The Journal of family practice (J FAM PRACTICE)

Publications in this journal

• Article: The prevalence of intimate partner violence in the family: a systematic review of the implications for adolescents in Africa

  Roman, NV, Frantz, JM
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  ABSTRACT: Background. Intimate partner violence (IPV) and its multiple effects are well documented in Western research, but these are not adequately described in Africa. The effects of IPV on adolescent health and well-being are not conclusive. Objective. The aim of this review was to systematically appraise prevalence studies conducted on the African continent to establish the prevalence of IPV and the implications of exposure on adolescents in Africa. Methods. A comprehensive search was conducted in May 2012 for the previous 10 years, using databases such as Ebscohost (Medline, CINAHL, PsyArticles), Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Project Muse and BioMed Central and also specific journals Lancet, and JSTOR. Two reviewers independently evaluated the methodological quality of the studies reviewed. Results. Seven eligible epidemiological studies were included in this review. Five of the studies were conducted in South Africa, one in Liberia, and another was a multi-country study that included Egypt, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia. The prevalence of IPV in African countries ranged from approximately 26.5% to 48%. All studies reported exposure to family violence during childhood. Conclusion. The findings support the global burden of IPV. There is also a need for standardized tools to determine IPV in Africa and a clear definition that can be used in research to allow comparison with future IPV studies. In addition, the studies point to a need for interventions focusing on adolescents exposed to family violence.
  The Journal of family practice 01/2013; 30(1):1-10.
• Article: Does a higher frequency of difficult patient encounters lead to lower quality care?

  An Perry G, Baier Manwell L, Williams Eric S, Brown Roger L, Rabatin Joseph S, Schwartz Mark D, Lally P J, Linzer Mark
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  ABSTRACT: Background: Difficult patient encounters in the primary care office are frequent and are associated with physician burnout. However, their relationship to patient care outcomes is not known. Objective: To determine the effect of difficult encounters on patient health outcomes and the role of physician dissatisfaction and burnout as mediators of this effect. Design: A total of 422 physicians were sorted into 3 clusters based on perceived frequency of difficult patient encounters in their practices. Patient charts were audited to assess the quality of hypertension and diabetes management and preventive care based on national guidelines. Summary measures of quality and errors were compared among the 3 physician clusters. Results: Of the 1384 patients, 359 were cared for by high-cluster physicians (those who had a high frequency of difficult encounters), 871 by medium-cluster physicians, and 154 by low-cluster physicians. Dissatisfaction and burnout were higher among physicians reporting higher frequencies of difficult encounters. However, quality of patient care and management errors were similar across all 3 groups. Conclusions: Physician perception of frequent difficult encounters was not associated with worse patient care quality or more medical errors. Future studies should investigate whether other patient outcomes, including acute care and patient satisfaction, are affected by difficult encounters.
  The Journal of family practice 01/2013; 62(1):24-29.
• Article: The preteen visit: an opportunity for prevention.

  Doug Campos-Outcalt
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  ABSTRACT: All early adolescents should visit a physician at age 11 or 12 years to receive a set of recommended vaccines. Two vaccines are recommended for boys in this age group-quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) and tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap). Three vaccines are recommended for girls--MCV4, Tdap, and human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine. In addition, 2 doses of varicella vaccine are now recommended before age 5 years; both boys and girls at age 11 or 12 who have received only 1 dose should be given a second.
  The Journal of family practice 01/2007; 55(12):1054-6.
• Article: Clinical inquiries: What are safe sleeping arrangements for infants?

  Michelle R Adler, Abbas Hyderi, Andrew Hamilton, Perry Brown
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  ABSTRACT: Non-supine sleep position and parental tobacco use are known risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Recent studies show that co-sleeping (bed sharing) slightly increases the overall risk of SIDS (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B) and is greatest for infants less than 11 weeks old (SOR: B). The relationship between bed sharing and SIDS is strongest for infants whose parents use tobacco (SOR: B). Infants who sleep in a room separate from their caregivers or on a couch or an armchair are at increased risk for SIDS (SOR: B). Using bedding accessories such as duvets or pillows may increase an infant's risk of SIDS (SOR: B).
  The Journal of family practice 01/2007; 55(12):1083-4, 1087.
• Source

  Available from: umsystem.edu

  Article: Clinical inquiries: Do glucosamine and chondroitin worsen blood sugar control in diabetes?

