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Anti-Immigration Policies Threaten Access to Medical Deferred Action

Experts from Boston Children’s Hospital in Massachusetts described modern threats to medical deferred action in the United States.

Growing Number of PAs Seeing, Treating Mental Health Disorders

Researchers sought to document and describe the contributions of certified PAs across practice areas in addressing mental health conditions.

Are Application Costs Reducing Diversity in the Medical Field?

Medical school application costs may prevent students from lower-income backgrounds from entering the profession of medicine.

Quality of Life Is Similar in Older Patients Receiving Intensive vs Nonintensive Chemotherapy

Approximately one-third of patients in each treatment group experienced symptoms of depression and anxiety during treatment.

Effect of Legislation on School Vaccination Rates May Be Limited

Assuming the current rates of medical exemptions persist, the overall exemption rate in California schools is expected to stabilize at 1.87% by 2027.

Dr Stephen Hahn Nominated to Head FDA

Radiation oncology expert Stephen Hahn, MD, has been nominated as the new US Food and Drug Administration commissioner.

Key Dimensions of Quality of Life Identified in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Researchers found data that showed that more than half of patient global assessment scores emphasized pain and the ability to function daily, rather than emotional distress, for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Is Burnout Among Healthcare Providers Associated With Poor Patient Care?

Although reports in the medical literature suggest that physician burnout is associated with poor-quality patient care, this association may be exaggerated.

Length of Time Spent in the US Impacts Opioid Use Among Immigrants

The length of time spent in the United States by first-generation immigrants is associated with opioid use, according to a recent study in JAMA Network Open. There are an estimated 41.5 million adult immigrants in the United States, of which approximately 3.2 million (7.8%) report using prescription opioids. Because the current opioid crisis originated from…

Doctors Are Dissatisfied With Electronic Health Record Systems

The majority of physicians are dissatisfied with their current electronic health record (EHR) systems, according to survey results.

Bans on Flavored Products Can Reduce Any Tobacco Use in Teens

Teen use of both flavored and nonflavored tobacco decreases with enforced flavored tobacco restriction policies.

How Do Disparities in the Physician Workforce Affect Patients?

Recent research indicates that disparities related to physician race or ethnicity, sex, or disability status may play a role in physician burnout.

Medical Misinformation on Social Media and How We Can Stop It

The spread of medical misinformation is becoming increasingly common across social media. For example, a 1999 chain email on the use of “Cough CPR” in heart attacks was publicly discouraged by the American Heart Association following its initial circulation; however, because of the rise of social media platforms, the hoax has seen a resurgence. A…

Medicaid Expansion Has Positive Effect on Diabetes Management

Substantial improvements reported in states that expanded Medicaid with large diabetes populations

Understanding CBD: How to Advise Patients About Existing Laws, Clinical Evidence, and More

At Psych Congress 2018, Andrew Penn from the UCSF School of Nursing provides insight into the use of CBD in clinical practice.

ACOG Updates Guidance on OTC Contraception Access

The ACOG supports over-the-counter hormonal contraception access with no restrictions on age. Over-the-counter access should be expanded to include oral contraceptive pills, vaginal rings, the contraceptive patch, and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate.

Can Healthcare Spending Waste Be Reduced?

Healthcare costs in the United States are approaching 18% of the country’s GDP, a figure greater than any other nation in the world. However, according to a 2012 analysis, up to 34% of this spending could be categorized as waste.

Most Physicians Treating STIs Do Not Have Meds on Hand

Most office-based physicians who provide sexually transmitted infections (STIs) services report not having on-site access to the recommended injectable medications for same-day treatment of gonorrhea and syphilis.

Sweetened Drinks Represent Majority of Children’s Drink Sales

None of the 34 top-selling sweetened children’s drinks meet expert recommendations for healthier drinks for children, according to Children’s Drink FACTS 2019.

Providing Medicine at No Charge Alters Treatment Adherence

Free distribution of essential medicines was shown to improve treatment adherence. Bettering access to essential medicines can improve quality of care and move toward achieving univer-sal health coverage.