Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · Dec 2008
Comparative StudyPediatricians are more supportive of the human papillomavirus vaccine than the general public.
The purpose of this study was to determine pediatricians' attitudes about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and to compare their attitudes with those expressed by the general public. ⋯ Pediatricians are much more supportive of HPV vaccination than the general public. Pediatricians should be aware of these differences when counseling patients and their families.
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Southern medical journal · Dec 2008
Understanding and identifying bias and confounding in the medical literature.
Bias and confounding are types of error that may be encountered in the collection, analysis, or interpretation of research data. Bias and confounding may result in erroneous research conclusions with adverse consequences for patients and health care providers. In this article, we provide clinician-friendly descriptions and examples of bias (including surveillance, information, selection, lead, length, and publication) and confounding. The purpose of the article is to help clinicians to recognize two important sources of error in research and in turn to help clinicians to assess the validity and generalizability of a research report.
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Southern medical journal · Dec 2008
Predictive factors for septic shock in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most frequent infections in intensive care units (ICUs), and nearly 50% of patients with VAP develop septic shock. Septic shock is an independent predictor for mortality in these patients. ⋯ Some clinical parameters such as lymphocytopenia, blood glucose >120 mg/dL, increasing age, and CPIS can predict septic shock during VAP, but large randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm these results.
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Caring for loved ones with dementia is challenging and stressful for family members who have to provide the home care. The responsibility takes a huge physical, emotional, and financial toll on the caregivers, which is known as caregiver burden. ⋯ The physician should periodically assess caregivers for the level of perceived burden, presence of depression and anxiety, social support, behavioral problems in the care recipient, and coping strategies and help the patient and caregiver with advance care planning. Strategies that meld support, education, and practical counseling about common caregiving stresses and community resources seem to mitigate caregiver burden and depression.