JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants articles from August 2003

JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants archives from August 2003

Meet JAAPA's new editor in chief.(Editorial)
August 1, 2003... The editorial staff of JAAPA and the American Academy of Physician Assistants are delighted to welcome Sarah Zarbock as the new editor in chief of JAAPA. Sarah comes to the Journal with experience from both inside and outside the world of...

The economic burden of skin disease in the United States.(Dermatology)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Dehkharghani S, Bible J, Chen JG, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003;48:592-599. This study estimates the overall cost of skin disease in the United States in 1997. Cost categories included direct costs (ambulatory visits, inpatient hospital...

Rapid magnetic resonance imaging vs radiographs for patients with low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.(Musculoskeletal Disorders)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Jarvik JG, Hollingworth W, Martin B, et al. JAMA. 2003;289:2810-2818. The clinical and economic consequences of replacing spine radiographs with rapid MRI were evaluated in 380 primary care patients who were at least 18 years old, with low...

A low-carbohydrate as compared with a low-fat diet in severe obesity.(Obesity)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Samaha FF, Iqbal N, Seshadri P, et al. N Engl J Med. 2003;348: 2074-2081. This study evaluated the effects of a carbohydrate-restricted diet on weight loss and risk factors for atherosclerosis in severely obese subjects. A total of 132...

Characteristics of general practitioners who frequently see drug industry representatives: national cross sectional study.(Pharmacology)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Watkins C, Moore L, Harvey I, et al. BMJ. 2003;326:1178-1179. Available at: http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/326/7400/1178. Researchers surveyed English physicians about their practice characteristics and prescribing attitudes and behavior....

Estrogen plus progestin and the incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in postmenopausal women.(Psychiatry)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Shumaker SA, Legault C, Rapp SR, et al, for the WHIMS Investigators. JAMA. 2003;289:2651-2662. Postmenopausal women have a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than men, a disparity hypothesized to be due to lower endogenous...

Care for the dying in America: two perspectives.(Sounding Board)
August 1, 2003... Does training in hospice care affect referrals? Skye O'Neil Fleming, PA-C, MS But existence embraces both life and death, and in way death is the test of the meaning of life. If death is devoid of meaning, then life is absurd. Life's...

Topiramate initiates abstinence in alcoholics.(POEMs *)
August 1, 2003... Clinical question Can topiramate (Topamax) help initiate abstinence in alcoholics? Setting Outpatient Study design Randomized controlled trial (double-blinded) Synopsis In the past, clinicians have used disulfiram, carbamezapine,...

Tap water is fine for wound irrigation.(POEMs *)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Clinical question Is irrigation with tap water an effective way to clean simple lacerations prior to suture? Setting Emergency department Study design Non-randomized controlled trial Synopsis Children aged 1 to 17 years presenting...

Naturopathic ear drops work for ear pain.(POEMs *)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Clinical question Are naturopathic herbal ear drops effective to treat ear pain in children? Setting Outpatient (primary care) Study design Randomized controlled trial (double-blinded) Synopsis Most otitis media in children will...

The test-and-treat strategy for Helicobacter pylori in uninvestigated dyspepsia: dyspeptic patients younger than 45 years may benefit from the test-and-treat method for Helicobacter pylori infection. This practical guide explains the strategy and the management plan.
August 1, 2003... Estimates are that as many as 5% of primary care visits are related to dyspepsia, (1) and few patients who have it have undergone investigational endoscopy. Dyspepsia is not a disease, but rather a symptom complex that is usually defined as...

Find out what your colleagues are thinking.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... JAAPA's Web poll question for May asked PAs whether they agreed with that month's editorial that the nursing shortage may threaten the viability of our health care delivery systems. Eighty percent of respondents voted in the affirmative, and...

Dealing with the incompetent supervising physician: an ethical dilemma: should a PA continue to care for a patient even when the PA believes that the patient's physician--also the PA's supervisor--is incompetent? This case history explores the various options open to the PA and weighs the ethical merits of each.
August 1, 2003... By state law, PAs are dependent medical practitioners who must have a physician supervisor who aids them in making medical decisions and provides back-up coverage. What happens, then, when a PA judges the supervising physician to be incompetent...

Polycystic ovary syndrome--a complex disorder among women: although the etiology is unknown, PCOS is characterized by a distinct web of complex endocrine events including hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and insulin resistance.(Recertification Refresher)
August 1, 2003... T>Cover Story For many decades, the coexistence of hirsutism, amenorrhea, and infertility has been recognized as a common syndrome in women. The first formal description of what is now called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was made in...

Reimbursement for clinical pharmacy specialists?(PA watch: brief reports on items from the medical literature relevant to PAs)
August 1, 2003... * While more Americans are receiving care from nonphysician clinicians (NPCs) than ever before, legislative policies governing the compensation structure for their services have not kept pace with current costs of services rendered. One of the...

Best PA programs.(PA watch: brief reports on items from the medical literature relevant to PAs)
August 1, 2003... * As in the previous two U.S. News & World Report surveys in 2000 and 1998, Duke University's physician assistant program is ranked first among PA programs nationwide. The others in the top 10 in 2003 are, in descending order, the University of...

CME post-test: expiration date August 2004.
August 1, 2003... Please take this CME Post-test online at www.aapa.org. Thibodeau LR. The test-and-treat strategy for Helicobacter pylori in uninvestigated dyspepsia. JAAPA. 2003; 16(8):20-22,25,26,28. Kauffman MM, Kauffman RP, Polycystlc ovary...

Performing a fluorescein examination of the eye.(Procedures In Family Practice)
August 1, 2003... Fluorescein examination of the eye is useful in making a diagnosis of corneal or conjunctival abrasion, laceration, ultraviolet or actinic keratitis, chemical conjunctivitis or keratitis, the presence of a foreign body, herpetic conjunctivitis,...

CME calendar.
August 1, 2003... SEPTEMBER 4-7 11th Annual French Quarter Primary Care Conference Provider: Louisiana Academy of PAs. Location: New Orleans, La. Contact: Stephanie Lindsly, (225) 922-4630, lapa@pncpa.com SEPTEMBER 5-7 11th Annual PA...