What is the best treatment for patients with severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)?
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to E Henley.
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OBJECTIVES: Over-the-counter (OTC) medications account for over half of US drug expenses but have received little attention in medical school education. This pilot study evaluated student attitudes and knowledge in connection with a new curriculum in an ambulatory teaching clinic. DESIGN: Learning objectives were developed for six categories of OTC medications and students taught each other under the direction of a clinical pharmacist and family physician. Learning was undertaken in small groups and a site visit to a pharmacy was included. A 25-question test of knowledge was administered before and 6 months after the project, and student attitudes were assessed. SETTING: The sessions were taught as part of a longitudinal family medicine clerkship at an ambulatory care teaching clinic, Rockford, Illinois, USA. SUBJECTS: Twenty third-year medical students took the pre-test and attended the educational sessions; 19 completed the post-test and 16 completed the attitudinal survey. RESULTS: The mean pre-test score of 49% improved to 67% on the post-test (p<0.001). On the survey, 94% found the material useful and 88% liked the small group learning, but only 60% felt the pharmacy trip was worthwhile. CONCLUSION: In this study, medical students found teaching about OTC medications to be useful and showed significant improvement on a fund of knowledge test.
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The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes among American Indians and to compare self-reported information collected under two computer interview conditions: an "anonymous" (N = 183) versus a "confidential" (N = 210) format. Results indicated that under 10% in both groups reported either use of cigarettes or other drugs of abuse, 16% reported risky drinking, 39% reported psychological distress, and 8% reported physical abuse during the current pregnancy. We concluded that confidential computer interviews were appropriate vehicles for obtaining risk information in this population.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Computer interviews have potential value in screening pregnant patients for substance abuse and other behavioral risk factors linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. The focus of this study was to determine whether a patient-interactive computerized assessment and education program was an acceptable and valid means of obtaining behavioral risk data. METHODS: Study participants completed a computer interview, and computer-generated reports of substance use and physical abuse within the past year were compared with information in the participants' prenatal records. The accuracy of computer interview reports of substance use was evaluated by performing urine drug screens. RESULTS: More than 95% of the 265 women who completed the computer interview rated it favorably. Drug use and physical abuse were reported significantly more often during the computer interview, compared with information obtained from the patients' medical records. Results of urine drug screens demonstrated a high concurrence rate between self-reports of drug use and the results of urine analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that the computerized assessment was well received by patients and yielded valid information regarding risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes.
OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated physicians' self-reported management of acute low back problems in adults and adherence with published guidelines. DESIGN: Self-administered written survey based on the US Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (now the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) guideline on acute low back problems in adults. SETTING: A region of northern Illinois with a population around 250 000 and encompassing a medium-sized city. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred eighty-two primary care physicians (nonpediatric) with medical staff appointments at area hospitals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Adherence to published recommendations. RESULTS: Eighty-seven surveys were received for a 48% response rate. Overall, survey respondents recognized 5 of 7 red flags representing serious underlying abnormality 50% or less of the time. Forty percent (35/87) of physicians provided patients with written educational material, and only 25%(22/87) indicated they evaluated motor function of the fifth lumbar nerve, the most commonly affected level in intervertebral disk disease disease. About 25% (24/87) reported routine use of plain films; and 16% (14/87), routine use of computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Most oral medication use was consistent with recommendations, but many also used drugs conditionally discouraged by the guideline (muscle relaxants, 91% [79/87]; opioids, 62% [54/87]) or cautioned against (oral steroids, 45% [39/87]; antidepressants, 23% [20/87]; injection therapy, 52% [45/87]). Only 22% (19/87) of respondents used or recommended manipulation. CONCLUSIONS: The management of patients with acute low back problems by primary care physicians differs significantly from Agency for Health Care Policy and Research guideline recommendations in several key areas that include awareness of red flags, use of medication, use of radiographic studies, the need for patient education, and the use of physical modalities. Future research should focus on the impact of guideline compliance on patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness. Arch Fam Med. 2000;9:1015-1021
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BACKGROUND: Demands on family medicine faculty to generate clinical revenue may negatively impact the undergraduate medical education program. To minimize this possibility and better model interprofessional education, family nurse practitioners (FNPs) were hired as clinicians and teachers as part of a longitudinal family medicine clerkship. This paper reports the results of a pilot study of student evaluations of nurse practitioner teaching. METHODS: All M3 and M4 students were asked to evaluate one of three FNPs who had precepted them multiple times during their previous year of ambulatory care practice. Two previously studied closed-ended questionnaires were used to assess quality of teaching by the FNPs. Students also responded to a series of open-ended questions. RESULTS: Ninety-one percent of 97 students responded to the survey. Responses to the closed-ended questions as well as comments by the students and physicians were positive regarding the teaching by FNPs. The teaching skills most highly regarded by the students tended to be different than those most highly regarded in physicians. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study suggests FNPs can be successfully integrated into undergraduate medical education settings, offering teaching strengths that complement those of physicians. Integrating the two professions in a family medicine clerkship may prove beneficial to students and expand departmental teaching resources without further straining finances. Efforts at evaluating the teaching contributions of FNPs at other institutions are needed to substantiate the present study results.