Practice Management
Back pain seems to trouble a significant percentage of adults, inspiring some to seek medical treatment and options for pain relief. But a new study in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine suggests that most non-surgical interventions have little or no effect on acute or chronic low back pain. Researchers considered 10 treatments compared with placebo and found that in the 301 trials studied, 90% of treatments were not efficacious and are unlikely to be suitable treatment options …
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Americans’ self-reported mental and physical health has declined over the past decade with a sharper drop after the COVID-19 pandemic. In Gallup’s latest survey, 75% of Americans rate their mental health as “excellent” or “good,” and 76% similarly rate their physical health in this way—down from highs of 89% for mental health in 2012 and 82% for physical health in 2003. The percentage of poll respondents rating their health with the top score of “excellent” …
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There is an association between cannabis use and cardiovascular risks, particularly myocardial infarction (MI), in relatively healthy populations under 50 years old, according to a retrospective cohort study in preprint from JACC: Advances. Analyzing data from 4.6 million adults over 5 years, the study found that cannabis users had a significantly higher risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes compared to non-users. Key findings include a sixfold increase in the risk of MI among cannabis users (absolute …
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A small randomized controlled trial in Italy found that probiotics may help children with upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). From November 19, 2021, to June 20, 2023, 128 children who presented with a fever and URTI were randomized to receive a daily single dose of a probiotic mixture containing Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium lactis, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus or a daily dose of placebo for 14 days. As published in JAMA Network Open, researchers found the median …
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This month, the Oregon House of Representatives gave its blessing to House Bill 2748, which mandates that the title “nurse” can only be used exclusively for human beings who practice nursing—in other words, artificial intelligence (AI) systems cannot use the term “nurse.” Lawmakers introduced the bill after concerns that AI chatbot “nurses” could mislead patients. The bill now moves to the Oregon Senate. “As AI adoption grows in medical practice, there will be greater implications …
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In the past few years, parents have been attracted to at-home devices to monitor their infant’s vital signs during sleep, which are meant to offer reassurance by providing parents with continuous real-time data. Infant devices might measure, for example, respiratory rate, heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, and sleep quality. Beyond just crib cameras, some options include wearable socks, belts, and swaddles. There is virtually no guidance for providers on advising families about the devices or …
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Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was associated with a 12% lower risk of dementia, although cumulative dose did not affect this risk, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Short-term NSAID use (less than 24 months) was linked to a slightly increased dementia risk. These findings suggest that prolonged exposure to anti-inflammatory medication—rather than high doses—may help reduce dementia risk. Researchers propose that inflammation plays a role …
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A global study published in BMJ Global analyzed the burden of osteoarthritis (OA) among postmenopausal women from 1990 to 2021 and found a significant increase in OA incidence (133.1%), prevalence (139.8%), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) (141.9%) over the study period. Knee OA was identified as the most burdensome type of OA, while hip OA had the least impact. The results showed that OA disproportionately affects high socio-demographic regions. In the data, high body mass …
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After nearly 100 years as a publicly traded company, Walgreens is going private as part and parcel of a $10 billion buyout deal with private-equity firm Sycamore Partners. The company is on-task to sell Village Medical, Summit Health and CityMD clinic brands, all of which are operated under the VillageMD line of business. Many saw this massive leveraged buyout coming, although the on-again, off-again speculation hinted at prolonged negotiations. For the moment, there is no …
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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently signed a new bill into law, requiring hospitals to enhance protections against workplace violence. The law mandates hospitals to create comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans, including staff training, reporting systems for workplace incidents, and policies prohibiting retaliation against staff who report violent incidents. Plans must be developed with input from clinical staff. The law further provides civil immunity for healthcare workers who act in self-defense or defense of others during …
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