• Does an early COPD diagnosis improve long-term outcomes? 

  Bernet, Dan; Randolph, Charles; Neher, Jon O.; Safranek, Sarah (2022-10)

  Q Does an early COPD diagnosis improve long-term outcomes? Evidence-based answer: It depends. A diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) made using screening spirometry in patients without symptoms does ...

• What barriers delay treatment in patients with hepatitis C? 

  Crosby, Kimberly; Bigelow, Simone; Sachs, Viviane; Weakley, Jennifer; Skaftason, Helga; Hoberecht, Toni (2022-09)

  Q: What barriers delay treatment in patients with hepatitis C? Evidence-based answer: Multiple patient-specific and provider-perceived factors delay initiation of treatment in patients with hepatitis C. Patient-specific ...

• Does platelet-rich plasma improve patellar tendinopathy symptoms? 

  Wolfenden, Emily; Vukelic, Brian; DeMarco, Matthew; Knox, Jordan; Ose, Dominik (2022-05)

  Q: Does platelet-rich plasma improve patellar tendinopathy symptoms? Evidence-based answer: IT’S UNCLEAR. High-quality data have not consistently established the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to ...

• Should we stop prescribing IM progesterone to women with a history of preterm labor? 

  Dresang, Lee; Vellardita, Lia (2022-01)

  Q: Should we stop prescribing IM progesterone to women with a history of preterm labor? Evidence-based answer: YES, we should stop the routine prescribing of IM progesterone to prevent preterm delivery. A 2003 randomized ...

• Are SERMs safe and effective for the treatment of hypogonadism in men? 

  Joseph, Tina; Gibbs, Lawrence M.; Pham, Kim (2022-01)

  Q: Are SERMs safe and effective for the treatment of hypogonadism in men? Evidence-based answer: YES. For both normal-weight and obese men with low testosterone levels and hypogonadal symptoms, selective estrogen receptor ...

• Does adjunctive oxytocin infusion during balloon cervical ripening improve labor induction? 

  Dubay, Rachel; Rentschler, Nicola; Jolly, Dara; Neher, Jon O.; Safranek, Sarah (2022-03)

  Q: Does adjunctive oxytocin infusion during balloon cervical ripening improve labor induction? Evidence-based answer: YES. Compared to the use of a transcervical balloon alone, combined cervical ripening with a balloon ...

• Is bicarbonate therapy effective in preventing CKD progression? 

  Ahmad, Harls; Wertin, Theresa; Zhang, Yilin; Neher, Jon O.; Auten, Beth (2022-04)

  Q: Is bicarbonate therapy effective in preventing CKD progression? Evidence-based answer: YES. Long-term sodium bicarbonate therapy slightly slows the loss of renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) ...

• Is nonoperative treatment effective for acute Achilles tendon rupture? 

  Silver, Sabrina; Fulleborn, Stephanie; Feola, Nolan; Giblin, Sydney (2022-06)

  Q: Is nonoperative treatment effective for acute Achilles tendon rupture? Evidence-based answer: YES. Nonoperative and open surgical interventions provide equal long-term functional outcomes of the affected Achilles tendon ...

• Are antipsychotics effective adjunctive Tx for patients with moderate-to-severe depression? 

  Bleacher, Heather; Koerperich, Lindsay; Malam, Naomi; DeSanto, Kristen (2022-07)

  Q: Are antipsychotics effective adjunctive Tx for patients with moderate-to-severe depression? Evidence-based answer: YES. Augmentation with second-generation antipsychotics, especially aripiprazole and quetiapine, appears ...

• Do behavioral interventions improve nighttime sleep in children < 1 year old? 

  Hungenberg, Morgan; Houss, BreAnna; Narayan, Madhav; Lyon, Corey; DeSanto, Kristen (2022-07)

  Q: Do behavioral interventions improve nighttime sleep in children < 1 year old? Evidence-based answer: YES. Infants respond to behavioral interventions, although objective data are limited. Behavioral interventions include ...

