Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association
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Outcomes research has become a high priority for the podiatric medical profession, according to the results of a recent survey of members of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). The methods of population-based studies using claims data, health-related quality-of-life measures, decision and cost-effectiveness analysis, and quality improvement are discussed and their contributions to the podiatric medical profession highlighted. The integration of this methodology into the podiatric medical literature has been sparse. Future work needs to address the training of future researchers in these methods, the establishment of collaborative arrangements, and the development of uniform clinical and health-related quality-of-life measures.
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The authors reviewed 322 articles in podiatric medical journals to determine their level of evidence. Only 1% of the articles reviewed were randomized controlled trials. The authors concluded that if the podiatric medical profession wishes to become a participant in evidence-based medicine, greater emphasis must be placed on studies that assess hypotheses.
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J Am Podiatr Med Assoc · May 2000
Letter Case ReportsMinocycline-induced cutaneous hyperpigmentation.
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Often, individuals who present with "isolated" heel pain but with normal laboratory findings are dismissed without diagnosis. However, if these patients are carefully questioned and examined, a significant proportion are found to have a spondyloarthropathy. The keys to making this diagnosis are obtaining a thorough medical history and performing a complete physical examination. The classic complaints of back pain and enthesitis in other areas are frequently not reported by patients unless specifically sought, because they are thought to be unrelated to the heel pain.