  Peter D Marshall, Sourav Poddar, Elizabeth M Tweed, Lisa Brandes
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  ABSTRACT: Despite theoretical risks based on animal models given high intravenous doses, glucosamine/chondroitin (1500 mg/1200 mg daily) does not adversely affect short-term glycemic control for patients whose diabetes is well-controlled, or for those without diabetes or glucose intolerance (SOR: A, consistent, good-quality patient-oriented evidence). Some preliminary evidence suggests that glucosamine may worsen glucose intolerance for patients with untreated or undiagnosed glucose intolerance or diabetes (SOR: C, extrapolation from disease-oriented evidence). Long-term effects are unknown; however, no compelling theoretical or incidental data suggest that long-term results should be different (SOR: C, expert opinion). Further studies are required to clarify the effects of glucosamine on patients with poorly controlled diabetes or glucose intolerance.
  The Journal of family practice 01/2007; 55(12):1091-3.
• Source

  Available from: jfponline.com

  Article: Do family physicians fail to provide triptans for patients with migraine?

  Anne Walling, Douglas C Woolley, Craig Molgaard, K James Kallail
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  ABSTRACT: While continuing to improve recognition of migraine in your patient population, pay particular attention to the adherence rate among those for whom you have prescribed a triptan. Ask patients who discontinue triptan therapy why they made that decision. Besides adverse effects from the agent, reasons may include medication cost, influence of comorbidities, or triptan interaction with medications you may not have known about.
  The Journal of family practice 01/2007; 55(12):1057-62.
• Article: Clinical inquiries: What blood tests help diagnose celiac disease?

  Bonzo K Reddick, Karen Crowell, Belinda Fu
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  ABSTRACT: Histological confirmation of infiltrative lesions via small bowel biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing celiac disease. Four serum antibody assays may serve as a first-step diagnostic tool to identify biopsy candidates: immunoglobulin A tissue transglutaminase (IgA tTG), IgA endomysial antibody (IgA EMA), IgA antigliadin antibody (IgA AGA), and IgG antigliadin antibody (IgG AGA). IgA tTG and IgA EMA offer the best diagnostic accuracy. Patients with selective IgA deficiency may have falsely negative IgA assays (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B, based on a systematic review, multiple small cross-sectional studies, and expert opinion).
  The Journal of family practice 01/2007; 55(12):1088, 1090, 1093.
• Article: Hyperpigmentation and vesicles after beach vacation. Phytophotodermatitis.

  Andrea L Darby-Stewart, Frederick D Edwards, Karin J Perry
  The Journal of family practice 01/2007; 55(12):1050-3.
• Article: Clinical inquiries: When are antibiotics indicated for acute COPD exacerbations?

  Emily Balser, Jon O Neher, Sarah Safranek, Julie Taraday
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  ABSTRACT: Antibiotics (including those given orally) reduce mortality and treatment failures for hospitalized patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, based on systematic reviews). Antibiotics may be prescribed in the outpatient setting for those with severe exacerbations (SOR: C, based on expert opinion).
  The Journal of family practice 01/2007; 55(12):1079-80.
• Source

  Available from: medica.ro

  Article: Clinical inquiries: What is the dietary treatment for low HDL cholesterol?

  Paul Crawford, Shelly L Paden, Michael K Park
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  ABSTRACT: Low-carbohydrate diets raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels by approximately 10%; soy protein with isoflavones raises HDL by 3% (strength of recommendation [SOR]: C, based on meta-analysis of physiologic parameters). The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and multivitamin supplementation raise HDL 21% to 33% (SOR: C, based on single randomized trial each measuring physiologic parameters). No other dietary interventions studied raise HDL (SOR: C, based on meta-analysis of physiologic parameters).
  The Journal of family practice 01/2007; 55(12):1076-8.
• Source

  Available from: 67.131.133.182

  Article: Emergency contraception care.

