploring the feasibility and acceptability of virtual reality-based Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as a tool to reduce stress in young adults with type 1 diabetes. The study aims to assess the effects of MBSR-VR on glycemic control, mindfulness, and psychological distress.
A 16-year study found increasing patient complexity and fewer patients seen by family physicians in Alberta, Canada, with notable changes including higher proportions of older adults and those with multiple chronic conditions. This trend has significant implications for primary care access and workforce planning.
A pre-visit questionnaire with EHR integration significantly improved family history documentation, with 16.1% of patients having new entries within 30 days. This approach also supported personalized prevention and referrals, including screening recommendations and lifestyle advice.
The study analyzed 10 federal health surveys and found that most included sexual orientation questions, but only one survey asked about differences of sex development. Standardized measures would help identify disparities and track progress in primary care research and practice.
A Penn State Health project reframes quality metrics to present patient-oriented outcomes in plain language, improving provider engagement. The initiative resulted in clear and relevant reports, increased motivation among providers, and a stronger sense of impact.
This study found that combining Medicare wellness visits with problem-based visits increased the completion of annual wellness visits by 50.8% and reduced no-show rates by 11.9%. The combined visits also led to an increase in screenings, tests, and vaccines ordered, including for depression, falls, pain, and cancer screening.
A study found that ultrasound-guided IUD insertion is faster than conventional methods, reducing procedure time by an average of seconds. Despite this, pain levels were not significantly different between the two groups.
A 'light-touch' EHR referral strategy successfully connected patients with prediabetes to community-based DPPs, with 122 out of 577 referred patients enrolling. The strategy was used by 30% of targeted clinicians and accounted for over half of all referrals.
A study found that virtual care expansion in Ontario did not lead to a significant increase in specialists' practices in rural areas. Despite the widespread availability of virtual care and changes in remuneration, the researchers discovered that specialist physicians did not expand their reach to patients living at great distances.