Clinical Inquiries, 2011: Recent submissions

Now showing items 1-20 of 60

  • What should you tell pregnant women about exposure to parvovirus? 

    Snyder, Matthew; Wallace, Rick (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    Tell patients that parvovirus infections before 20 weeks' gestation confer a risk of fetal morbidity and mortality as high as 16%, but don't significantly increase long-term developmental sequelae (strength of recommendation ...

  • Ferning in amniotic fluid: Is it a useful indicator of ruptured membranes? 

    Gaddey, Heidi; Bailey, Justin; Smith, Rita (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    The presence of arborized crystals (ferning) in amniotic fluid is both sensitive (74%-100%) and specific (77%-100%) for diagnosing rupture of membranes in laboring women who report loss of fluid (strength of recommendation ...

  • Treatment of Nongenital Warts 

    Feigenbaum, Alyson L.; Ainsworth, Carla; St. Anna, Leilani (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    Topical salicylic acid, cryotherapy, and topical fluorouracil are effective for treating nongenital warts. (Strength of Recommendation [SOR]: A, based on a systematic review of randomized controlled trials [RCTs].) ...

  • What treatment is best for hypertrophic scars and keloids? 

    Williams, Carol C.; De Groote, Sandy (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    No one treatment is best (strength of recommendation [SOR]: C, meta-analysis of heterogenous studies); no good evidence exists comparing treatments with each other. Triamcinolone injections, triamcinolone injections combined ...

  • Should you test for H pylori in patients with nonulcer dyspepsia? 

    Lanier, J. Brian; Wilder, Laura (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    Helicobacter pylori in creases the risk of developing peptic ulcer disease (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B, cohort study), but there is no evidence that treating H pylori reduces that risk. Treating H pylori in patients ...

  • How can we minimize recurrent ankle sprains? 

    Hemphill, Brandon; Whitworth, James D.; Smith, Rita (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    Using external ankle supports during physical activity significantly reduces the likelihood of primary and secondary sprains (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, systematic review). Proprioception rehabilitation substantially ...

  • Antibody Testing for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus 

    Gibson, Kacey; Goodemote, Patricia; Johnson, Stephen (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    Antibody testing plays an important role when assessing patients, but should not be used alone to diagnose SLE. (Strength of Recommendation: C, based on expert opinion.) The antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is the most ...

  • Which regimen treats vitamin D deficiency most effectively? 

    Osborn, Justin; Germann, Antonio; St. Anna, Leilani (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    Several vitamin D replacement regimens are effective. Cumulative dosing may be more important than frequency of dosing (strength of recommendation [SOR]: C, inconsistent results from randomized controlled trials [RCTs] of ...

  • Which combination drug therapies are most effective for hypertension? 

    Crawford, Paul; Dy, David; Carney, Misty (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    Insufficient evidence exists to determine which specific combinations most effectively decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, although combinations of hypertension medications at lower doses generally reduce ...

  • What's best for croup? 

    Pitluk, Jessica Danielle; Uman, Howard; Safranek, Sarah (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    A single dose of corticosteroids is the first-line treatment for croup, resulting in fewer return visits and hospital admissions, shorter lengths of stay in the emergency department (ED) or hospital, and less need for ...

  • Ginger for the Treatment of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy 

    Maitre, Sarah; Neher, Jon O.; Safranek, Sarah (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    Ginger can be safely used to reduce nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. (Strength of Recommendation [SOR]: B, based on small, heterogeneous trials comparing ginger with placebo and unproven comparators). Ginger's effectiveness ...

  • Antidepressants for the Treatment of Insomnia in Patients with Depression 

    Clark, Molly S.; Smith, Patrick O.; Jamieson, Barbara (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    There is no single antidepressant or class of antidepressants that is most effective for the treatment of insomnia in patients with depression. The use of antidepressant medications can have a positive impact on sleep ...

  • Treatment of Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis 

    Davis, J. Delrene; Harper, Amy (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    A six-month treatment regimen with an antifungal agent decreases the recurrence of vulvovaginal candidiasis. (Strength of Recommendation [SOR]: A, based on good-quality randomized controlled trials [RCTs].) For women in ...

  • Treatment of Hyperhidrosis 

    Saenz, John Woodrow; Jamieson, Barbara; Sams, Richard, II (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    OnabotulinumtoxinA injections (Botox; formerly botulinum toxin type A) are effective for the treatment of primary axillary and palmar hyperhidrosis. (Strength of Recommendation [SOR]: A, based on a systematic review of ...

  • Secondary Causes of Obesity 

    Allen, Ginger; Safranek, Sarah (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    Secondary causes of obesity can be detected by obtaining a patient history and performing a physical examination. Laboratory testing is recommended when additional findings are present, such as dysmorphic features, short ...

  • Reducing ACL Injuries in Female Athletes 

    Ringo, Shelley; Kelsberg, Gary; St. Anna, Leilani (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    Neuromuscular training programs that include plyometric and strengthening exercises significantly reduce noncontact ACL injuries in female soccer and handball players older than 14 years. (Strength of Recommendation: A, ...

  • Preventing Acute Mountain Sickness 

    Kitsteiner, John M.; Whitworth, James D.; Nashelsky, Joan (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    Gradual ascent is the most effective method for preventing acute mountain sickness. (Strength of Recommendation [SOR]: B, based on good-quality prospective and retrospective cohort studies.) Acetazolamide should be used ...

  • Hormone Therapy for Postmenopausal Women with Urinary Incontinence 

    Lee, Jay H.; Gomez, Suzanne; Jankowski, Terry Ann, 1951- (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    Postmenopausal women should not receive oral hormone therapy for treatment of urinary incontinence. Hormone therapy is associated with worsening urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women who are incontinent at baseline ...

  • Effective Therapies for Intermittent Claudication 

    Rudisill, Heather M.; Kelsberg, Gary; Safranek, Sarah (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    Supervised exercise programs are recommended to produce clinically significant improvements in walking distance in patients with stable intermittent claudication. (Strength of Recommendation [SOR]: A, based on systematic ...

  • Clinical Indicators of Obstructive Sleep Apnea 

    Ghuman, Mandeep; Ludwig, Mary Jo; St. Anna, Leilani (Family Physicians Inquiries Network, 2011)
    Clinical indicators (e.g., sex, snoring severity, history of apnea, age, menopausal status, waist-to-hip ratio, body habitus) can predict OSA as diagnosed using overnight polysomnography or sleep study. (Strength of ...