• Q Which injections are effective for lateral epicondylitis? 

  Vukelic, Brian; Abbey, Rebecca; Knox, Jordan; Migdalski, Alyssa (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2021-11)

  Evidence-based answer: placebo injections actually improve lateral epicondylitis at high rates. No other injections convincingly improve it better than placebo. Corticosteroid injection is not superior to saline or anesthetic ...

• Q Does inadequate sleep increase obesity risk in children? 

  Herzog, Daniela; Thai, Kristin; Neher, Jon O.; Auten, Beth (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2021-12)

  Evidence-based answer: Yes, a link has been established but not a cause-effect relationship. Shorter reported sleep duration in childhood is associated with an increased risk of overweight or obesity years later (strength ...

• Q Is exercise therapy effective treatment for low back pain? 

  Broszko, Christine; Golden, Krystyna; Holmes, Cody R.; Fulleborn, Stephanie; Biglow, Carolyn (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2021-11)

  Evidence-based answer: Yes, it is somewhat effective. Exercise therapy—including general exercise, yoga, Pilates, and motor control exercise—has been shown to modestly decrease pain in chronic low back pain (LBP); levels ...

• Q Do carotid artery calcifications seen on radiographs predict stenosis in asymptomatic adults? 

  Cowdrey, Diana; Hanh, Thomas; Vellardita, Lia (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2021-09)

  Evidence-based answer: not very well. In asymptomatic patients, carotid artery calcification seen on radiograph has a positive predictive value of 70% and a negative predictive value of 75% for carotid artery stenosis ...

• Q: Can family physicians accurately screen for AAA with point-of-care ultrasound? 

  Cade, Nathan; Granath, Brad; Nehr, Jon O.; Sarfranek, Sarah (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 7/8/2021)

  Evidence-based answer: LIKELY YES. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) by nonradiologist physicians is 98% sensitive and 99% specific, compared with imaging performed by radiologists ...

• Q: Is event-driven PrEP dosing for HIV as effective as daily dosing? 

  Olsen, Tory; Lally-Montgomery, Zachary; Kelsberg, Gary; Safranek, Sarah (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2021-06)

  Evidence based answer: PROBABLY, although there are no head-to-head trials comparing the 2 dosing regimens. Event-driven pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) dosing reduces HIV conversion by 86% compared to placebo (strength ...

• Q: Is NPH associated with fewer adverse events than analog basal insulin for adults with T2D? 

  Lyon, Corey; Iruku, Swetha; Hoss, Molly; DeSanto, Kristen (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2021-05)

  Evidence based answer: NO. Insulin glargine may lead to less patient-reported, symptomatic, and nocturnal hypoglycemia, although overall, there may not be a difference in the risk for severe hypoglycemia or hypoglycemia-related ...

• Q: Is ketamine effective and safe for treatment-resistant depression? 

  Zorn, Amanda; Linn, Sean; Jenkinson, Mat; Neher, Jon O.; Safranek, Sarah (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2021-04)

  Evidence-based answer: Maybe, but it’s too soon to tell. There is limited evidence that ketamine by itself is effective in the very short term. Single-dose intravenous (IV) ketamine is more likely than placebo (odds ratio ...

• Which detoxification regimens are effective for alcohol withdrawal syndrome? 

  Caspar, Rachel; Fortenberry, Katherine; Leiser, Jennifer; Ose, Dominik; Nashelsky, Joan (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2021)

  Q: Which detoxification regimens are effective for alcohol withdrawal syndrom? Evidence based answer: Benzodiazepines remain the first-line regimen for alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) and are the only class more effective ...

• Is metformin effective for reducing weight in obese or overweight adolescents? 

  Anderson, Kirsten; Kelsberg, Gary; Safranek, Sarah (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2021)

  Q: Is metformin effective for reducing weight in obese or overweight adolescents? Evidence based answer: Yes, to some degree—but it is of uncertain clinical significance. Over a period of 6 months, metformin modestly reduced ...

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