• Articles

    End-of-Life Care: Guidelines for Patient-Centered Communication

    QUYEN NGO-METZGER, KRISTIN J. AUGUST, MALATHI SRINIVASAN, SOLOMON LIAO, FRANK L. MEYSKENS, Jr

    Primary care physicians commonly provide care for patients throughout the course of a terminal illness. A systematic approach can help physicians appropriately discuss a poor prognosis, offer patients support and realistic hope, and coordinate treatment and the transition to...

    Dietary Supplements for Osteoarthritis

    PHILIP J. GREGORY, MORGAN SPERRY, AMY FRIEDMAN WILSON

    Research suggests that glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and S-adenosylmethionine may reduce symptoms of pain related to osteoarthritis. Other dietary supplements promoted for osteoarthritis treatment include methylsulfonylmethane, devil's claw, tumeric, and ginger; however,...

    Treating Eating Disorders in Primary Care

    PAMELA M. WILLIAMS, JEFFREY GOODIE, CHARLES D. MOTSINGER

    Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder are diagnosed most often in young women. Recommended treatment varies for each disorder and is determined by the patient's needs and available resources.

    Peritonsillar Abscess

    NICHOLAS J. GALIOTO

    Peritonsillar abscess is the most common deep infection of the head and neck. Patients may present with symptoms, such as fever, malaise, sore throat, dysphagia, and otalgia, and physical findings, such as trismus and muffled voice. Treatment includes drainage of the abscess,...

    Inside AFP

    AFP to Launch Web-based Manuscript Submission and Review System

    SARAH E. JOHNSON, JAY SIWEK

    We are pleased to announce that AFP will soon begin using Editorial Manager, a Web-based manuscript submission and peer review system. During the past several months, AFP has been working with Aries Systems, the developer of Editorial Manager, to transition from our current e...

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    Congress Offers a Temporary Solution for Medicare Physician Payment Cuts | <b><i>MedWatch</i></b>: Merck Announces Voluntary Recall of 1 Million Hib Vaccine Doses | Bipartisan Legislation Includes Mandatory E-Prescribing, Incentives for Physicians | Bill Aims to Reinstate...

    Close-ups

    Facing the Truth

    NANCY E. HAVAS

    The personal side of medicine told from the patient's perspective. The patient's story is followed by commentary from a physician and a list of resources.

    Editorials

    The Role of Family Physicians in Delivering Emergency Medical Care

    KIM A. BULLOCK, PERRY A. PUGNO, ANTHONY GERARD

    Without the contribution of family physicians, large areas of the country would be without adequate emergency medical care.1 At least one third of the emergency medicine workforce is trained in family medicine.2 More than 65 percent of family physicians provide emergency care...

    Photo Quiz

    Male Patient with a Genital Ulceration

    BARRY COUTINHO, URSULA BARANOWSKI, ERIC MILLER

    Photo Quiz presents readers with a clinical challenge based on a photograph or other image.

    Point-of-Care Guides

    Predicting Mortality Risk in Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

    MARK H. EBELL

    Bariatric surgery has become increasingly common in the United States. Recent randomized controlled trials have shown that mortality is modestly reduced 11 years after bariatric surgery (absolute risk = 5.0 versus 6.3 percent; P = .04; number needed to treat = 77).2 The...

    STEPS

    Levonorgestrel/Ethinyl Estradiol (Lybrel) for Continuous Contraception

    LISA McCARTHY, HARVINDER BRAR

    Lybrel appears to be as safe and effective as other combined oral contraceptives; however, at this time, there is little published data about this specific product. Other combined monophasic oral contraceptives, some of which cost less than Lybrel, can be used continuously...

    Curbside Consultation

    Combative Delirium

    RICHARD VIKEN

    In the context of their usual office or hospital settings, family physicians are not often called upon to deal with violent or hostile patients. However, just like advanced cardiac life support training prepares physicians for rare and unexpected cardiac arrest situations,...

    Practice Guidelines

    ACCP and AACVPR Release Evidence-Based Guidelines on Pulmonary Rehabilitation

    LIZ SMITH

    The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) and the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) has released pulmonary rehabilitation guidelines that update the recommendations published in 1997 and examine new areas of research.

    CDC Reports on Lead Exposure in Women of Childbearing Age

    LIZ HORSLEY

    Guideline source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    ACOG Guidelines on Premature Rupture of Membranes

    CARRIE ARMSTRONG

    Guidelines on the management of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) are available from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). PROM occurs in about one third of preterm births and can lead to significant perinatal morbidity and mortality.

    Letters to the Editor

    Risks of H. pylori “Test-and-Treat” Strategy in Dyspepsia

    ANDREAS COHRSSEN, ROBERT SCHILLER

    Tips from Other Journals

    SSRI Use and Bone Loss in Older Women

    KARL E. MILLER

    When Is CT Indicated After Minor Head Injury?

    AMY CRAWFORD-FAUCHER

    Evidence Favors Late Cord Clamping in Infants

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Less Anticoagulation Needed After DVT or Pulmonary Embolism

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Once-Daily Corticosteroids for Mild, Persistent Asthma

    KENNETH T. MOON

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Anorexia and Bulimia: What You Should Know

    If you have anorexia (an-oh-RECKS-see-uh), you are very thin, but do not think of yourself as being thin. You may feel scared of gaining weight and choose not to eat very much, or at all. You may not think you have an eating problem, though. You also may try to lose weight by...

    Peritonsillar Abscess: What You Should Know

    A peritonsillar abscess (pair-ee-TON-sill-er AB-sess) is when a sore filled with pus (a thick, whitish-yellow fluid) forms near one of your tonsils at the back of your throat. It is caused by an infection, but doctors don't know why it happens. Most of these abscesses are a...



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    All editors in a position to control content for this activity, AFP journal, are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships. View disclosures.


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