Annals of family medicine
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Annals of family medicine · Nov 2020
Review Meta AnalysisCancer-Specific Mortality, All-Cause Mortality, and Overdiagnosis in Lung Cancer Screening Trials: A Meta-Analysis.
Benefit of lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in reducing lung cancer-specific and all-cause mortality is unclear. We undertook a meta-analysis to assess its associations with outcomes. ⋯ This meta-analysis showing a significant reduction in lung cancer-specific mortality, albeit with a tradeoff of likely overdiagnosis, supports recommendations to screen individuals at elevated risk for lung cancer with LDCT.
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Annals of family medicine · Nov 2020
Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations Among Older Adults: 2010-2014.
We undertook a study to examine national trends in potentially preventable hospitalizations-those for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions that could have been avoided if patients had timely access to primary care-across 3,200 counties and various subpopulations of older adults in the United States. ⋯ During 2010-2014, rates of potentially preventable hospitalization did not change in the majority of counties. At the population level, although the rate declined among all subpopulations, dually eligible patients and Black and Hispanic patients continued to have substantially higher rates compared with non-dually eligible and White patients, respectively.
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Annals of family medicine · Nov 2020
Insurance Coverage and Use of Hormones Among Transgender Respondents to a National Survey.
We undertook a study to assess the associations between barriers to insurance coverage for gender-affirming hormones (either lack of insurance or claim denial) and patterns of hormone use among transgender adults. ⋯ Lack of insurance coverage for gender-affirming hormones is associated with lower overall odds of hormone use and higher odds of use of nonprescription hormones; such barriers may thus be linked to unmonitored and unsafe medication use, and increase the risks for adverse health outcomes. Ensuring access to hormones can decrease the economic burden transgender people face, and is an important part of harm-reduction strategies.
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Annals of family medicine · Nov 2020
Has Female Authorship in Family Medicine Research Evolved Over Time?
Studies conducted in medical fields other than family medicine show that gender differences in publication rates are pronounced in many, but not all, fields of medicine. Our objective was to assess possible gender differences in publication rates in family medicine journals. ⋯ Representation of female authors in family medicine journals is increasing, yet last authorship remains low, and there is variation between journals in terms of gender equity. Future studies can evaluate the reason for these differences and offer solutions to publications as they try to increase their female authorship.
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Annals of family medicine · Nov 2020
How Giving and Receiving Information Has Shaped My Cancer Journey.
I have been a nurse for 40 years and I now have metastatic breast cancer. I have learned a lot, especially about giving bad news, disclosing the diagnosis to others, and using the hospital's patient portal. First, how bad news is given to patients is important and should provide clear next steps for follow-up and treatment. ⋯ It is emotionally draining and time consuming, and support by primary care clinicians (PCCs) could make a difference. Finally, patient portals can be very beneficial, but their use in a complex diagnostic process like metastatic cancer can be problematic. Primary care clinicians should explicitly discuss use of portals with patients so that they receive the information they need in the way they want.