  Kendall J Erdahl, Keith B Holten
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  ABSTRACT: This guideline targets women who have had unprotected or inadequately protected intercourse within the past 120 hours and do not desire pregnancy. Practitioners can make informed decisions about obstetric and gynecologic care, given the evidence in this guideline regarding safety, efficacy, risks and benefits of the use of emergency contraception including progestin-only and combined estrogen-progestin regimen. The major outcome considered was incidence of unintended pregnancy. The evidence rating is updated to comply with the SORT taxonomy.
  The Journal of family practice 01/2007; 55(12):1073-5.
• Article: Management of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis in children.

  Itzhak Brook, Joseph E Dohar
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  ABSTRACT: Acute pharyngotonsillitis is one of the most common infections encountered by pediatricians and family physicians. According to the US Vital Health Statistics report, acute pharyngotonsillitis is responsible for more than 6 million office visits each year by children younger than 15 years of age and an additional 1.8 million visits by adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24 years. Most children with acute pharyngotonsillitis have symptoms that can be attributed to infection with a respiratory virus, such as adenovirus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, rhinovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus. However, in approximately 30% to 40% of cases, acute pharyngotonsillitis is of bacterial etiology. Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) are responsible for most bacterial cases of acute pharyngotonsillitis, although other pathogens, such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Chlamydia pneumoniae, may be the causative agents in sporadic cases. Pharyngotonsillitis caused by these latter pathogens can sometimes be distinguished from that caused by GABHS by considering the patient's medical history in concert with the clinical presentation. In some cases, acute pharyngotonsillitis may have an idiopathic etiology. An accurate diagnosis of GABHS infection is important because it is the only common form of acute pharyngotonsillitis for which antibiotic therapy is definitely indicated. Antibiotic therapy can shorten the clinical course of GABHS pharyngotonsillitis, reduce the rate of transmission, and prevent suppurative and nonsuppurative complications, such as peritonsillar abscess and acute rheumatic fever. Although the threat of rheumatic fever is much lower for children in the United States than in developing nations, preventing rheumatic fever and the spread of disease is the primary goal of antibiotic therapy in GABHS pharyngotonsillitis treatment and a cornerstone of practice guidelines.
  The Journal of family practice 01/2007; 55(12):S1-11; quiz S12.
• Source

  Available from: jfponline.com

  Article: Migraine: a better way to recognize and treat it.

  Stephen H Landy, W Jacqueline Kwong, Susan Hutchinson, Anthony Roselli, Steven P Burch
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  ABSTRACT: Consider using the Headache Assessment Quiz, which 76% of providers in this study said enabled patients to adequately convey headache severity/symptoms, compared with just 20% of providers at baseline who thought patients communicated clearly. Use the quiz also to better understand the impact of migraine on a patient's life, and to help determine which patients need migraine-specific therapy.
  The Journal of family practice 01/2007; 55(12):1038-47.
• Source

  Available from: jfponline.com

  Article: Blisters during pregnancy--just with the second husband.

  Maria Villegas, Heather Woodworth Goff, Eric W Kraus, Richard P Usatine
  The Journal of family practice 12/2006; 55(11):953-6.
• Article: Clinical inquiries. What is the risk of adverse outcomes in a woman who develops mild hypertension from OCs?

  Trisha Pollara, Gary Kelsberg, Sarah Safranek, Sarina Schrager
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  ABSTRACT: Women who take oral contraceptives (OCs) have an increased risk of developing new hypertension, which returns to baseline within 1 to 3 months of OC cessation (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, based on cohort studies). Among large populations of women with hypertension from all causes, risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes is increased (SOR: B, based on Framingham data). Women with pre-existing hypertension who take OCs have an increased risk of stroke and myocardial infarction when compared with hypertensive women who do not (SOR: B, based on case-control studies).
  The Journal of family practice 12/2006; 55(11):986-8.
• Article: Practical implementation of HPV vaccines in clinical practice.

  Sanford R Kimmel
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  ABSTRACT: Human papillomavirus (HPV) currently infects approximately 20 million people in the United States. An effective new vaccine has been approved for girls and young women aged 9 to 26 years that can decrease the spread of infection due to HPV and the future incidence of cervical cancer and genital warts. Family physicians should be aware of parental or patient attitudes and knowledge about HPV and concerns about HPV vaccination if they are to successfully implement HPV vaccination in their practices.
  The Journal of family practice 12/2006; Suppl:18-22.