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Biomedical subjects

Christopher Frank

Publications and source records attributed to Christopher Frank.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Holiday waistline. Time to consensus: the effect of the stomach on consensus decision-making at large conferences.

INTRODUCTION: The factors affecting decision-making at consensus conferences are not well understood. This paper studies the complex association between time to consensus (TTC) and the timing and quality of food, as well as the self-reported level of frustration (PITA factor) with the question at hand. METHODS: We came, we saw, we ate. RESULTS: There was an association between the TTC and the time to eating, especially lunch. There was a trend to faster TTC the better the researchers rated the food. The speed of decision-making was also increased when the PITA score was high, especially late in the day. INTERPRETATION: Organizers of large consensus conferences need to be aware of these factors in decision-making and should try to use them to get more controversial items voted to their satisfaction.

Consensus Statements as Topic↗
PubMed2006

Senior friendly health services.

As our population continues to age and to put increasing pressures on the health care system, we need to evolve the system to be sensitive to the unique needs of seniors. There are many examples of innovative, evidence-based strategies that have been shown to improve outcomes for elderly individuals utilizing health services. The association between the physical environment and its negative impact on outcomes for hospitalized geriatric patients is well recognized. The use of strategies such as an audit tool to guide modifications of the physical environment or formal programs such as HELP, are good examples of practical approaches that can be implemented. The challenge today is for leaders in the healthcare system to champion and develop principles and a vision of care that supports implementation of these elder-friendly approaches.

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PubMed2006

Approach to diagnosis of Parkinson disease.

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical features of Parkinson disease (PD) and other causes of motor parkinsonism with an emphasis on diagnosis in elderly patients. SOURCES OF INFORMATION MEDLINE: and Google Scholar were searched for original research articles describing clinical diagnosis of parkinsonism. Consensus statements and articles summarizing diagnostic criteria for parkinsonian syndromes were also reviewed. Most evidence was levels II or III. MAIN MESSAGE: Diagnosis of PD is made clinically and can be challenging. In older patients, PD can present with general functional decline and nonspecific symptoms. Clinical criteria for diagnosing PD and the TRAP mnemonic can be helpful. A 2-week trial of levodopa-carbidopa treatment can be considered. Specific signs and a minimal response to levodopa treatment suggest other causes of parkinsonism. Clinical features of other causes of parkinsonism are reviewed in the article. CONCLUSION: Parkinsonism and PD are common in older patients. Family physicians should consider parkinsonism in the differential diagnosis of patients who have falls and exhibit general functional decline.

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PubMed2005

Approach to infected skin ulcers.

OBJECTIVE: To review the diagnosis and management of infected chronic skin ulcers. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Cochrane database, MEDLINE, and Google were searched for clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for wound care. Most recommendations found in the CPGs had level II or III evidence. Expert and consensus opinion from the Canadian Chronic Wound Advisory Board and the International Wound Bed Preparation Advisory Board were also used. MAIN MESSAGE: Bacteria in skin ulcers act along a continuum from contamination through colonization and critical colonization to infection. Critical colonization is not always associated with overt signs of infection but can result in failure to heal, poor-quality granulation tissue, increased wound friability, and increased drainage. Good-quality swab samples should be an adjunct to clinical acumen, not a primary strategy for diagnosis. Iodine and silver-based dressings, topical antibiotics, and systemic antibiotics can be helpful. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of chronic wound infection is based on clinical signs and a holistic approach to patients. More research into assessment and treatment of skin ulcer infection is needed.

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PubMed2004

Approach to skin ulcers in older patients.

OBJECTIVE: To provide family physicians with an approach to managing skin ulcers in older patients. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Clinical practice guidelines and best practice guidelines were summarized to describe an evidence-based approach. MAIN MESSAGE; Preventing ulcers is important in frail older patients. Using guidelines can help prevent ulcers in institutions. Clarifying the cause and contributing factors is the first step in management. Pressure and venous ulcers are common in elderly people. Poor nutrition, edema, arterial insufficiency, and anemia often impair wound healing. Adequate debridement is important to decrease risk of infection and to promote healing. There are guidelines for cleaning ulcers. Choice of dressings depends on the circumstances of each wound, but dressings should provide a moist environment. Options for dressings are summarized. CONCLUSION: Family physicians can manage skin ulcers effectively by applying basic principles and using readily available guidelines.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2003

Determining resuscitation preferences of elderly inpatients: a review of the literature.

Studies have shown that discussions with elderly hospital patients about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) preferences occur infrequently and have variable content. Our objective was to identify themes in the existing literature that could be used to increase the frequency and improve the quality of such discussions. We found that patients and families are familiar with the concept of CPR but have limited understanding of the procedure and overestimate its benefit. Most patients are interested in being involved in discussions about CPR and in sharing responsibility for decisions with physicians; however, older patients who participate in these discussions may have variable decision-making capacity. Physicians do not routinely discuss CPR with older patients, and patients do not initiate such discussions. When discussions do occur, the information provided to patients or families about resuscitation and its outcomes is not always consistent. Physicians should initiate CPR discussions, consider patients' levels of understanding and decision-making capacity, share responsibility for decisions where appropriate and involve the family where possible. Documentation of discussions and patient preferences may help to minimize misunderstandings and increase the stability of the decision during subsequent admissions to hospital.

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PubMed2003

Dementia with Lewy bodies. Review of diagnosis and pharmacologic management.

OBJECTIVE: To review clinical features of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and to guide family physicians in pharmacologic management, including medications to avoid. QUALITY OF EVIDENCE A MEDLINE: search of literature from 1995 to 2002 used the MeSH terms dementia with Lewy bodies/diagnosis, dementia with Lewy bodies/therapy, and antipsychotics/dementia with Lewy bodies. Level II and III evidence was available for diagnosis and treatment of DLB. One randomized controlled trial of rivastigmine was reviewed and appraised. MAIN MESSAGE: Dementia with Lewy bodies is common. Diagnosis can be made by family physicians using clinical criteria including presence of dementia with marked fluctuation in performance, hallucinations, and the onset of parkinsonism. Cholinesterase inhibitors should be considered for neuropsychiatric symptoms. Levodopa-carbidopa combinations should be considered for treatment of parkinsonism. Neuroleptics should be used with caution because of the risk of serious sensitivity reactions. If they are needed, atypical agents could be safer. CONCLUSION: Recognition and diagnosis of DLB is important to optimize pharmacologic management and to minimize risk of adverse reactions to neuroleptics.

Antiparkinson Agents↗
PubMed2003

Seniors' perceptions of their medical care. Before admission to a geriatric rehabilitation program.

OBJECTIVE: To review older patients' perceptions of their medical care before hospital admission and to determine whether there are common perceptions family physicians should address after discharge. DESIGN: Semistructured interviews with qualitative analysis. SETTING: Inpatient geriatric rehabilitation and assessment unit. PARTICIPANTS: Community-living seniors admitted from home or transferred from acute care hospitals. METHOD: Consecutively admitted patients were interviewed within a week of admission. Participants were asked open-ended and Likert-type questions. Responses were analyzed to uncover recurrent themes and descriptive statistics. MAIN FINDINGS: Patients thought physicians' personalities and ability to communicate were important factors in their satisfaction with care received. Loyalty to a physician was an important theme and might have made patients minimize their concerns about care. Most patients were confident in being discharged back into the care of their family physicians. CONCLUSION: Physicians' personalities and communication skills affected whether patients were satisfied with care. Older patients are loyal to their family physicians; they did not identify any issues for family physicians to address with them after discharge.

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