J Am Board Fam Med
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Medical marijuana is permitted in 36 states; 15 states allow recreational marijuana use. Previous surveys showed that family physicians were concerned about the physical and mental health effects of medical marijuana use, but the impact of recreational marijuana legalization and liberalization of marijuana laws on physician attitudes is unknown. ⋯ A survey was distributed to 1582 members of the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians' listserv, with items on individual and practice characteristics and experience with and attitudes toward medical marijuana. The results of this survey were compared with that of a nearly identical survey conducted with the same group in 2011. RESULTS: The proportion of family physician respondents in Colorado recommending medical marijuana to patients was the same in 2020 as in 2011 at 31%; 53% of physicians said that legislation allowing recreational marijuana did not change their approach to medical marijuana with patients. Family physicians were more likely to be in favor of legalization of recreational marijuana in 2020 than in 2011. CONCLUSIONS: Marijuana decriminalization and a robust marijuana economy in Colorado have not led to more family physicians recommending marijuana to patients, but there is now greater support for the legalization of recreational marijuana among family physicians.
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Observational Study
Differences in Hypertension Medication Prescribing for Black Americans and Their Association with Hypertension Outcomes.
National guidelines recommend different pharmacologic management of hypertension (HTN) without comorbidities for Black/African Americans (BAA) compared with non-BAA. We sought to 1) identify if these recommendations have influenced prescription patterns in BAA and 2) identify the differences in uncontrolled HTN in BAA on different antihypertensive medications. ⋯ Providers seem to be following race-based guidelines for HTN, yet HTN control for BAA remains worse than non-BAA. An individualized approach to HTN therapy for all patients may be more important than race-based guidelines.
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Social determinants of health (SDOH) influence health outcomes. Food insecurity (FI) is the most common need related to SDOH. Many primary care practices and health systems have begun to screen for FI and refer patients to resources. How this process is viewed by multiple stakeholders, including patients, health care workers, and staff at food assistance organizations (FAOs), will influence its impact. ⋯ Successfully designing systems to address FI through referral to FAOs requires input of multiple stakeholders because perspectives on the value and work required for this process vary.
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Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women residing in the United States. Early detection through mammogram screening can decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. For women with diabetes, however, incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer are increased. ⋯ Patients with diabetes were significantly less likely to complete mammogram screenings (51.6%) compared with patients without diabetes (55.3%), despite there being an increased incidence of breast cancer among patients with diabetes. Factors such as the lack of access to treatment centers, affordability, patient education, among others may have contributed to low completion rates.