Journal of general internal medicine
-
To assess the utilization of diagnostic and therapeutic medical services for the management of acute low back pain in a primary care setting, and to determine whether such utilization conforms to suggested guidelines for the management of this condition. ⋯ According to guidelines from the medical literature, the primary care physicians in this study both overutilized and underutilized diagnostic and referral services in cases of acute low back pain. It is necessary to determine whether underutilization of plain lumbar radiography adversely affects diagnostic accuracy and whether overutilization of other services improves important clinical outcomes, given the generally benign natural history of this condition.
-
To examine the decision-making process to withhold or stop life support. ⋯ Decision making to withhold or withdraw life-support therapy from critically ill persons involves complex, difficult processes. Successful management of the tension among life extension, quality of life, patient autonomy, and social justice requires better understanding of these processes.